Lake Malawi National Park
Lake Malawi forms most of the eastern border of Malawi. The lake is a great region of travelers. The towns on the shores of the lake may lack some tourist infrastructure but there is plenty to do. It just takes a canoe. Lake Malawi contains the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world, probably over 500 from ten families with perhaps half occurring in the park area.
In the north Koronga is the main town on the lake shore and is the entry and exit point for those travelling to and from Tanzania and Northern Zambia. The lakeshore stretch from Karonga, travelling south to Chiweta has probably the most dramatic scenery of all the lake with immense mountains rising to each side.
The main tourist attraction in the northern lakeshore region is the Livingstonia Mission which was built in 1894 by Dr Robert Laws who named it in honour of Dr Livingstone. Livingstonia is located in a small village, Khondowe, on top of the west Rift Valley escarpment, 900m above the lakeshore.
Nkhata Bay is a bit further to the south. It lies about 50km east of Mzuzu and is the most popular northern lakeshore resort, and is one of the lakeshores most scenic villages consisting of two bays separated by a long narrow peninsula. One of the bays is mainly a port where the Lake Malawi steamer docks, the other, Chikale Beach is a backpackers heaven.
Chintheche lies about 40km south Nkhata Bay, and has a few small shops, a market, mosque and bank that is only open twice a week. The lakeshore north and south of the village has long, white stretches of fine sandy beaches. 14kms south is the village of Dwangwa where you can can stay at the Kasasa Club which offers a golf course, swimming pool, attractive club house with a bar and restaurant, and self contained chalets. Drinks are subsidised for the estate workers so are cheaper than anywhere else.
Nkhotakota is another place to stay. For much of the 19 century it was the centre of slave trading, with as many as 20,000 slaves being shipped over the lake into Tanzania every year. This was only finally stopped in the 1890’s when Dr Livingstone met with Jumbe, the local chief and persuaded him to sign a treaty abandoning the slave trade. There are several resthouses to stay in within the town. There is little to see in this region but venturing inland takes you through Nkhotakota Game Reserve. Salima is located inland approx 20kms from the lake, it is the closest town to Senga bay where there are several beach lodges along the lakeshore.
The southern part of the lake is designated a national park. The recreation site at Cape maclear is well equiped and includes a resthouse, bar, caravan and camping site.
Related Travel Information
Mzuzu
Malawi: Basic Information
Full Country Name: The Republic of Malawi
Area: 118,000 sq. km
Population: 11,651,239 (est. 2003)
Capital City: Lilongwe
Key Date: 6 July (Independence Day)
People: Malawian
Languages: English, Chichewa
Religion(s): Protestant (55%), Roman Catholic (20%), Muslim (20%), indigenous beliefs (3%), other beliefs (2%)
Currency: Malawian Kwacha
Government system: Multiparty democracy
Major political parties: United Democratic Front (UDF), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Republican Party (RP), Peoples' Progressive Movement (PPM)
Government: United Democratic Front (UDF)
Head of State: President Bingu wa Mutharika
Foreign Minister: Hon George Chaponda
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), African Union (AU), United Nations.
Kasugu National Park
Kasugu National Park covers 2 316 km and contains several sites of archaeological interest, which the visitor can explore along a 10 km trail. Miombo woodland, which covers much of the park, is interspersed with open, seasonally flooded flats, and there are broken hills to the north. Game-viewing in the park is good, particularly towards the end of the dry season, and elephant, hippopotamus, buffalo, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, reedbuck, kudu, roan, sable, puku, oribi and impala may be seen, as well as a small population of black rhinoceros. Lion, cheetah and leopard are also present. More than 3000 bird
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is world famous for, and was created a National Park, to protect its stunning flocks of lesser flamingo, which literally turn its shores pink. Its birdlife is world renowned: a beacon for leading ornithologists, scientists and wildlife film-makers. The park spans an attractive range of wooded and bush grassland around the lake offering wide ecological diversity, from lake water, woodland to the rocky escarpments and ridges. Nakuru provides the visitor with one of Kenya's best known images. Thousands of flamingo, joined into a massive flock, fringe the shores of this soda lake. A pulsing pink swathe of
Lake Nakuru National Park
You will visit the Nakuru National Parka after passing through the colorful hamlets. The surroundings is breathtaking and the variety of wildlife in the sanctuary is unmatched.
Factfile - Lake Nakuru National Park
Location: At Lake Nakuru in East Africa
Total area: 188 sq. kms
Best attractions: Flamingos
Best time to visit: March-December
Reputed has a 'most fabulous bird spectacle in the world'. Lake Nakuru National Park can be visited in a long day trip or an overnight stopover on safari going north or west. It is world famous as the feeding grounds of both lesser and greater flamingos which can
