Malawi · Southern Africa
Lake Malawi.
Lake Malawi holds more species of fish than any other lake on earth, and the clear water makes them visible from the surface.
Photo Anvesh Uppunuthula / Unsplash
The cichlids are the reason snorkelling here is worth doing rather than merely pleasant — the rocky shorelines around Cape Maclear and Likoma hold dense, brilliantly coloured populations found nowhere else.
Likoma and Chizumulu are Malawian islands lying in Mozambican waters, and reaching them is part of the appeal. Lake Malawi National Park is a World Heritage Site, listed for exactly this biodiversity.
How big is Lake Malawi?
Around 580 kilometres long and up to about 75 kilometres wide, it is the third-largest lake in Africa, shared by Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It holds several hundred species of cichlid fish, the great majority found nowhere else.
How do you get to Lake Malawi?
Fly into Lilongwe, from where the southern lakeshore and Cape Maclear are a drive of a few hours. Likoma Island is reached by light aircraft or by the lake ferry.
Can you swim in Lake Malawi?
Yes, and snorkelling and kayaking are much of the reason to go. Bilharzia is present in parts of the lake, particularly in shallow, reedy water near villages, so take medical advice before travelling. A test after returning home is usual.
How long should you spend at Lake Malawi?
Three or four nights is typical, usually as a rest at the end of a safari. Liwonde in Malawi and South Luangwa in Zambia are the two most common pairings.
What is there to see in Lake Malawi?
What does Lake Malawi pair well with?
- Liwonde and MajeteLiwonde and Majete are the two parks that have been most transformed by reintroduction, and both now hold the Big Five.
- Nyika and the northern highlandsThe Nyika Plateau is high, rolling grassland that looks more like the Scottish Highlands than Africa.
- South Luangwa, ZambiaSouth Luangwa is the home of the walking safari and one of the most concentrated wildlife areas in Africa.
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