NORTHERN MALAWI

NORTHERN MALAWI

Mel

Malawi was once known as Nyasaland, gaining independence in 1964, under Dr Hastings Kamuzo Banda, the first Prime Minister. Banda spent 42 years out of the country;  working in Rhodesia, South Africa, studying as a medical doctor in New York and practising in West Africa. After his return he could no longer speak his home language, Chichewa. After 5 years in office, he declared himself president-for-life and held the position for the next 27 years. His presidency succumbed to uprisings in 1994 and a multiparty political system was reintroduced.

Malawi is one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. Its economy depends largely on agriculture, with tobacco being its main cash crop. The Malawian people use much of their land for the planting of crops and even on the steepest slopes we saw crops being cultivated.

Malawi is small compared to the size of most African countries. It is a long, narrow piece of land, wedged between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. About a 1/5 of the country is covered by Lake Malawi on the Eastern border. This gigantic trough of water slices through the Great Rift Valley and is the third largest lake in Africa. It is a shimmering mass of crystal clear water, filled with delicious fresh water fish. Lake Malawi’s northern shores are lined with secret coves, beautiful beaches and lively fishing villages, with forested hills surrounding it. We will be visiting the southern section of the lake on our return trip; I hope we are not disappointed by the more commercial side of this awesome lake.

Most tourists, I feel, think Malawi is just about the lake but the mountain areas and views are stupendous. The wilderness area of the Nyika Plateau cannot be left out for it gorgeous highland areas and roan antelope.

In South Africa, we are taught and we teach our kids, not to trust anyone; sometimes with good reason. It dawned on me after my first visit into Mzuzu that we are always looking over our shoulders and thinking that the local people are out to steal from us. The fact is, just because people are poor does not mean they are criminals. The more we travel through Africa, the more we discover Africans are honest, friendly and trustworthy wonderful people.

Highs:

Lake Malawi; Nyika Plateau; the scenery; the food.

Lows:

Lack of fuel

Graeme

In case you are wondering about  ‘the Graeme slot’ – he is supposed to putting his 5 cents worth on the blog pages, clearly, he is not managing the daily additions, so the idea is/was for him to give his thoughts on each country. So we are still waiting, with baited breath, for Namibia, Zambia and now Malawi.