Lake Malawi (or Lake Nyasa as it is called by other countries with different ideas regarding lake ownership) is the third largest lake in Africa and the ninth largest lake in the world. After being in the country for just a few weeks, I have already visited the lake three times!
'The Lake' is a popular weekend trip for those looking to escape the city for the weekend. Driving from Lilongwe to Selima, one of the nearest spots on the lake, takes around 1.5 hrs. However, for the past two weekends I have gone to Cape Maclear--a very beautiful area around 3.5 hrs from Lilongwe.
'The Lake' is a popular weekend trip for those looking to escape the city for the weekend. Driving from Lilongwe to Selima, one of the nearest spots on the lake, takes around 1.5 hrs. However, for the past two weekends I have gone to Cape Maclear--a very beautiful area around 3.5 hrs from Lilongwe.
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Fuel in Malawi is extremely expensive and not always available. Outside of the main cities, cars and trucks are few and far between. Consequently, most of the road to Cape Maclear is paved, scenic and almost car-free.
Rush hour on the Lilongwe-Cape Maclear road.
Cape Maclear (or Chembe) is a sleepy lakeside village with a small local community and a number of cottages. Backpacker lodges share the waterfront with locals doing their laundry and catching fish to dry in the sun.
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| Lakeside laundry |
Ten minutes by boat and you are away from the daily village activities and surrounded by beautiful tropical paradise. The lake is known for its amazing diversity of fish and we spent the day swimming, snorkeling and attempting to catch a few. I guess our lack of fishing expertise was obvious and a group of local boys quickly paddled their dug-out canoe to sell us their fish.
After a full day on the water, you can't get too much better than a beautiful sunset over the lake!
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