Cape Maclear is at the end of a 17-kilometre dirt road that branches off the main M10 highway about ten kilometres north of Monkey Bay. The turn is signposted; the road is rough but passable in a 2WD car in dry weather. From Lilongwe, allow about four hours; from Blantyre, around five.
Public transport: take a minibus to Monkey Bay from any major southern town, then change to a shared pickup or matola for the run out to Chembe. Most backpacker lodges offer pickups from Monkey Bay for a small fee if arranged in advance. The MV Ilala lake steamer calls at Monkey Bay on its weekly circuit.