Lazing on a palm-fringed sandy seaside, with sapphire h2o stretching out in entrance of you as significantly as the eye can see, you could be forgiven for wondering you had been on a tropical island someplace out in the ocean, relatively than on the shores of Lake Malawi, hundreds of miles from the closest coast.
The waters of Lake Malawi extend throughout roughly one particular-fifth of Malawi producing it just one of the country’s defining capabilities. Lying in the western Rift Valley this is a single of the African Terrific Lakes. This is Africa’s 3rd most significant (and the world’s ninth most significant) lake. It’s so extensive in size that it borders a few nations Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. This incredible entire body of h2o incorporates 7% of the world’s available surface freshwater and stretches in excess of 365 miles long from north to south, is about 52 miles large at its widest place and handles a full area space of eleven,400 sq. miles.
Lake Malawi is an area of exceptional all-natural attractiveness, with the rugged landscapes surrounding it contrasting with the remarkably crystal clear waters of the lake – the undisputed drawcard of one particular of the friendliest countries in Africa.
What is in a name…
The Portuguese trader Candido José da Costa Cardoso was the very first European to take a look at the lake in 1846. In 1859, David Livingstone was the to start with European to map Lake Malawi, he named it Lake Nyasa, probably unintentionally as Nyasa suggests lake in the nearby Yao language, so he’d effectively christened it ‘Lake Lake’. Livingstone also referred to the lake as Lake Nyinyesi Lake of Stars, as very well as Lake of Storms – Lake of Stars, was motivated by the fishermen’s lanterns bobbing on its waters, a nighttime action that carries on nowadays, afterwards, after experiencing an unpredictable and particularly violent gale he also referred to it as the Lake of Storms. In Tanzania the lake is still acknowledged as Lake Nyasa and in Mozambique as Lago Niassa. At independence, in 1964, both of those the lake and the place took on the title Malawi.
The title Malawi is considered to derive from the phrase Maravi. The folks of the Maravi Empire had been iron personnel. Maravi is imagined to suggest “Flames” and may have occur from the sight of a lot of kilns lights up the night sky. Mentioned to be from Chichewa malawi (“flames”), soon after the overall look of the dawn around Lake Malawi also quite possibly from Maravi, the identify of an early Malawi tribe, or from an previous title for a lake
Anyone who has watched the sunshine dipping down into Lake Malawi at the end of the day or the moon rise bit by bit in excess of its waters, stood on its shores and peered in the distant mist or watched as early morning fishermen glide back again to shore from their right away journeys, or basically listened to the light lapping of its waves on the shore, will be drawn to return, in excess of and over, to the lake with many names.
Africa’s grand aquarium
Globally renowned for its biodiversity and property to all over one,000 species of fish, far more than any other lake in the earth, Lake Malawi is a haven for underwater fans and gives some of the most exceptional and various freshwater diving encounters in the entire world. Cichlids are the star of Lake Malawi, with all around 850 different species of these vibrant and curious fish uncovered in the lake’s clear waters, numerous of which are endemic to the lake and can only be located right here.
Malawi is identified for obtaining some of the best freshwater diving in the entire world. The diving in Lake Malawi is appropriate for each expert and beginner divers, with a wide range of dive web sites obtainable, some of the most well-known spots getting Nkhata Bay and Cape Maclear. The visibility in the lake is typically good, and the water temperature is heat, producing it a cozy surroundings for diving, or snorkelling if you like.
Some common dive sites in Lake Malawi include things like:
Mumbo Island: This modest island is regarded for its excellent dive websites. The island is surrounded by shallow coral gardens and is property to a wide range of vibrant fish.
Cathedral: This dive web page is located in the southern component of the lake and is known for its substantial underwater formations that resemble a cathedral. The web page is home to a diverse array of fish and is preferred for night diving.
Thumbi West Island: This island is located in the northern portion of the lake and is identified for its apparent waters and plentiful marine daily life. The island is surrounded by shallow coral gardens and is a great place for the two snorkelling and diving.
