We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
Save
Share
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Nkhotakota Malawi
Contact accommodation for availability.
There are similar hotels available.
View all
Traveller (186)
Room & Suite (52)
Dining (17)
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.

About

#2 of 6 lodges in Nkhotakota
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value

Bua River Lodge is located within Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve which sits beneath the Chipata Mountain. This is one of Malawi's last unexploited wildernesses, where a vast network of rivers weaves its way through wooded hills, nourishing the dense miombo forests that make up this unique ecosystem. Bua River Lodge is the ideal place to enjoy ‘forest bathing’ by offering a selection of safari tents chalets built right among the trees and along the river.

The river attracts many animals including elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, monkeys and crocodiles, as well as an abundance of birds from the small malachi kingfisher to the majestic fish eagle. So come and relax around the campfire or go on guided game walks to learn more of the flora and fauna found in the Reserve. Alternatively learn to cook a local dish, visit the local historical sites, delve into the bustling market place or simply relax and unwind by the river.

We pride ourselves in the food we serve and can cater for most diets, just let our staff know at the time of booking any requirements you have. We offer a fusion of Malawian, South African and European with homemade cakes and biscuits available during the day.

Our staff are looking forward to making your trip special. It's truly a place to leave your troubles behind and find the wilderness on your doorstep.

Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free breakfast
Hiking
Canoeing offsite
Airport transportation
Mosquito net
Outdoor fireplace
Clothes dryer
Car park
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Complimentary welcome drink
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Walking tours
Outdoor furniture
Sun deck
Sun terrace
First aid kit
Laundry service
Show more
Room features
Desk
Dining area
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Seating area
Sofa
Clothes rack
Walk-in shower
Private bathrooms
Show more
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans

Location

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Nkhotakota Malawi
Getting there
Lilongwe Intl Airport70 miSee all flights
See all nearby hotels
148Reviews5Q+A28Room tips

Reviews
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.

