Blue Zebra Island Lodge

Blue Zebra Island Lodge sits on Nankoma Island, part of the Marelli Archipelago inside Lake Malawi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site reached only by boat. Ten rooms make up the lodge: nine safari-style tented chalets, most with lake views and some with private lake access, plus one two-bedroom Superior Cottage for families. The surrounding lake is home to hundreds of freshwater cichlid species found nowhere else on Earth, visible in the clear water just off the chalet decks.

Days are built around the water: snorkelling among the cichlids, kayaking between the archipelago's three islands, sundowner cruises and birdwatching across an island recorded with well over 100 species. All activities are non-motorised and included in the rate alongside meals and the boat transfer from the mainland. A national park fee of $10 per person per day goes directly to Lake Malawi National Park's conservation budget.