My New Years Resolution for 2011 is to explore more of Lake Malawi's beautiful beaches! (Easy enough for me to accomplish!) And to avoid
Schistosomiasis as much as possible...
Lake Malawi is a respite, a relaxing getaway from the trials of being a PCV in Malawi. Thankfully, I live within 20km from Senga Bay, a place I frequent as much as possible even in the rainy season.
So here is where I've been so far...
CHIPOKA BEACH
Chipoka is about 40km from Salima. I visited Chipoka Beach Lodge as part of a field visit. There is a local community based organization (CBO) in this area that targets vulnerable children. After our field visit, we dined on the beach with this beautiful view.
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| Chipoka Beach Lodge (My Corona Advertisement Shot) |
Malawians wash and launder in the waters of the lake. And the shoreline was reedy...prime location for Schisto.
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| Malawians Utilizing the Waters of Lake Malawi |
SENGA BAY
The closest beach to Salima, Senga Bay has a variety of hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars and other hot spots on the beach for Malawians and tourists to enjoy. I find myself here often because of its convenience and beauty plus I need to get my swim on. A top tourist destination is Livingstonia Beach, a Sunbird Hotel resort.
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| Livingstonia Beach |
NKHOTAKOTA
Located in the Central Region of Malawi, historically Nkhotakota district played a direct role in the ivory and slave trade of Malawi. Today, its economy is driven by fishing and rice production. It is not an area where one can swim due to the numerous reeds (Schistosomiasis breeding zones) and fishermen. But it is indeed a beautiful fishing community. It is also a malaria prone area, benefiting from numerous mosquito net programs. Unfortunately, many of the nets are used instead for fishing, as illustrated below.
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| Fishermen Use Mosquito Bed Nets to Fish |
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| Fishing Boat |
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| Iwe in the Sand |
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| Retired Fishing Boats Among the Lily Pads |
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| Damaged Dock |
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| Fishing Village along the Lakeshore |
My travel buddy and I ventured to Satima Inn. The inn was built in the 1960s out of old shipping boat materials. The owner is awesome, the food is delicious, and the scenery is breathtaking. The dorms are also reasonably priced, and the showers are nice!
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| Satima Inn, the Hidden Jewel of Nkhotakota |
KANDE BEACH
AKA "Candy Beach," the water of Kande Beach is crystal clear. I literally soaked in this water for several hours enjoying the tranquility and quietness of the Lake. The resort is difficult to reach, so there aren't many people. It is more of an oasis surrounded by villages tucked away from modernity. Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures because I was enjoying the water so much. But this is definitely, so far, my favorite lake spot.
Not only was the scenery beautiful, but the food was absolutely delicious! The service at the resort was top notch, with an adorable waiter eager to serve you. Oh, and I finally found real chocolate cake (no photo though, I ate it all up!). The dorms were reasonably priced, but the showers were tragic...rusty water flowed from the pipes, and if you were able to find a shower without rust, the water was cold. But to adapt to the poor water situation, bathe in the Lake.
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| Rainclouds Form over the Water |
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| Kande Beach Chalets |
NKHATA BAY
Further north along the lakeshore, one will find Nkhata Bay. Yet again, the beaches are beautiful and the water clear (except right after the rains). Tucked away from the town, Chikale Beach is a worthwhile hike to scenic sands and warm water.
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| Chikale Beach |
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| View of Nkhata Bay Town |
My friends and I stayed at Big Bluestar Backpackers, a popular destination amongst PCVs. There are cute and homey shacks along the shores. The food is pretty good. And if you are lucky to be there on your birthday, they will bake you a cake. There is a bar that plays reggae music and provides cold refreshment. But the best part of this hostel is the view of the Lake.
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| Big Bluestar Backpackers Lounge Area |
Seen from a distance (below), the Ilala ship docks in Nkhata Bay. The Ilala is the largest and pretty much only ship in Lake Malawi that travels along the lakeshore. In the near future, I plan to board the Ilala on its week long journey from the southern tip of Cape Maclear up to the northern Likoma Islands.
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| The Ilala Boat in the Distance |
Obviously, I've seen much of Lake Malawi and find myself plotting my next venture to the beaches. However, Malawi has more to offer in the form of National Parks, mountains, and hiking. Plus many friends are scattered across the country, doing a variety of good work to showcase to an eager visitor. I hope to explore more of this breathtakingly beautiful country in the remaining 1.5 years of my time here.
