Given Claire’s suspected malaria infection, we did what any self-respecting, budget-conscious backpackers would do: Checked-in to the finest room in the most expensive hotel in town. Unfortunately, the fabulous Mimosa Court Hotel in which had stayed the previous couple of nights was full and so, after minimal pleading, we were upgraded without further cost to the ‘Annex’ which, it turns out, is an apartment tagged onto the side of the manager’s house a short drive away. With twenty-four hour security guard and about five dobermans, to keep the theives out (and us inside).

The nearest restaurant, at the Mzuzu Tourist Lodge, was a short walk up the private driveway. In the dark. And did I mention the attack-dogs? So, once again, we did what any self-respecting, budget-conscious backpackers would do: We asked the housekeeper if he could sort out some [remote] room service for us. Bless him, he drove to the Tourist Lodge and brought a selection of food back with him. Not wanting to disappoint us, he also commandeered a waiter from the restaurant to lay our table and unwrap the cling-film.

Big thanks to the Mimosa Court Hotel, the manager’s housekeeper and the waiter from the Mzuzu Tourist Lodge for providing us with a little bit of luxury in our time of need.

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