Lake Malawi is one of the great lakes of Africa, stretching nearly 600 kilometres from north to south along Malawi's eastern flank and forming the country's border with Tanzania and Mozambique. It is the third largest lake on the continent and one of the deepest in the world. More than a thousand species of cichlid fish live in its waters, many found nowhere else on earth, which is why the lake was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For travellers, the lake offers something rare in landlocked southern Africa: clear, warm freshwater good for swimming, snorkelling, and kayaking, with remarkably little threat from bilharzia in the clearer northern and central sections (though local advice on safe swimming areas should always be sought). Cape Maclear in the south and the northern shores around Nkhata Bay are the most popular bases, both offering a laid-back beach atmosphere, boat trips to offshore islands, and diving among the cichlids.
The lake is also central to Malawian life — fishing villages dot the shoreline, and chambo fish is a staple of the national diet.