Activities at Ngala Beach Lodge

At Ngala, excellent facilities are on offer.

Swimming in the new infinity pool or in the lake is offered. The last test showed an absence of Bilharzia in the water on the main beach. Lazing around on the beach, in the beach bar or beside the pool is also considered by some to be an activity.

Non motorized water sports including snorkeling, Hobiecat catamaran sailing and paddle skis are free to lodge residents.

Trips to the hot springs, Unaka Lagoon or sunset cruises are available in our motor boat "Kumbali".

The hot springs are about 1 hour's sail in "Kumbali" and guests can disembark and explore the hot springs which emerge on the beach. If the lake is calm the captain can locate a spot where the springs emerge in the lake and it is then possible to swim in the warm water within the lake.

Unaka Lagoon sports crocs, hippos and a variety of bird life in a tranquil setting and is an ideal location to watch the sunset.

Sunset cruises, now known as "Sunset Swimdowner Cruises" are free to residents.

Guided village tours and a cultural evening of local cuisine coupled with a cultural dance show can be arranged.

Mountain bikes are available for hire by guests and can be used to explore the local area or, for the more adventurous, explore trails in the natural forest reserve which is about 15 minutes drive from the lodge.

Other Activities

Guests can enjoy other activities such as beach volleyball, walks along the beach past the fishing villages and bird watching. The variety of birdlife is quite entrancing – Ngala lodge boasts wetland, lake and woodland birds along with the migrating species.

Guided tours of the cultural village of Ngala or walks to the Dwambazi Waterfalls or through the natural forest reserve can be arranged with reception.

Day Excursions are also offered: - horse riding, Padi scuba diving, golf, or game walks through the Nkhotakota game reserve which supports a variety of game including lion, elephant, waterbuck, various other deer species, birds, and reptiles.

More about Malawi

Land: Malawi is a long, narrow country situated in the southern part of the East African Rift Valley and lying between 9 and 17 degrees south of the equator. Its area is over 118000 km2 of which one fifth is taken up by Lake Malawi. It is land-locked, cradled by Mozambique in the east, south and southwest, with Zambia to the west and Tanzania to the north/north-east. Lake Malawi is Africa's third largest lake and the world's ninth largest. Besides the magnificent Lake, Malawi offers visitors five National Parks and several smaller wildlife parks. Also available are: modern, comfortable hotels; varied recreational facilities and magnificent scenery including high mountain plateaus throughout the country. Language: While Chichewa is the national language and Chitumbuka widely spoken in the Northern Region, English is the official language of the country and the language of the commercial sector.

Topography: Topography is immensely varied and constitutes the catchment area of the Shire River, which flows from Lake Malawi to the Zambezi river. From a valley floor in the south almost at sea level, mountains range up to 3000m. The valley and the lower hill country are fertile. The principal cities lie at elevations between 1000 and 1500m. Regions: The country is divided administratively into three regions: Southern - hilly, densely populated Central - fertile, well-populated plains Northern - mountainous and sparsely populated The main commercial and industrial city of Blantyre pop. 400 000,1992 est.) is in the Southern Region, the capital city of Lilongwe (pop. 200 000) is in the Central Region and Mzuzu (pop. 50 000) serves as the administrative and commercial headquarters of the Northern Region.

Climate:
There are three seasons. A cool, dry period, May to August, is followed by hot weather (very hot in low-lying regions) during which humidity builds up until the rains commence November/December; the rains peak around the turn of the year and continue intermittently until April. Rainfall varies countrywide from 600mm to 3000mm.

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUG	SEPT	OCT	NOV	DEC
MAX	26	26	26	26	25	23	23	25	27	30	30	27
MIN	17	17	16	13	10	7	6	7	11	14	16	27

Area:
total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km

Land boundaries:
total: 2,881 km

Border countries:
Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Climate:
tropical; rainy season (November to May);
dry season (May to November)

Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa 3,002 m

Natural resources:
limestone, under exploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Security
Travelling in Malawi is extremely safe, however, a few precautions should be taken:
- Plan your journey, and know where your destination is.
- Do not hesitate to ask for advice or directions, most Malawians speak English well.
- When travelling ensure that your luggage is always within view.
- Do not be surprised when a Malawian takes your bags, this is to help carry and not a theft.
- Always carry a supply of Drinking water.
- Always ask the rate or price of the service you require, BEFORE you accept.

Health
Malawi is a high-risk Malaria area. All precautions should be taken when travelling or staying in Malawi.
- Take a recognized anti-malarial prophylactic, as recommended, or at least before entering a Malaria area, continue for at least 3 weeks after leaving the area.
- If possible, always sleep under a mosquito net.
- Dress accordingly from Sunset onwards, Long Pants & Long sleeves
- Use Insect Repellant

Malaria has a gestation of about 10 days within this time, you have the classic symptoms (Headaches, sore muscles ... ensure that you have a Malaria test immediately. These are all freely available in most areas of Malawi. Remember that doctors in Malawi are qualified to treat Malaria.

Bilharzia has been widely reported in Lake Malawi and is contracted when swimming in infected waters on the lakeshore. The use of towel to dry yourself off, after swimming will reduce the risk of contracting Bilharzia greatly. It is recommended that all persons travelling to Central Africa, take a Bilharzia test 6 months after returning. The treatment of Bilharzia is a simple once-off treatment with no side effects.