Useful Information about Dedza Pottery & Lodge,
Nkhotakota Pottery & Lodge and Mzuzu Pottery Shop

Dedza Pottery & Lodge, Nkhotakota Pottery & Lodge or Mzuzu Pottery Shop

Dedza Pottery opens every day of the year from 7.00am to 5.30pm (opening times from May 2006 will be 6am – 7pm ); Nkhotakota Pottery and Lodge opens every day of the year from 6am to 7.00pm . Mzuzu Pottery Shop opens daily except 25 th & 26 th December and 1 st January. At all 3 locations customers can purchase from stock or place orders for standard or special pots. Pottery can be exported, fully insured, to any address world-wide. At both potteries visitors can have tours of the workshops. The tea and coffee served in our Coffee Shops at Dedza and Nkhotakota is delivered direct from the producers and we aim to serve the best tea and coffee in Malawi . Both Coffee Shops offer a full restaurant service from early morning until late in the evening; the famous Dedza Cheesecake should always be available.

Dedza, Nkhotakota or Mzuzu? Dedza is the larger pottery and has a wider variety of designs. Only Dedza produces Quarry Tiles, Glazed Tiles, Firebricks and Electrical Insulators. Dedza has a large spacious restaurant which serves dinner up to 8.30pm, or later by appointment. Dedza has six ensuite chalets overlooking the mountains. Nkhotakota has its own unique designs, has a Training Workshop and can offer the choice of en suite beach chalets or thatched rondavels set among indigenous trees; there are 2 restaurants and a well stocked bar. Generally pots are a bit cheaper at Nkhotakota. The clay body and the glazes are the same at both potteries. Mzuzu Pottery Shop sells mainly Nkhotakota Pottery but can take orders for pots from either pottery.

How to Reach Dedza Pottery

From Lilongwe , the Capital, take the main M1 road South going towards Blantyre . 90kms from Lilongwe turn left at the first road to Dedza Township . After 100m turn left and continue along a wide and bumpy dirt road for just over 1km where our entrance is on the left, opposite the entrance to Dedza Sawmill. There are signposts to our site at all the junctions.

How to Reach Nkhotakota Pottery

From Lilongwe take the main road East to Salima. After 85kms turn left onto the M5 road from Salima to Nkhotakota and proceed for 90kms. 9kms North of Chia River (15kms South of Nkhotakota Town) turn off at our large signpost, and travel 4kms down our all-weather road. Driving time from Lilongwe is 100 - 125 minutes. The road from Lilongwe is mostly excellent but take care on the 2 single lane bridges near Nkhotakota.

How to Reach Mzuzu Pottery Shop

The shop is situated in the Mzuzu Hotel, within the city of Mzuzu , in the Northern Region of Malawi. If approaching Mzuzu from Nkhata Bay then turn left at the first roundabout. If approaching from Lilongwe and Kasungu then turn right at the second roundabout. The hotel is 400m from the roundabout.

“MAKING YOUR OWN POTS” at NKHOTAKOTA POTTERY

For beginners or experienced potters, adults and children. Our staff are available to help you make your own pots or paint your own designs on pots already made. Our fully equipped workshop has both electric & foot driven potters wheels. Guests over 16 years of age, already experienced in pottery, can use the workshops unsupervised.

There is a small hourly charge below plus a charge for any pots you wish to have fired so that you can collect them later. (Pots can also can be delivered within the main towns within Malawi or posted to other countries).

Nkhotakota Pottery Lodge & Dedza Pottery Lodge

Accommodation is in En Suite Chalets , on the beach at Nkhotakota and overlooking the mountains at Dedza. The rooms have mains electricity and are fully furnished each with its own en suite bathroom, hot shower, mini bar and secure safe. Bed linen, mosquito nets, towels, soap, fans, and electric mosquito killers are provided. Superior Rooms have a kitchenette with complimentary tea and coffee . Rooms in Dedza also have heaters for the cold season. Both sites have secure campsites where the washrooms have hot showers.

All-Inclusive Pottery Weekends & 3 Day Courses at Nkhotakota

For beginners or experienced potters, adults & children.

Weekends are from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. 3 Day Courses usually begin on Tuesday evening:- Make your own pots or decorate already made pots. See how traditional African pots are made & fired. Take part in the excitement of a Raku firing, the traditional Japanese process where pots are glazed & fired in less than an hour & removed red hot from the kiln. Accommodation is in our fully furnished en suite beach chalets.

Included in the price is:

•  2 or 3 Nights accommodation; from 4pm on Day of arrival to 2pm on Day of departure. 3 Meals & morning tea break per day, starting with Dinner on evening of arrival to Lunch on day of departure. Breakfast of Fruit Juice, Cereal and Toast with Tea or Coffee. Lunch is any item from our Standard Coffee Shop Menu; Dinner is any selection from our 3 Course Dinner Menu. (Drinks are extra.)

•  Use of the Training Workshop with experienced tutors from 7am to 6.00pm.
•  A session with local village potters making traditional pots and (during the dry season) watching a traditional firing.
•  Participation in a Raku Firing.
•  Pots made or decorated by guests to the value of 15% of the Course Price.

Special courses from a few hours to several days or longer can be arranged for individuals, groups or schools. Please contact Nkhotakota Pottery for a quotation.

Walking Safari Trips into Nkhotakota Game Reserve -

All trips include a packed meal, drinks and park entry fees. Walks are conducted by experienced armed Game Scouts. ½ Day and Full Day Safaris are available.

Cultural Tour - A visit to a village near the Game Reserve where the Department for Wildlife is developing alternative sources of income to discourage poaching. Guests will have a chance to see and learn about many aspects of village life. The villagers will explain about their traditional initiation ceremonies and guests will be able to watch, and join if they wish, the exciting dances that are still performed every year at the ceremony. The villagers will also escort guests to a nearby waterfall where the water has etched extraordinary forms into the rocks.

Information, Current Prices & Bookings :
(+265 when phoning from outside Malawi)

Nkhotakota Pottery & Lodge, P.O. Box 460 , Nkhotakota , Malawi .
Tel & Fax 01 751743; nkhotakotapottery@africa-online.net
Dedza Pottery & Lodge, P.O. Box 54 , Dedza.
Tel 01 223069; Fax 01 223131. E-mail dedzapottery@africa-online.net
Mzuzu Pottery Shop, P.O.Box 231 , Mzuzu. Tel 01 310622; Fax 01 312662