Lake Malawi, is one of Africa's most spectacular Rift Valley lakes, occupying one fifth of Malawi's total land mass, stretching from Tanzania in the North to Mangochi in the south bordering Mozambique on the eastern shoreline.
It is 365 miles long and 52 miles wide and reaches a depth of over 700 metres in the northern parts. It is fed by fourteen rivers and drained by only one, the Shire River in the south.
Just about every visitor to Malawi will visit the lake which regarded as a truly tropical paradise, and it not difficult to see why, with the spectacular surrounding scenery, miles of golden beaches lining the shores of the lake and the crystal clear water. From north to south there is are numerous places to stay of great variety of accommodation that suit most peoples taste and budget. The Lake has become a playground for tourists worldwide. The lake is ideal for watersports, sailing or just relaxing in the sun.
Lake Malawi has over 500 species of tropical fish, some which not found anywhere else in the world. Scuba diving is very popular in certain areas providing excellent visibility and safe conditions.
In recent years it has been recorded that there is bilharzia in certain parts of the lake, mainly in the south where the rivers flood in during the raining season from the villages upstream. In these areas and during the raining season visibility can be very poor and the lake appears slightly muddy.