What to do
It is not stunning that quite a few of the actions around the lake are likely to be water-based. Without a doubt, the lake gives great diving and snorkelling opportunities, and the warm, obvious waters make swimming a enjoyment. Other options incorporate sailing, kayaking, fishing, boat outings, paddle boarding and waterskiing, expending time on the beach front, or basically stress-free upon the deck of a catamaran as it sails the emerald waters. For all those who like to stay on dry land, strolling and mountaineering in the mountains, discovering tea estates, bicycling by means of villages or browsing a nearby neighborhood task, can all be arranged.
- Visit Lake Malawi Nationwide Park
Proven in 1980 and shown as a UNESCO Globe Heritage web page, Lake Malawi National Park is the world’s initial freshwater national park. Masking about 23,300 acres, the park encompasses the southern end of the lake all around Cape Maclear. It is recognized for its distinctive freshwater fish diversity and as a sanctuary for diverse wildlife.
- Consume some fish
People today have been fishing in Lake Malawi for countless numbers of decades and the lake presents local people with a important part of their food plan. Test the fish. Minimal-expense barbecue fish dining places can be observed all close to the lake or you can consider the Sunbird Livingstonia Seashore restaurant and grill in which neighborhood fish is a speciality.
- Go sailing
Lake Malawi is an superb palace to go sailing. Mainly because it is a lake, there are no perilous currents or swells to stress about. The h2o is quiet, the wind is mild, and the weather is nice 12 months around. Numerous lodges offer sailing tours or yacht rentals. For the most options, head to Cape Maclear. Check out Danforth Retreat and Yachting or Chembe Eagles Nest for sailing excursions.
- Have some beverages at a seaside bar
Chill out and look at the sunset in excess of a couple of cold cocktails or beers. You can also consider out some area Malawi distilled spirits. Awesome Runnings a lakeside guesthouse in Senga Bay is a good location to test.
- Go fishing
For millennia, folks have fished Lake Malawi. The lake has some fantastic fishing, most lodges will present some fishing ordeals or you can hire gear near the lake and consider your luck. For the very best opportunity of catching something, you may possibly want to think about employing a community information to demonstrate you the greatest fishing spots. Ulisa Bay Lodge on Likoma Island provide fishing activities with neighborhood fishermen.
- Check out the sunset
The sunset in excess of Lake Malawi is 1 of the most magnificent you are going to at any time see. Lake Malawi delivers a one of a kind sunset place and Cape Maclear is one particular of the very best spots to admire it – the sunshine turns into a red fireball though the sky improvements from orange to pink as the sun sinks decrease in the sky and eventually dips into the lake.
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Where by to remain
There are only a handful of luxury lodges on the lake’s secluded beaches and small islands. For relaxed lakeside residing, where you can wander straight out of your home and onto the beach front, or laze in a hammock with a e-book, swim in gin-crystal clear h2o and dine on scrumptious local fish, the most accessible and well-known parts of Lake Malawi are its southern and central areas.
This is in which you will uncover some good lakeside accommodations, ranging from household-pleasant seaside resorts like The Makokola Retreat to romantic island lodges like Mumbo Island and Kaya Mawa. Even in these extra frequented places, the lake is wonderfully untouched by mass tourism no crowds, just a strain-totally free beach vacation in a actually specific area.
Lodging in Lake Malawi ranges from beachside resorts to personal island getaways – anything for all preferences, budgets and outings.
Likoma Island, about halfway up Lake Malawi, lies near to the Mozambican shore. Compared with Mumbo, Likoma is inhabited and has a compact city famous for its wonderful cathedral which is, astonishingly, about the same size as England‘s well-known Winchester Cathedral. Flawlessly positioned on a rocky outcrop among two lovely seashores, Kaya Mawa has twelve stone-and-thatch chalets that lead straight to the very clear waters of the lake. Pure Likoma is a magical island getaway with handcrafted furnishings designed from timber salvaged from previous picket fishing boats, and regional materials, with some modern-day touches.
