The blue bay
Clear water, green hills.
Avi Alpert — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA — CC BY 2.0 · Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA — CC BY 2.0 · Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA — CC BY 2.0 · Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA — CC BY 2.0
Nkhata Bay is a town on the shore of Lake Malawi in the north of the country, capital of Nkhata Bay District and one of the main ports on the lake. Home to about 14,000 people, it lies 40 km east of the city of Mzuzu and about 70 km in a straight line from Likoma Island. Townspeople live mainly from fishing, cassava, rice and nuts are farmed around it, and there are rubber and macadamia plantations. Tourism is a major source of income for the community. The MV Ilala, which sails the lake from Monkey Bay in the south to Chilumba in the north via Likoma and Chizumulu islands, calls at its port. The bay holds clear blue water framed by green hills, with houses and lodges scattered among the trees on its shores. Sunset light falls on dark rocks by the water, fishermen paddle wooden canoes, and cormorants perch on the edges of moored boats. Minibuses run regularly to Mzuzu, Nkhotakota and Salima. You can take the Ilala to Likoma, so check its timetable ahead. Swim only in calm spots that locals recommend.
Clear water, green hills.
Fishermen at dusk.
Voyages on the lake.
Nkhata Bay, Northern Region, Malawi
By minibus from Mzuzu, or on the Ilala.
Yes, on the Ilala; check its timetable.