Huntington House is a grand colonial building on the Satemwa Tea Estate, south of Blantyre in Southern Malawi.
The house was the home of Mclean Kay, and have been well renovated and restored combining modern comforts with historical antiques and furnishings. The gardens are huge and tropical and meals are often taken on the lawn or verandah.
Accommodation is booked on a bed and breakfast or all inclusive rate. There are five suites with lovely bathrooms, having bath tubs and showers and luxury toiletries. Each room is individually styled and decorated with names reflecting the original residents: Mothers Room, Fathers Room, The Nursery, Planters Suite and The Chapel. Most rooms now have king size beds. Relax and enjoy the colonial splendour of the house and let the friendly staff look after you.
This is an ideal base to tour Southern Malawi from, being a short drive takes you to Blantyre city. It is easilly combined with the historical town and plateau of Zomba, hiking at Mount Mulanje or heading south down the rift valley escarpment, onto the Lower Shire Valley floor and the game reserves of Majete, Lengwe and Mbwavi.
Satemwa has mountain bikes to use around the estate and horse riding available. There are 150 miles of trails nearby through the estate and adjoining forests and hills. Walking trails and tours of the tea and coffee factories can be enjoyed here too.
History of Satemwa In the late 1800's Satemwa Tea Estate was one of Malawis first land claims and is one of the countries finest and well established tea and coffee producers. Satemwa is today managed and operated by third generation family members of the Cathcart Kays.
Satemwa Estate was founded in 1923 by Maclean Kay, who had emigrated from Scotland in 1910 to Malaya working there on a rubber plantation. Then Satemwa was known as Hunterston and Kay bought it from Timunke. He first grew tobacco which had been on the Satemwa Estate since the turn of the century. There are still some original Eucalyptus plants on the estate planted in 1895! In 1926, Kay planted the first tea field and part of this field is now a museum, still growing and is one of the highest yielding fields.
Fair Trade and Community Projects Satemwa employs thousands of local workers and supports a school of over 900 pupils and a local hospital, providing a 24 hour ambulance and ante-natal facilities as well. The estate was Malawi's first ever Fair Trade Certified Tea producer.
