Lake Malawi is Africa’s third largest lake and stretches for over 300 miles. It is a freshwater, inland sea surrounded by palm fringed, golden sand beaches ideal for watersports. Scuba diving is very popular in certain areas providing excellent visibility and safe conditions. Lake Malawi has over 500 species of tropical fish, including brightly coloured cyclid fish, most of which have yet to be scientifically described and many of which are endemic to the lake.

Mzuzu is the gateway to the Northern Region of Malawi and as such is considered the best base from which to explore the spectacular scenery of the Viphya and Nyika Plateau and Vwaza Marsh. The main tourist attraction in the northern lakeshore if Livingstonia Mission which was built in 1894 by Dr Robert Laws who named it in honour of Dr Livingstone. Livingstonia is located in a small village, Khondowe, on top of the west Rift Valley escarpment, 900m above the lakeshore.

Nkhata Bay lies about 50km east of Mzuzu and is the most popular northern lakeshore resort, and is one of the lakeshores most scenic villages consisting of two bays separated by a long narrow peninsula. One of the bays is mainly a port where the Lake Malawi steamer docks. The sunrise and sunsets are quite picturesque and the atmosphere very laid back There is a good choice of accommodation and activities in the area such as fishing, watersports, diving, snorkelling, mountain bike trails and bird watching.