Lake Malawi National Park

I visited this national park last year and I had good time. Good place to enjoy with your family or friends but not alone. It is the most beautiful nation park in Malawi.

Lake Malawi should be right up there on any traveller’s bucket list. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places in Africa - as close to a beach holiday as you can get without actually travelling to the ocean. I’m talking sandy beaches, remarkably clear water; gorgeous scenery, balmy nights and romance by the bucket loads. For those who don’t know – you won’t see the Big Five at the Lake Malawi National Park. There are a few mellow hippos and some chilled crocodiles in stretches of the park. Lake Malawi has the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world. This is one of the reasons why it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are loads of activities but after about two weeks of backpacking, I was ready to bliss out for a couple of days. I think I went canoeing once and did some flopping around in the water, pretending to look at fish. But was I relaxing? You betcha. Visitors should know that there is a risk of contracting bilharzia or schistosomiasis in Lake Malawi. This infectious disease lurks in especially the shallow waters around the reeds and can result in flu-like symptoms developing about six weeks after exposure. A dose of fast-acting antibiotics will take care of it. I have to say I swam in the water. A lot. I didn’t get bilharzia. Maybe I would feel differently about the lake if I had. But I still think it is a magical place. A slice of heaven. With a wee bit of a bite.

A great place to relax on the southern end of the lake. We came by steamboat down the lake, which I will tell you grows wearisome. Pay the extra for the cabin, and expect many long, slow days with various delays. A good time for rum and writing. At the park, there are elephants galore. Best elephants I can recall in Africa during my two long visits. There's some hikes out into a wetland area you can do alone that are pretty rewarding with hippos, elephants etc. This is a bit shady, so be alert and don't block an animal from the water or approach when young are around. I can't stress how shady it was out there...and therefore exciting. The night game drives were fun with a lot of smaller game. No leopards this time, though they aren't as rare here as elsewhere. Enjoy, and another note: we saw most of the elephants from within the fences of our lodge, which we reached on the backs of bicycle taxis with banana seats!

Though it looks thin and small on a map, this lake is large and magnificent. Staying at the south end for 10 days was the most luxurious stay one could have hoped for! There are islands out in the water, and storms can rage without notice from one side to another - - filling the skies with multi-color thunderclouds. Most of the weather was lovely, however, and the water BLUE. Snorkeling was offered, and with visitors studying “cichlids” it was a must. These are small blue fish (about 4” long) with yellow cheeks that, when threatened, take their baby fish into their mouths. When it’s “all-clear!,” out they come! We were lucky to see African fish-eagles swooping down for prey, as well as Kingfisher and hammerkop birds. The beaches are lovely sand, and there are small guest-retreats or a lively backpacker place with lots of young travelers. Souvenirs are sold by locals on the beach, and just hanging out and eating al-fresco is the best.