A Taste For Tea

This morning, Chris and I set off in Daisy to drive down to Mulanje to take a look at the tea plantations.  We also drove on to the Mozambique border.

There are some spectacular mountains that rise up steeply and majestically from their foothills, and the area is much greener than around Blantyre.  On the way down there, we passed the usual array of roadside stalls selling bananas and sugar cane, but there were very few vehicles around apart from the occasional minibus plying its trade between Blantyre and the border

When we reached the tea  plantations, I was just amazed at how far they reached - they stretched for miles and miles, and looked meticulous - all the bushes being trimmed to the same height.  There were two colours of bush: one a bright vibrant green, and the other much darker.  Unfortunately the plantations aren't open to visit on Sundays, so getting the full story will have to wait for another occasion.

After we'd reached the border and turned round, we headed for the Kara O'Mula Country Lodge situated about 2kms above Mulanje town, up a narrow road (with the emphasis on the word "up").  In my Bradt guide to Malawi, it says:

".. this stylishly rustic lodge has been converted from a former District Commissioner's residence built in 1905."

It also says that it has one of the best restaurants in Mulanje, but we didn't have time to test that out.

We stopped in the Lodge for a quick drink before heading back to Blantyre (I've got a meeting this afternoon before we head off to Sally's to watch the England v Germany match at 4pm).

More pictures are on Flickr.