Malawi : Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is the third largest fresh water lake in Africa and dominates the small country of Malawi. With clear waters, huge sandy beaches and remote islands it's a match to the Indian Ocean. There are a number of excellent hotels and lodges which provide sailing, water skiing, wind surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling: Lake Malawi has the biggest variety of fresh water fish in the world. It's so huge it's like an inland sea and one of the most beautiful spots on the continent.

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Danforth Lodge

Danforth Yachting is an owner-run Yacht charter and luxury lodge, situated at Cape Maclear on the shores of Lake Malawi. A visit to Danforth Yachting gives you the best of both worlds: plenty of time to enjoy sailing on the lake, cruising, snorkelling, diving and water-sports, with the comfort of a luxury lodge to which to return.

The Danforth Guest Lodge has four spacious, en-suite family rooms, tastefully decorated in cool, nautical colours and all opening onto a large patio. All rooms have spectacular views of the lake and look out over Thumbi West Island. The garden has shady lawns, leading to a clean beach and crystal clear water. The beach is just a stones throw away, and moored 50 metres away is the Danforth luxury yacht “Mufasa”.

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Pumulani

Pumulani is a stunning new luxury beach lodge on Lake Malawi, run by African lodge veterans, Robin Pope Safaris who have a number of excellent camps in Zambia. The only luxury lodge in the world heritage site of Lake Malawi National Park, it has 10 individual villas, set along the hillside and overlooking the lake. Each villa has a large bedroom, a spacious living area and a private deck. Pumulani is a gorgeous getaway with watersports and relaxation - on the beach or by the infinity pool - top of the agenda.

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Kaya Mawa, Likoma Island

Likoma Island is set in Lake Malawi only a couple of miles off the Mozambique coast, with its clear waters, sandy beaches and dotted with mango and baobab trees. Here set on a rocky peninsular is the beautiful Kaya Mawa Lodge. The name means maybe tomorrow, which is an apt name for such a relaxing place and in general laid back island.

It took a number of years to finish the lodge but the end result is a beautifully thought out and imaginatively constructed eight room lodge built of local stone and thatch. The buildings incorporate the lakes massive boulders in the rooms and ensuite bathrooms, all which have large sunken baths. The honeymoon suite is situated on its own private island, hidden to all except the occasional passing fisherman. It has an outside bath and faces the sunset. There is a two-way radio to the lodge so you can order cold drinks and food. You can either swim or there is a boat across to the main lodge.

The main bar and sitting area are set high on the rocks, catching the breeze and with a stunning 360-degree view. It really is a beautiful situation and the perfect place to unwind and relax. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy with a windsurfer, hobie cat, a laser, water skiing and boat trips, walks across the island and a visit to the amazing cathedral built in 1903, it's an incredible building more so as it is in such a remote area and an early morning rise on a Sunday to catch the 8am service, or part of it, is a must for anyone staying on Likoma. You can hear beautiful singing in any African church but the acoustics in the cathedral, which is the size of Winchester Cathedral, are perfect.

The lodge is run by the owners in a very relaxed and informal way, cold drinks are always on hand and meals are when you want them either on the roof top dining area, on the terrace or on the water side gazebo or even dinner for two on the balcony of your room.

If you want to see a bit of real African life you can wander down the beach to the local fishing villages, where you will find the women and children collecting water, washing and playing and the men fishing and mending nets. This is an idyllic spot to relax and enjoy true Malawian hospitality, meet some of the locals in their villages and learn about simple hand to mouth living in remote areas which is rare in many of the lodges.

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Kayak Africa

Arriving at Mumbo or Domwe Island camps either by boat or more peacefully by Kayak you enter a desert island haven. Like the rest of the lake huge boulders make up the shore line, which provides lovely snorkeling from the beach. At Mumbo the accommodation and bar area are on a smaller island adjoined by a knee deep causeway. There are five tented rooms with wooden decks and straw roofing around the island all with beautiful views and perched high on the rocks with the decks overhanging the water.

The rooms are tastefully furnished simple but comfortable with a hammock on each deck the perfect place to watch the sun set or the moon rise depending on which side of the island your room is on and watch the birds fishing and listen to the haunting cry of the fish eagle.

The emphasis at Domwe and Mumbo is of ecologically friendly camps. There are no generators and all lighting is with hurricane lamps. There is no running water so the shower is a bucket shower, which can be filled anytime of day with hot or warm water. The toilets are self-composting toilets. Due to the ecological impact of toilets the rooms are not ensuite so there are two toilets and a shower for the whole camp. This could put some people off which would be a great pity as this is a beautiful unspoilt haven in the middle of Lake Malawi and the toilets are very clean and swimming in the fresh waters of Lake Malawi to wake you in the morning and to cool down at night before you go to bed means less use of the shower.

The dining area is simple with complimentary tea, coffee, filtered water and juice available all day and there is an ice filled cooler box with beers and drinks with an honesty bar system. The food is excellent simple and wholesome and the staff look after you impeccably with a friendly smile and always keen for a chat.

Both these lodges are beautifully situated, incredibly peaceful and relaxing and a couple of nights at each camp would be the perfect way to finish your holiday. It would be a pity to miss out on this island paradise just because of the lack of ensuite toilets.

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Club Makokola

Club Makokola is a smallish beach resort beside Lake Malawi, like most resorts it could be anywhere but it is small enough to keep a certain charm. The ensuite rooms are certainly very comfortable and nicely decorated and set in beautiful mature gardens along the lake with a beautifully swept and clean sandy beach.

There is a huge swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, volley ball court and a 9 hole golf course adjacent to the hotel. There is hobie cat sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, sunset cruises and daytrips on the catamaran or hotel boat. There is plenty to do and the lake is beautiful and the people charming but like any bigish international hotel it lacks its own personality and the food is pretty standard fare.

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The Livingstonia Beach Hotel

The Livingstonia Beach Hotel is small resort in a very pretty bay near to Salima on Lake Malawi. It is a sweet old colonial hotel with a lovely beach and all the water sports. It is now owned by Meridian hotels and while its run very well it lacks a bit of personality. The food is simple but quite good and the rooms are clean. It's a very good place to have a night or two when you arrive into Lilongwe and to get over your flight as it's not too long a journey from the airport and it is a lovely old hotel but well worth taking one of the main suites with a balcony onto the beach rather than the luxury rooms.

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