Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Elephant Marsh in Malawi's far south is your surest bet. Land & Lake Safaris in Lilongwe
can organise birdwatching tours around the country.
DIVING, SNORKELLING & OTHER WATERSPORTS
Lake Malawi's population of colourful fish attracts travellers to come scuba diving. The
lake is reckoned by experts to be among the best freshwater diving areas in the world, and
one of the cheapest places to learn how to dive. The water is warm and (depending on sea-
son) visibility and weather conditions are usually good. Places where you can hire scuba
gear and take a PADI Open Water course include Nkhata Bay, Cape Maclear, Likoma Is-
land and Senga Bay. If you don't want to dive you can still have fun with the fish. Gear
for snorkelling can be hired from most dive centres, and most lakeside hotels rent snor-
kelling equipment.
Upmarket places along the lake have facilities for water-skiing or windsurfing. You can
also go sailing, or join luxurious 'sail safaris' where everything is done for you - Danforth
Yachting and Pumulani, based in Cape Maclear on the southern lakeshore, can organise
this for you. Kayaking is available at Cape Maclear and Nkhata Bay and at many of the
lodges that dot the lakeshore.
FISHING
You can go fishing in Lake Malawi for
mpasa
(also called lake salmon),
ncheni
(lake ti-
ger),
sungwa
(a type of perch),
kampango
or
vundu
(both catfish). There are trout in
streams on the Nyika, Zomba and Mulanje Plateaux, and tigerfish can be hooked in the
Lower Shire River. Anglers can contact the
Angling Society of Malawi
(
www.anglingmalawi.com
)
for further details. Great salmon fishing can also be had at
Tongole Wilderness Lodge on the Bua River in Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.
HIKING
The main areas for hiking are Nyika and Mulanje. Other areas include Zomba, and vari-
ous smaller peaks around Blantyre. Mulanje is Malawi's main rock-climbing area, with
some spectacular routes, although local climbers also visit smaller crags and outcrops.
Rock climbing can also be arranged in Livingstonia and in the Viphya Plateau.
The
Mountain Club of Malawi
( 01-821269;
www.mcm.org.mw
)
provides a wealth
of information about hiking on Mt Mulanje.
HORSE RIDING
There's a stables on the Zomba Plateau that can arrange short rides, and horse riding is
also popular at Kande Beach near Chintheche.