Traveller rating
  • 123
  • 20
  • 4
  • 1
  • 0
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
  • More
Selected filters
  • Filter
  • English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
Karen C wrote a review Sept 2023
1 contribution
This was not our first stay at Bua River Lodge over the years but it was our best! There has obviously been a lot of money spent on the upgrade and all the attention to little details have certainly paid off. Our beautiful private deck overlooking the Bua River was amazing and our Safari style bedroom was very clean and comfortable and we loved the al fresco style en suite. We saw a lot more game than previous visits and the new hide was well worth the drive. We saw zebra, waterbuck, impala, sable, warthog and more. A shout out to our hosts Delene and Mike, who along with the rest of the wonderful team, have put in so much work to make this place a real gem! Well worth a visit.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from Mike and Dalene Bua, General Manager at Bua River Lodge
Responded 26 Sept 2023
Thank you for visiting us. It was only a pleasure to host you guys. Specially because Bua is known to you. We are looking forward to your next visit.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barbara D wrote a review Sept 2023
3 contributions
The beauty of the place is indescribable, the Luxury tents are charming and clean, the food is delicious, the staff kind and professional. 5 stars for that. Unfortunately, the management (Mike and Dalene) is disappointing. We had asked for a taxi pick-up in Nkhotakhota, but when we arrived in the dark, at 7 p.m. (two single women), exhausted, we found no one waiting for us and it was impossible to get in touch with the lodge. Eventually, Mike contacted us when we were already putting our luggage into a taxi (fortunately Malawians are super friendly and helpful) and came to pick us up with many excuses. THERE IS NO INTERNET CONNECTION AT THE LODGE (there is internet coverage not far from the lodge, but it is actually impossible to get out) and the managers do not warn guests beforehand. I wanted to contact my partner who would be worried not to hear from me. The manager said he would contact him for me, but he never did - and overall I consider this the most serious shortcoming. Free walking safaris are short walks in and around the property (thanks Shy for showing us the huge crocodile!) and for safety reasons it is impossible to leave the tents or move around the lodge unaccompanied. When we booked, we received the booking confirmation with the total amount including VAT. At check-out, despite my protests - impossible to check emails - the extra VAT was charged. After we left, I forwarded the confirmation email to the owners, who immediately agreed to refund us, with many apologies. More than a month has passed, no refund, and no one answers emails anymore.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2023
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from Michelle Burrow, Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 16 Sept 2023
Thank you for leaving a review as we always appreciate our guests taking the time to share their feedback.   We are delighted that you found the area beautiful with the food and service deserving of a five star rating.  We are sorry you were not aware before you arrived at the lodge that we currently do not have signal. We will update our communications to ensure this is clear. We will contact you directly to ensure everything is resolved to your satisfaction regarding the other points you raised.     Thank you again, we value all feedback and the opportunity to improve our services.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
C L wrote a review Aug 2023
1 contribution
I stayed at Bua for 2 nights in June to end my trip in Malawi, the food was amazing especially the Braai chicken and it was great being able to see the elephants so close and so often, while also seeing a crocodile in the water from our deck, and me walking out to brush my teeth to be greeted by a snake which made it feel like the real wild expierience. It wasn’t as good when we were unable to get to our tent because the elephants wouldn’t leave the island! But it allowed for a nice fire where shai and another guide told us story’s from bua. The tour guides made it really interesting with there amazing knowledge of everything, especially shai who was extremely helpful and made us feel welcome with his warm smile!!
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 23 Aug 2023
Thank you for visiting us. It was lovely meeting you. Hope to see you in the near future again.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Peter Hunter wrote a review Aug 2023
2 contributions
Extremely beautiful location, with great food and very friendly management. The beds were very comfortable and room had a great outdoor bathroom. The wildlife is rich and we saw many elephants, the staff always took good care of us and made our safety their main priority Shai our guide for a tour of the local wildlife was very helpful/sociable and was able to answer all our questions about the wildlife, and even taught us how to brush our teeth with a local plant! He made our stay even more fun by sharing local stories with us around a campfire. He was extremely professional and kind. Would recommend this place to anyone.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 23 Aug 2023
Thank you. It was such a lovely time spend with you. Management and staff really appreciate your friendliness and appreciation. Looking forward to a second visit.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Megan G wrote a review Jun 2023
10 contributions2 helpful votes
Bua Lodge is such a special place. The location has sweeping views of the river, in a pristine woodland. So amazing to sleep next to the roar of the river and wake up to see elephants have walked through the camp in the night. We were lucky enough to spend the afternoon watching the elephants graze along the lodge deck! So many crocodiles, monkeys and birds to enjoy too. The staff, including the managers, were very accommodating and making vegetarian home made food was no problem at all. The food was absolutely delicious. We highly recommend doing the nature walk with the expert guides. Highly highly recommended!
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 13 Jun 2023
Thank you so much for staying with us. It was so nice having you. Please be safe and hope to see you again. Another guest that left as a friend.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Expedition151705 wrote a review May 2023
1 contribution
+1
