Other Malawi Places
Likoma Island, near the Mozambique lakeshore, is worth a visit – there are excellent swimming facilities off the beaches and a very interesting Anglican Cathedral. Accommodation is limited.
One of the best ways of seeing Lake Malawi is to cruise in the 630-ton Ilala II, the lake’s mini-liner which travels between Monkey Bay and Karonga in the north of the country. The 1052km (654-mile) voyage gives the passenger the opportunity to visit lake ports and to view the spectacular mountain scenery.
Cape Maclear, near Monkey Bay, has a beautiful sandy beach and is in the Lake Malawi National Park, the world’s first freshwater reserve. It is here that the fish-rich lake is seen at its best. There is no luxury accommodation but plenty of mid-range and budget lodges. There are plans for a hotel.
Nkhotakota, on the central lake shore, is one of Africa’s oldest market towns and was once a centre of the slave trade. There are mid-range lodges here from which one can visit the nearby national park. Further north is Nkhata Bay, a busy port and market and a favourite stopping place for overlanders. There is a much budget accommodation around the bay
