Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Much of the area around Cape Maclear, including several offshore islands, is part of
Lake
Malawi National Park
(per person/car US$5/1)
one of the few freshwater aquatic parks
in Africa, and designated a Unesco World Heritage Site back in 1986. The park headquar-
ters are just inside the gate, where you'll also find a visitor centre which doubles as a
7.30am-noon & 1-5pm Mon-Sat, 10am-
noon & 1-4pm Sun)
.
The aquarium isn't exactly brimming over with marine life and is more like a little in-
formation centre, with explanatory panels about the lake life overshadowing the one func-
tioning tank with its few fish and solitary turtle. The museum charts the area's history and
you'll be offered a guided tour. The museum also provides a good back- story on Living-
stone's first mission if you're off to visit the nearby missionary graves.
Just before the entrance gate to the national park is a sign pointing to a path, which
leads towards the hills overlooking the bay. A few hundred metres up is a small group of
tempted to establish the first Livingstonia Mission here in 1875.
Activities
The phantom 'boat tour boys' who took your money and never turned up seem to have
evaporated since the establishment of the
Cape Maclear Tour Guides Association
- a
membership organisation for the area's guides ensuring business is fairly distributed
among them. All registered guides work to a set price list, and circulate at different resorts
along the beach on a weekly basis, so it's more than likely you'll be
softly
approached by
one within an hour or two of arrival.
Snorkelling
Guides registered with the Cape Maclear Tour Guides Association can organise a number
of half- and full-day trips involving snorkelling. For example, trips to Thumbi Island West
will cost around US$45 per person including food, snorkel hire, park fees and fish-eagle
feeding.
If you prefer to go snorkelling on your own, many places rent gear (rates start at about
US$10, but check the quality of your mask). Otter Point is a small rocky peninsula and
nearby islet that is popular with snorkellers and even more so with fish. You may even see
otters here.