The tents are amazing, the mattress and pillows are very comfortable with newly renovated bathrooms, hot water, food is plentiful and well prepared. The service is excellent and safety protocols are instilled by staff. The height is a wonderful location to spot animals, but elephants are often found right on the property. Lots of monkeys too. From my tent I was able to see crocodile and water buck across the Bua river. It is very calming to fall asleep to the sound of the river. The sundown provides excellent scenery. Thanks to Mike, Deline, Clifford and Martin for a Fantastic Safari experience!!
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: Make sure to bring a proper camera for wild life photos. Cell phones are not sufficient.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 21 May 2023
Thank you for choosing Bua as one of your Safari destinations. It was so nice having you here. We are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. Our moto still stand: You come in as guests and leave as friends. Safe travels!!!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer R wrote a review Apr 2023
1 contribution
The setting is beautiful and accomodation wonderful, but it was the hospitality and the willingness of the management and staff to go above and beyond the call of duty when we had a medical emergency that really blew us away. The tents are really lovely and well equipped. The family chalet was perfect for our needs a family of 5 with kids 12, 10 and 6. The environment so peaceful and the river a lovely backdrop that we could have watched all day. It was easy to slip into holiday mode, reading books and playing games. Food was good - maybe more veggie options would be even better. Restaurant staff were great. Lodge staff were super helpful, and a highlight of our day was trips out into the reserve for sundowners in beautiful spots. Not many mammals to see at this time of the year in thick bush, but that was to be expected and is just the way it goes with wildlife. The lodge managers couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. They made accomodations to the menu for the kids where needed... but most impressively went so far beyond what we would have expected from them when we had a medical emergency with our son in the middle of the night. They were highly professional and helped us out in ways we would never have asked of them. Thanks Mike and Dalene - you made a difficult experience much easier in a lot ways !
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 20 Apr 2023
It was such a pleasure to meet your family. We had a great time making you guys feel welcome and happy with us. We are just so blessed to meet such wonderfull people and we all enjoy our time together. Thank you for staying with us and we are looking forward to your next visit. COMING IN AS GUESTS AND LEAVING AS FRIENDS. The Bua Team.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard W wrote a review Jan 2023
9 contributions2 helpful votes
I stayed at Bua River Lodge for two nights and it is a beautiful place in a beautiful wildlife reserve. Truly quiet and peaceful. The lodge is very nice and we had an outdoor fire each night. The chalets are very comfortable with well appointed outdoor bathrooms and showers and the food and service is excellent with a very nice wine selection. Mike and Dalene are great hosts and went out of their way to ensure my stay was enjoyable. Even showing me some of the historical sights in Nkotakota and taking me part-way to my next destination. Very nice experience!
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 8 Jan 2023
How nice to have met you. We really enjoyed having you here and hope to see you again with some family and friends. Have a great journey to your next destination.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hanna v wrote a review Nov 2022
Zwolle, The Netherlands1 contribution
+1
Highly recommend this place. Beautiful surroundings, peace and tranquility, amazing food. Seeing the animals right by our (very spacious and beautiful) tent was an experience we will never forget. We even saw elephants! The hosts make you feel right at home. The walks we took with Martin were so interesting, he knew all about the trees and the animals we encountered so we learned a lot. We would love to come back someday!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 25 Nov 2022
Dear Hanna, Thank you for staying with us. It was an absolute pleasure to have you here and we are so glad the elephants came to greet you as well. Remember leaving as friends we will await your return to come for a second holiday with all your family. Save travels till we meet again. Mike, Dalene and staff
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jonathan B wrote a review Nov 2022
+1
I was on a solo business trip and thought I should see more of the country. I'm so glad I did. Mike, Daleen, Martin, and the whole team, were such wonderful hosts - it was almost like staying with friends. The experience of camping in this wildlife reserve (just across the river from a Crocodile) was utterly sureel and incredible - I've never done anything like it before. There was such a sense of peace, tranquility, and privacy at my tent. Just me and the monkeys! The out door bathrooms were quite different and the shower was just great! I genuinely had an amazing weekend and would thoroughly recommend this place to anyone else.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from , Owner at Bua River Lodge
Responded 22 Nov 2022
Hi Jonathan, It was such a pleasure to have you here. We hope to see you and your family soon for another magical visit. Greetings from all the staff at Bua.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Previous
123456
LOCATION
MalawiCentral RegionNkhotakota
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

Claim Your Listing

BUA RIVER LODGE - Updated 2023 Reviews (Malawi/Nkhotakota)

Frequently Asked Questions about Bua River Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Bua River Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Bua River Lodge?
Top room amenities include a desk, a dining area, and a mosquito net.
What food & drink options are available at Bua River Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Bua River Lodge?
Yes, free parking and a parking garage are available to guests.
Does Bua River Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Bua River Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Bua River Lodge?
Yes, laundry service and a clothes dryer are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Bua River Lodge?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Afrikaans.
Does Bua River Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the river view available here.