Since driving in Malawi is equally as safe if you drive with your eyes open or closed, I drove slowly so we took a leisurely 2.5 hours to get there and back. For me, driving through the villages was just as fascinating as the hike. Once we escaped Lilongwe city limits and turned off the paved roads, the views were beautiful...shades of green and brown grass blowing in the wind. There were villages nestled in valleys and on hilltops and people walking back and forth transporting water, crops, chibuku shake shakes and coca-cola on top of their heads and by bike. I was driving, so didn't get a chance to take a picture of a village with the most beautiful water pump; it had a view from here to forever. It was surrounded by lush bushes with lively yellow flowers. The children took a break from their washing to wave to the eight Azungu women driving past in a badass minivan. I guess I don't need a photo, the image will last.
Once we finally reached our destination, we stopped at the Ntchisi Forest Lodge to check in with the owners, find out what they offer and borrow a map to guide us through our hike. After a great picnic that Amy organized, we headed into the rainforest; it was beautiful. Mo led the crew through some twisted ficus trees, funky moldy clumps and by the largest banana tree any of us had seen.
Timica and I stop to celebrate the view after our successful ascent!
When we emerged from the rainforest and cleared the ants from our pants, we headed back to Ntchisi Forest Lodge for some refreshing drinks. The current owners bought the place about three years ago and have been tirelessly fixing it up. It's a gleaming white structure with a beautiful layout, wind and solar powered facilities and views of Lake Malawi and the Mountains across the lake in Mozambique! This picture doesn't do it justice.
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