Read our green judge's questionnaire on Nkwichi Lodge

I arrived on the day this place won the small lodge category of the Responsible Travel Awards, and it was a deserved win, on so many fronts.

If you strip out the getting there, which is pretty carbon-heavy (plane to Lilongwe, then small plane up lake shore, then boat transfer), the lodge itself is doing lots to apply the principles of sustainable, low impact, pro-poor tourism development.

Firstly, Nkwichi Lodge is barely visible from the shoreline or even from above, so cleverly designed is it to blend into the surroundings and preserve what is a phenomenally pristine area of East Africa. I took a canoe out one afternoon to try to take pictures of the lodge on the shoreline and gave up as I couldn't really see any chalets.

Multimedia

• Gallery: Nkwichi Lodge, Mozambique

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Given how far it is from anything resembling a shop (the nearest place with anything other than a single shelf in a mud hut selling a rusty tin of corned beef is over an hour by boat, and then you're unlikely to find much more than some tomatoes, onions or a warm bottle of beer) the meals that emerge from the kitchen are impressive, as are the ice cold drinks in this baking corner of the world. Much of this is thanks to the new, solar-powered fridge system, more of which later.

More impressive than the eco measures are the significant community projects that the lodge's founders have started to make the whole place an expression of their belief in tourism as a force for good. Demonstration farms, community councils, jointly-funded maternity clinics and schools, and the 100ha winderness reserve.

I came away with a sense that my (attempts at a) commitment not to fly would be robbing places like this of the vital support they need in 'doing' development in places like post-war Mozambique that so sorely need it.

It's expensive ($240pppn) but then it's on a par with other places in a similar context.

It's the most phenomonal setting, on a glittering (literally) white beach on a translucent freshwater lake, miles from anywhere and in a part of Africa that is still relatively untouched thanks to 30 years of vicious civil. I was surrounded by honeymooning couples (I quite understand why they picked it!) and people come a long way to be here.

Each chalet has it's own private garden or beach, and baths moulded into the rocks. Special.

You forgive the occasional shabby bit, as it's a miracle that the place manages to exist at all so far from shops, farms, suppliers and maintenance people. The setting, combined with the community projects, weather and lovely rooms, makes this a pretty magical spot.

And finally finally.... What is the single most significant achievement it has made regarding local people, the environment and/or conservation?

Not only creating a wonderful, indulgent place in the middle of nowhere, but one that spends an untypically large amount of time and energy working with the local community to create a sort of partnership.

NOMINATED BY - I have watched this lodge develop from nothing over the past 8 years. I am constantly amazed at how much has been achieved whilst being completely sustainable and green, and benefitting a local community which had nothing before the lodge was sited there.

Nutrition, schooling and health care of the local community has benefited enormously and is continuing to improve. All monies are ploughed back into the community projects and decisions are made by the community for the community, with guidance only coming from the initial investors who set the trust up.

The lodge itself is total luxury with such friendly staff and nothing is too much trouble for them to organise with no sense of anything being over the top/ cheesy. I spent 3 weeks there last year and in all that time did not meet one other guest who had anything other than huge praise for the lodge, its staff and the facilities available.

What none of those guests probably realised is the immense effort and time it has taken for this place to come into existence. The friends who set it up have thought of everything, from bringing in Halo in the surrounding villages to remove landmines, to encouraging guests to visit the farm and see how the locals are being taught to look after themselves sustainably through growing their own food and providing the lodge.

I have stayed in other green lodges, but have never seen anything that comes close to this in terms of providing long term hope, education and health for the local community whilst maintaining a green credential. This is a thoroughly deserving nomination and I really hope that they win!! - Alexia Woolsey, London W1

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