Malawi
Guide to Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is known as one of the most diverse lakes in the world, home to more than 1000 fish species. The lake occupies one-fifth of Malawi's territory making it extremely important in people's everyday life as well. Traditional fishing villages and some bigger ports are scattered around the lake with uninhabited stretches in between providing sandy beaches and crystal clear water. Lately, tourism has been gaining popularity thanks to the beauty of the lake, now resorts are offering endless water activities like diving or kayaking. In this post we have collected some of the most interesting places to visit and things to do around the lake listing them from the North to the South, including the most popular attractions as well as some unique and more remote places!
Chitimba
Chitimba is located on the Northern lakeshores of Malawi. It has a campsite and budget lodges and a sandy beach but the main attraction here is its dramatic location with steep rift valley escarpments right next to the shoreline. It is a great starting place for trekking, a not-to-miss experience is the nearby Livingstonia and the Manchawe Waterfalls.
Nkhata Bay
Nkhata Bay is a small but important fishing harbor that is increasingly becoming a backpackers paradise. There are plenty of activities that can be done here, like kayaking, but it is also an excellent place for diving with a well-established diving center. Nkhata Bay also serves as the gateway for the islands, the ferry from Likome leaves from here every couple of days.
This bustling port has a great craft market, restaurants and bars, and a very fun nightlife. On Sundays, the locals gather to Chikale Beach to enjoy the end of the weekend with a couple of beers, which is an amazing place to meet with the extremely friendly people of Nkhata Bay. Overall the charm of the town lies in its distinct vibe, it is the kind of place where travelers find themselves spending a lot more time than originally planned as it is very difficult to leave behind this beautiful place.
Likoma and Chizumulu Island
Likoma and Chizumulu islands are the two inhabited islands of Lake Malawi. Both islands lie on Mozambiquian waters but belong to Malawian territory. Likoma Island is the bigger and more popular one, accessible by private boats and plane, but the most popular means of transportation is the ferry that is scheduled for a couple of days per week from Nkhata Bay. Likoma island hosts a magnificent cathedral, lovely beaches and friendly communities so is an excellent place to relax here for a couple of days. Chizumulu island is accessible by the ferry as well but is still a lot less-visited than Likoma. Despite its remoteness, it is worth a trip as it often amuses travelers with its white rocky foundations and azure water.
Chintheche
Chintheche is around 40kms south of Nkhata Bay and is home to some of the most beautiful beaches at Lake Malawi. There are many lodges and yoga retreats in the area excellent for relaxing, the most popular are on the beaches of Makuzi and Kande. Kande Beach is also famous for horse riding where one can take excursions taking from a few hours until even a week.
Nkhotakota
Nkhotakota is in Central Malawi has been mostly known for its history and slave trade, and nowadays more and more about its pottery that is a subsidiary of the famous Dedza Pottery. Lodges are stretching between Nkhotakota and the sugar estate Dwangwa for people wanting to relax, however, the main attraction here is the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, the oldest and largest wildlife reserve in Malawi.
Senga Bay
Senga Bay is accessible from the nearby service and trading center called Salima. This very pretty bay is the closest point of Lake Malawi that can be accessed by the capital, Lilongwe, hence is very popular amongst the locals on weekends. There are several lodges for different budgets, however, Senga Bay is not too touristy and during the weekdays has a very laid-back vibe of a fishing village, where the best thing to do is just to wander around, visit the market, and watch the fishermen. It is also an excellent place to do a boat trip to the nearby Marelli islands that are biodiversity hotspots.
Lake Malawi National Park
Lake Malawi is one of the most diverse and precious freshwater lakes in the world. New species are discovered almost weekly, but according to our current knowledge, the lake is home to over 1,000 different fish species including around 600 rapidly evolving cichlids species. To protect aqua-life Lake Malawi National Park was established which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its extraordinary biodiversity and especially thanks to the cichlids that provide a great example of evolution at work.
There are 13 uninhabited islands on Lake Malawi that are great places for snorkeling and diving. One of them is the private Nankoma island which has a very tranquil setting and a lodge to stay for the night there. The 3 Marelli Islands (Maleri, Nankoma, and Nakantenga) are located opposite Senga Bay, 3 km from the shore. The archipelago consists of different landscapes varying from rocky shorelines to small wild sandy beaches. The rocky formations are excellent places for the fish to hide which resulted in that there are fish species here that can't be found anywhere else in the world. The islands are also home to 300 different bird species, like kingfishers, fish eagles or hornbills, and several species of reptiles and mammals.
Another great island experience in Lake Malawi National Park is Mumbo Island near Cape Maclear, a pristine and deserted tropical island that is only 1 kilometer in diameter and has never been inhabited. It is also an excellent place for snorkeling and diving, as well as different kayaking adventures are offered here.
Known locally as Chembe village, Cape Maclear is easily reachable from Monkey Bay that is one of the most important ports of the lake. It is the most popular and busiest resort at Lake Malawi located on Nankumba Peninsula and being part of the Lake Malawi National Park. Being the most touristy place in Malawi, here one can choose from endless activities including sailing, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, going on boat trips, hiking, or doing volleyball.
Mangochi
Going further South on the lake there are some excellent beaches with lodges at the stretch between Monkey Bay and Mangochi. Mangochi is the most Southern point of the lake, situating between Lake Malawi and Lake Malombe. Mangochi is a spot to stay before heading to Mozambique or coming from the South and it is a nice place to feel the vibe of a bigger town, to visit some historical monuments, and to eat great fish in one of the local eateries.
+ 1 Lake of Stars Festival
Finally, one of the best things to do around the lake is the Lake of Stars Festival, a three-day-long international festival organized at the shores of Lake Malawi at different locations since 2004. The festival is about music, culture, talks, poetry, theatre, film, and wellness activities with the main aim to promote Malawi's vibrant cultural sector. If you are traveling to Malawi around September check whether the festival is happening during your visit as it is one of the most exciting events in Malawi you can attend.