On the southern shore of Lake Malawi is Cape Maclear, perhaps the greatest-identified vacation vacation spot on the lake. Forest-covered hills tumble down to turquoise waters, village fishermen paddle past in dugout canoes, and the golden sand is lined with backpackers and seaside bars offering Cape Maclear a energetic ambiance. Most of the areas of fascination all over Cape Maclear, together with its offshore islands, variety element of the Lake Malawi Nationwide Park. Thumbi View Lodge provides spending plan seaside-entrance accommodation in Cape Maclear. Mumbo Island, a thirty-moment boat transfer from Cape Maclear (or for the adventurous traveller, a 2-hour paddle by canoe) is a laidback very little island wherever sandy trails meander as a result of dappled forests and solution seashores lie hidden in between granite boulders. Nearby Pumulani Lodge is located on the westside of the Nankumba Peninsula in the South conclude of Lake Malawi has its rooms created on the facet of a hill, providing you magnificent sights of the lake.
South of Cape Maclear, the palm-fringed Mangochi Lakeshore is easily accessible from both of those Lilongwe and Blantyre. Mangochi has the greatest concentration of accommodations and lodges on the lake nevertheless the beaches never really feel crowded and every single hotel has a non-public extend of sand dotted with thatched sunshades and welcoming sunlight beds. The major area to continue to be on Mangochi Lakeshore is The Makokola Retreat which has thatched rooms in a wonderful garden environment, an monumental swimming pool, a great spa and a 9 hole golfing study course adjacent to the retreat.
A very little little bit of record
In a unfortunate chapter of sub-Saharan heritage, for many years countless numbers of captured slaves have been transported across the lake from the trading centres of Karonga, Nkhotakota, and Salima. This was the shortest route to the island of Madagascar, then to Arabia and India.
Lake Malawi was also the scene of Britain’s very first naval victory of the Initial Earth War, when the SS Gwendolen sank the German ship Hermann von Wissmann with a single cannon shot from 2,000 yards. On sixteen August 1914 the British gunboat SS Gwendolen, commanded by a Captain Rhoades, read that Planet War I experienced damaged out, and acquired orders to “sink, melt away, or destroy” the German Empire’s only gunboat on the lake, the Hermann von Wissmann, commanded by a Captain Berndt. The Gwendolen found the Hermann von Wissmann, in German East African territorial waters and disabled her with a one cannon shot – the initial naval battle of Environment War I
Lake of Stars Competition
The Lake of Stars Pageant is an once-a-year a few-working day global competition held on the shores of Lake Malawi, the 3rd major lake in Africa. The to start with pageant took location in 2004 and appeals to around four,000 attendees with musical functions drawn predominantly from Africa and Europe in an extravaganza of intercontinental, regional and neighborhood audio, drama, dance, and poetry. (There will be no LOS pageant in 2023 it is been postponed to 2024).
When to pay a visit to
Mainly because the temperatures are always pleasurable, Lake Malawi is an excellent spot to go to calendar year-round. However if you had to pick out, the finest time to go to is likely in the dry year, May possibly – July. The temperatures will be cooler then. The wet time runs from October – March.
Vacation inspiration
Malawi based Crafted Africa have been setting up and coordinating tours to Malawi & Southern Africa for in excess of ten many years and offer a great eleven day Lake of Stars Explorer itinerary that incorporates The Makokola Retreat, Mumbo Island, Pumulani Lodge and Blue Zebra Lodge or an eight day Lake Malawi Holiday exploring the charming Pure Likoma and the lavish Kaya Mawa equally on Likoma Island.
Lake Malawi is much more than just a lake, it’s a lively ecosystem, a hub of neighborhood society, and an critical element of the region’s prosperous heritage. Irrespective of whether you are a birder, an angler, a scuba diver, a hiker, a nature lover, or just want to relax, Lake Malawi will enthral you with its mesmerizing splendor. This is just one of Africa’s ideal kept journey insider secrets.
