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Likoma Island Lake Malawi, Malawi

Kaya Mawa Lodge

Kaya Mawa Lodge is set on a small island in Lake Malawi. It was built by hand using local materials and in cooperation with the surrounding community. This is a great R&R stop at the end of an active safari for culturally interested travelers. The excellent fresh water snorkelling and scuba diving and biking around the island and nearby villages are real highlights.  — Mango's view

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 & 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 loo 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.

Includes: All meals, laundry & non-motorized water sports