Malawi is a small country south of Tanzania and east of Mozambique. It is one of the poorest countries in Africa with one of the worst HIV problems. Despite this, it is an amazing place to visit, with stunning scenery, the friendliest people, and a variety of places to see. One fifth of the country is covered by the great Lake Malawi, formerly known as Lake Nyasa, and its shores offer some of the best places to visit in Malawi.
The lake itself is the third largest in Africa and the eighth in the world and has more species of fish than any other lake in the world. The famous explorer David Livingstone was the first European to discover the lake, and it was he who named it Nyasa.
One of the best ways to see the lake is to take the Ilala ferry, which travels from the northern town of Chilumba to the southern port of Monkey Bay. The ferry also stops at Likoma and Chizumulu Islands, two beautiful islands with a population of just 9,000 people. Although the islands belong to Malawi, they are in fact surrounded by Mozambican waters. These islands are rarely visited which makes them an amazing place to visit for their authenticity to this region.
Most of the towns scattered along its banks are small fishing villages, taking advantage of the great variety and abundance of fish that reside there. The people here have become known as the friendliest in Africa, and although many of them live in poverty, they are exceptionally welcoming and more than happy to talk to you.
