Fantastic Malawi!

25/08/15

The border crossing - no comment! (Necia banished to the car again).

We pushed on until we got to Salima. Quickly realized that the 50km and sometimes 80km speed limit is for the benefit of the myriad of bicycles everywhere. It is the most common mode of transport of people, stacks of firewood, charcoal, live goats, anything, in fact; no gears and often no breaks either!

Check what's on the back of this chap's bike!

We experienced our first taste of paradise at Steps Campsite, Senga Bay. 

Rod loved the bargaining and hunting for treasures.

"Come look. Looking for free. Looking costs nothing".

    

           Y

Provisioning time. 

We dragged ourselves away after three nights and headed North along the Lake and decided to pull in at Makuzi Beach Lodge. 

How can paradise get any better?! This was an absolute gem of a place - turns out the owner is an ex- Richards Bay born and bred chap, Brett Pollard, married to lovely Malawian born Lara. 

Camp site is to the left in amongst the trees.

View from our spot.

First morning on the beach.

Every sunrise and every sunset is worthy of a photo - in our minds and memories forever.

The water really is this clear.

We paddled out to the big island and tried to get a bit fitter swimming to the smaller one a few times a day.

First time we put "clothes" on today was to have a treat dinner on the beach. Cozzies and sarongs are the general order of the day.

We always seem to be eating - fish, onions, tomatoes, cabbage; even tried 'steak' from the open air butcher, and goat too.

Happy, healthy and tanned!

Malawi is such a kaleidoscope of colors and images that words cannot do much justice to. Hence all the photos in this post. 

Road conditions means slowly, slowly. Not the potholes so much - more the edges of the road which can have huge sharp drop offs. Then it becomes a battle for your half of the road with the oncoming vehicles (who don't observe the speed limits).

Hold your breath and one vehicle at a time. This is a main road - the M5 and not a new replacement bridge.

The aim was to get the colorful ladies in the background. I have fallen in love with their multicolored way of dressing in " chitenges" and the way their babies are slung in slings.

Fishing industry is huge - each one of these was once a whole tree trunk.

Children everywhere - "sweet, sweet ! Give me money! Jambule ( take a photo)". If you take a photo then you have to pay.

A night back in Senga Bay at Cool Runnings to check out the fish market and surrounding village.

Fish drying on racks in the sun.

Not quite as pristine as our gem up North, but the Lake and the life it generates is vibrant and lively.