After touring the beautiful East African country of Malawi, I can say without a doubt that the Kuchawe Inn in Zomba stands out as my favorite place. The inn is situated atop the Zomba Plateau, and the breathtaking views of the Rift Valley are in themselves worth the visit up the mountain, even if you only choose to stay for the day.

The Inn is located at the end of a winding mountain road. Everything about it exudes the coziness of a forest lodge. I arrived one weekend just in time for Sunday buffet brunch that was served on a large, shady outdoor verandah (think Swiss Family Robinson treehouse). Especially intriguing were the guards stationed nearby, armed with slingshots to ward off monkeys in the surrounding trees. The food was good and featured typical Malawian fare: a variety of meats, fish and curry dishes.

After lunch I wandered the grounds where I saw a group of baboons helping themselves to a meal of leaves picked from the garden. They seemed undisturbed by my presence and even the mother baboons were unfazed as they wandered by with babies suspended from their bellies.

For accommodation, the Inn offers both superior and deluxe rooms. I stayed in the superior that cost around $75 per night and included a full English buffet breakfast for one. The morning food also was very good and was more than enough to keep me going throughout the day. I only needed a small snack from the garden menu in the afternoon. A full, sit-down lunch is available, however, in the hotel restaurant for about $10 per entree.

My room was comfortable and had a fireplace that came in handy during the cool evenings, although I preferred reading and relaxing in the comfortable chairs around the fireplace in the inn's bar/lounge area.

During my short stay, I enjoyed other activities offered by the hotel: mountain walks and hikes, touring the local trout farm, and shopping at the nearby curio stalls which I found had the best quality items in Malawi.

My Zomba visit was the highlight of my time in Malawi, and the Kuchawe Inn proved to be the perfect place to indulge in a mountain-top retreat. If you enjoy lush green landscape, sweeping views of the countryside, and peaceful surroundings, then I highly recommend this beautiful destination.