Njobvu Cultural Village
Website: www.njobvuvillage.org
E-mail: info@njobvuvillage.org
Phone: Enock Chidothi: +265 888 623 530
Community
Njobvu Village, consisting of 6 villages: Ligwangwa, Kwenje, Bimbi, Maninji, Chikolongo and Gopole.
Who they are
Njobvu Cultural Village Lodge is a cooperative initiative of 6 villages near Ulongwe in Balaka District in Malawi; Ligwangwa, Kwenje, Bimbi, Maninji, Chikolongo and Gopole. The communities have Christian or Muslim beliefs that are combined with various traditional African practices and beliefs. The people make up various linguistic groups, of which Chichewa is the most widely spoken.
Njobvu Village is situated next to Malawi’s treasure Liwonde National Park. It started around 2001 as a way of generating income and of educating the local people about the importance of conserving Liwonde National Park’s resources for tourism purposes. The goal of Njobvu Cultural Village Lodge is to develop the area, so that the villages can enjoy the benefit of being so close to the border of the beautiful National Park which attracts many tourists. Furthermore, Njobvu Cultural Village strives to be a role model for other communities in Malawi.
Njobvu Village Lodge operates independently and is only run by local villagers. Community members that participate in activities that the lodge provides to guests receive a part of the proceeds and the rest is spent on community projects. A large percentage of this is used to support orphans from the village who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS, malaria and malnutrition diseases. It also supports their grandparents who are left to care for them and the village nursery school.
What they offer
- Dancing performance with live music
- Guided walking tour through the village
- Meetings with villagers, traditional healer, and village headman
- Visit to the nursery school
- Being part of a brewing party
- Experience and learn about Malawian rural live
- Campfire with cultural exchanges
Volunteers: They are currently developing a volunteer program so please check back later.
Location
Njobvu Cultural Village Lodge is situated next to Liwonde National Park, near the Makanga gate. At the same time it is located close to Mvuu Camp, on the other side of the river.
- Visitors may reach Njobvu Cultural Village Lodge through Ulongwe, which is located south of Lake Malombe on the road between Liwonde and Mangochi (M3). From Liwonde visitors can get to Ulongwe by minibus.
- From Ulongwe, bicycle taxis can transport visitors 11 km east to Ligwangwa Village (the centre of Njobvu Village), which is also accessible by vehicle all year.
- Bicycle taxis are also available from Mvuu Camp in Liwonde National Park 3 km away. Visitors staying at Mvuu Camp can also arrange motor vehicle transport.
What you need
A sleeping bag and a torch are useful items, but they are not essential for your stay. Mosquito nets are provided.
Accommodation & Amenities
Traditional (simple) mud brick huts, with two rooms, for two persons each. Sleeping is on the ground, on a mat and a (simple) single mattress.
Outdoor shower (a large bucket with water that is warmed on a wood fire). There are dry toilets.
There is no electricity.
Freshly prepared local food. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s no problem catering for vegetarians or vegans, as long as it is mentioned in advance.
All inclusive (USD) $40.00 per person per day. You can also pay for services you need individually: Accomodation $8.00; Breakfast $4.00; Lunch $5.00; Dinner $5.00; Guided walk $7.00; Dance $8.00; Bike taxi $5.00
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A truly unique place…hope it will inspire others.
Without question, the most incredible experience of my trip to Malawi was when I spent a day and night in the village of Njobvu. In this ‘real live’ African village, a guide shows day and overnight visitors around the village, introducing them to the traditional healer and various other villagers who demonstrate their crafts and skills, showing them round a typical home, and arranging for children and young people to sing, dance and chat to them. I couldn’t over-recommend a trip to the village if you are visiting Malawi. I was very reluctant to leave. I had been made to feel so welcome, this mzungu (white person) dipping into their lives, and it was a world that was, somehow, timelessly remote from everything else in my life, yet very appealing.
I visited Njobvu Village last week and was amazed by the wonderful work you are doing and the people I met. Thank you so much for giving me such an important insight into local Malawian culture. The people I met there were so warm-hearted and open to the questions and curiosity of a visitor from London! I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and it has left a lasting memory.
Thank you so much for giving us wonderful memories of our day and night with you at Njobvu, it was one of the highlights of our three weeks in Malawi and we wish we could have stayed longer! We had very little idea what to expect and some of the younger members of our group were a little nervous about our visit. However, you made us all feel so welcome any fears were quickly dispelled and the whole family loved the experience and are still talking about the friends we made and the things we saw and did at the village.