About
Our Story
A century-old farmhouse with deep Thyolo roots, and one woman's vision to share it with the world.
Since the 1900s
The Estate
The Thyolo House sits on a historic property that was once part of the Conforzi Tea Estate, one of the historic tea-growing properties in Malawi's Thyolo highlands. The Thyolo highlands dates back to the early days of tea cultivation in the Shire Highlands, when Italian settlers established plantations across these misty, fertile hills.
The main house was built in the early 1900s as a colonial farmhouse — a solid, whitewashed structure with deep verandas, high ceilings, and hardwood floors designed for the tropical climate. For over a century, it has stood in the Thyolo highlands, weathering the seasons and quietly accumulating stories.
Today, The Thyolo House operates as a boutique hotel and restaurant on a historic property that was once part of the Conforzi Tea Estate. It is no longer the tea farm; the guest experience centres on rooms, gardens, pool, restaurant, and Flavia's art.
"For over a century, this house has stood in the Thyolo highlands, weathering the seasons and quietly accumulating stories."
Heritage & Character
The House
The house retains the character of its colonial origins — thick whitewashed walls, original hardwood floors, high ceilings with exposed beams, and deep verandas made for slow evenings in the highlands.
Every room tells a story. Period furnishings sit alongside original artwork. The gardens, both ornamental and productive, have been carefully tended for decades. Century-old trees shade the swimming pool, and the grounds provide quiet places for guests to rest between meals.
This is not a hotel that was built — it is a home that was opened. And that distinction is what makes The Thyolo House unique.
"This is not a hotel that was built — it is a home that was opened."
Artist, Host, Visionary
Flavia
At the heart of The Thyolo House is Flavia Conforzi — artist, chef, and the creative force behind the transformation of the family property into a boutique retreat. Her kitchen draws from the house garden, where fresh herbs, vegetables, and edible flowers grow year-round.
Flavia's art studio sits on the grounds, and her work — vibrant paintings and mixed-media pieces inspired by Malawian life, nature, and colour — adorns the walls of the house and the rooms. Guests are invited to join her for creative workshops, a hands-on experience that has become one of the most loved parts of a stay here.
In the kitchen, her Italian heritage meets Malawian ingredients. The result is a menu that is fresh, seasonal, and entirely her own — garden-to-table cooking that draws on family recipes, local produce, and flavours from around the world.
Sustainability
The Garden
Sustainability at The Thyolo House is not a marketing exercise — it is simply how things have always been done here.
Chemical-Free Garden
Our kitchen garden grows herbs, vegetables, and edible flowers without chemicals — supplying the restaurant with the freshest possible ingredients, year-round.
Local Sourcing
What we cannot grow, we source locally — from Lake Malawi fish to free-range chicken, Thyolo tea, and Malawian coffee. Our supply chain starts at the garden gate.
Community
The Thyolo House is part of the fabric of the Thyolo community. Our staff are local, our suppliers are neighbours, and our story is inseparable from this place.
"Our supply chain starts at the garden gate. What we cannot grow, we find within the surrounding hills."
Come and See for Yourself
The Thyolo House is best experienced in person. We would love to welcome you.