Kaya Mawa Lodge

Likoma Island is the larger of two small islands situated in the far north of Lake Malawi, on the east of the Lake and very close to the Mozambique coastline. To visit the island is to step back in time. Just 17 square kilometers with one small dirt road and two vehicles, the local people survive largely by fishing, and rice and cassava farming. The island has hundreds of huge baobab trees and a number of glorious sandy beaches and rocky coves. The waters are crystal clear throughout the year and the diving and snorkeling is among the best in Lake Malawi.

Kaya Mawa Lodge is situated on the southwestern tip of the Island at the head of a crescent-shaped bay, surrounded by mango trees and ancient baobabs. Translated as “Maybe tomorrow” in the local Tonga dialect, the lodge uses the stunning natural surroundings of beach, rock, island and lake to create a lodge of unique character, imagination and very special ambience. With no machinery available on the island, Kaya Mawa Lodge was built entirely by hand, in partnership with the local community. It consists of ten stone and teak-framed thatched cottages set into a granite headland. There is a honeymoon house tucked away on its own private island that is reached by boat or a wooden walkway.

Each cottage faces the lake and has a 7- by 6-foot mahogany four-poster bed, a shower, a sunken stone bathtub and a bathroom with a view. The view from the shower in the honeymoon suite defies description. All the cottages have private terraces with direct access to the water, and some can only be reached by walkways built over the lake. The stunning setting of the lodge and the unique comfort of the rooms means that many guests choose to make relaxation their main activity, but enough activities are on offer to keep guests busy. Scuba, snorkeling, swimming, sailing and visits to the local villages are part of the experience. Day trips to Mozambique can be arranged.

Kaya Mawa Lodge is part of Wilderness Safaris

Photos courtesy of Dana Allen and Wilderness Safaris

Located on Likoma Island in the north east of Lake Malawi very close to the Mozambique shores of the lake. The lodge is on the southern tip of the island and is located on the edge of a long sweeping sandy beach bordered by two rocky promontories.

Likoma Island has an airstrip, which is about 4 kilometers from the lodge and this can be accessed easily from all other airstrips in Malawi. The flight in and out is a feature of a trip to the island. When coming from the north (Chelinda Lodge) the flight path is over the sheer Nyika escarpment and offers dramatic views of the steep Livingstone Mountains in Tanzania. When coming from Lilongwe the flight path is over the old slave settlement of Nkhotakota and the wooded hills of Central Malawi. A flight from Mvuu is perhaps the most dramatic of all, passing over the scenic Cape Maclear Peninsula and then along the thickly forested Mozambican shores of the lake.

The Mv Ilala, named after David Livingstone’s second steamer used in this region runs a weekly ferry service from Monkey Bay in the south around the whole lake, calling twice at Likoma. The Ilala is essentially a local bus service on the lake servicing many small communities whose only contact with the outside world is this boat's weekly visit. The top deck offers 4 cabins which are basic and comfortable rather than luxurious, the ferry is a wonderful way of seeing the lake, meeting the people and arriving at this wonderful island. Owing to the very limited cabin space availability is often limited.

Kaya Mawa Lodge
Likoma Island,
Malawi

WEBSITE: www.wilderness-safaris.com
E-MAIL: Send an Email to Kaya Mawa Lodge
BOOKING: Send a Booking Request to Kaya Mawa Lodge

Photos - Aerial Views | PHOTOS | March 2007 | Images: 14Photos - Dining on the Beach | PHOTOS | December 2005 | Images: 18