Fishermen's Rest

Another missionary found this unique little spot and told us about it. Fishermen's Rest is a lodge about 20 km south of Blantyre. They have a lodge, a cottage and a couple of Bush Hides. The Bush hides are the cheapest, and since we are on a tight budget, decided to stay there. The entire area encompasses about 50 acres, wandering around on the property have some impala and another kind of antelope I didn't recognize. They have a tea room where you can get snacks and / or dinner. We took our own drinks and food for lunches and snacks - this was a beef jerky, trail mix sort of place, for sure. The hide consists of a small building with screened in sides and straw mats for walls, solar lights, a konde (porch) with an unbelievable view out over the great rift valley, and - when you leave the hide you go down some steps and the toilet and shower are outside, facing the valley. A 'loo with a view' as the manager said. There are mats you can let down to give you some (operative word here is SOME) privacy. Fortunately, there is no one around here and the mountain side is quite steep. Enough that you watch your step on the way down to the toilet! We were really looking for a day or so just away from everyone - just some quiet time to read, think, go for a walk and enjoy the view. The only power in the hide are a couple of solar lights, so you are in bed and asleep early. We opened the 'mats' facing the valley and could see the stars before we went to sleep. African skies at night are something to behold. You wake at dawn to the birds, the smell of cooking fires, and the distant village sounds. It was a great stay! We left feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Pictures: Jose in the 'bathroom section', under the hide, with the toilet to his left and the shower / sink behind him. Jose and me on the konde with the great rift valley behind us. Me, standing in the lawn area of the lodge. The Bush hide, tucked in the trees and jutting out over the hillside. Jose on our 'walk about' the property.