I loved Kara O Mula as a location - quiet, serene and awe inspiring with Mount Mulanje as its backdrop. I would certainly love to have spent more time here. The facility has history and carries itself well. I enjoyed a snack on arrival late in the evening. Breakfast was very very basic which was a disappointing, but the ambiance was lovely and would certainly visit again.
Отличный отель! Мы жили в бунгало- номер просторный, душевая просто большая. Все работает отлично! Сервис на высоком уровне- ребята очень доброжелательные, быстро реагируют на просьбы, помогли нам организовать трансфер. Завтраки и то, что мы заказывали в ресторане по меню- все очень вкусно! Отель расположен на самом берегу озера Малави-особенно вечером на закате потрясающий вид! Отель организует различные экскурсии по озеру и окрестностям. Рекомендую!!!
For Africa this is a good hotel, but if you evaluate it by European standards, then it is 3 stars, even with a minus. The hotel is undergoing reconstruction. The rooms are not very clean, the furniture is old, the bathroom has problems, the pool is small. But the most important thing is that there is hot water and electricity. Also there was a delicious breakfast.
Pros:
Quiet location (no traffic noise)
A short (daytime) walk to a busy part of Blantyre.
Good size room.
Cons:
The safety deposit box was not working - I was told 'it's an old one and so can't be fixed, you can keep things in the reception safe'.
Leaking water in bathroom.
Very expensive drinks at the bar - 14,000 kwacha / $10 + tourism tax for a bottle of Castle beer (imported from SA). The other, local, beers are 6000 kwacha plus tourism tax so also expensive - Malawi has seen some huge inflation but I paid less than 3000 for the same beers at a lodge in Mulanje.
The bill on check out added a 'tourism levy' (tax) to everything I ordered in the restaurant - I was not told about this when ordering and was not charged a tourism levy in any of the other 3 hotels/lodges I stayed in during my time in Malawi. This could have been in the T&Cs however and I just missed it.
Breakfast is not particularly great (a la carte) - i had to return undercooked sausages.
Overall, the lodge itself is in a good location and i would return again. I would skip the restaurant and go to the Crossroads hotel restaurant which has reasonable prices and good quality food (but no alcohol). Casa Mia definitely had the most expensive beers I found in Malawi, although the very friendly and interesting owner was kind enough to buy me a few so I guess it balanced out.
JJason2023Pros:
Quiet location (no traffic noise)
A short (daytime) walk to a busy part of Blantyre.
Good size room.
Cons:
The safety deposit box was not working - I was told 'it's an old one and so can't be fixed, you can keep things in the reception safe'.
Leaking water in bathroom.
Very expensive drinks at the bar - 14,000 kwacha / $10 + tourism tax for a bottle of Castle beer (imported from SA). The other, local, beers are 6000 kwacha plus tourism tax so also expensive - Malawi has seen some huge inflation but I paid less than 3000 for the same beers at a lodge in Mulanje.
The bill on check out added a 'tourism levy' (tax) to everything I ordered in the restaurant - I was not told about this when ordering and was not charged a tourism levy in any of the other 3 hotels/lodges I stayed in during my time in Malawi. This could have been in the T&Cs however and I just missed it.
Breakfast is not particularly great (a la carte) - i had to return undercooked sausages.
Overall, the lodge itself is in a good location and i would return again. I would skip the restaurant and go to the Crossroads hotel restaurant which has reasonable prices and good quality food (but no alcohol). Casa Mia definitely had the most expensive beers I found in Malawi, although the very friendly and interesting owner was kind enough to buy me a few so I guess it balanced out.
AAntoinette AbsalomsI loved Kara O Mula as a location - quiet, serene and awe inspiring with Mount Mulanje as its backdrop. I would certainly love to have spent more time here. The facility has history and carries itself well. I enjoyed a snack on arrival late in the evening. Breakfast was very very basic which was a disappointing, but the ambiance was lovely and would certainly visit again.
EElena MelnikFor Africa this is a good hotel, but if you evaluate it by European standards, then it is 3 stars, even with a minus. The hotel is undergoing reconstruction. The rooms are not very clean, the furniture is old, the bathroom has problems, the pool is small. But the most important thing is that there is hot water and electricity. Also there was a delicious breakfast.