Day 9 13/12/2010 Senga Bay---Nkhata Bay 329Km
The next morning we posed for photos with Leon and Ingrid (see photos on previous page) and left to tackle the road going north along Lake Malawi. Here are some interesting statistics on Lake Malawi.
1. 580KM long
2. 75 Km wide
3. 695 meter deep at the deepest point
4. Is the fresh water lake with the most different species of fish in the world +/- 1000 species
5. Was formed 500 BC
In a small town on the way we saw a coffin shop on the street (see photo below). We also saw some guys with bicycles with unbelievable loads on (see photos). Later on we stopped on a beach and saw mini tornados on the water (see photos below) it is caused by evaporation. The ride was scenic and after 329 Km we reached Nkhata Bay. As we came around a bend with Lake Malawi on the background we saw a sign “camping and chalets”. We went past and went into the little town of Nkhata. The town was flooded with people and ladies with baskets on their heads. It was also a harbour town with fairly large boats in the harbour. We then turned around and booked into the campsite. The camp was 2 meter from the water edge with 2 small tents already there. Space was limited and Juan and I pitched our tents a meter away from the other 2 tents. We later met the occupants. The one young couple was from Canada and they have been hitch hiking through South Africa and was now on their way through Africa also hitch hiking. The other was an Italian guy, he has been traveling around the world for the last 10 years also hitch hiking. His favourite continent is Africa where he spent most of his time. He said that he has developed a cheap way to travel around as he was living of the income from a house that he rent out in Italy. He goes into town and has breakfast for R 5-00 so he really knows his way around. Then there were two guys in a chalet. They were Students at Stellenbosch University and came on public transport. Then there was 2 young guys from Holland, they were doing voluntary aid work in Africa. By that evening we were already good friends with the Italian guy and the two Dutch guys. I got them hooked on rooibos tee with condensed milk which we made on our little gas stove. As the stars were extremely bright I told them to watch out for satellites. They did not believe me that you could see satellites and I took them a bet that if we see a satellite then they have to buy us a beer or if we don’t then I will buy them a beer. Juan and I went to have dinner on the stoep which was their restaurant. That was only about 10 meter away from where the Italian and two Dutch guys were sitting on a timber deck next to the water. Just after Juan and I ordered dinner they shouted that they see a satellite, bingo they owe me a beer. The owner of the establishment was a British lady who was married to an Malawian man with Rasta hair locks. Her girlfriend who was visiting from England came to sit at the table just behind us also with a Rasta young man from Malawi . She ordered them some food. I could hear from their conversation that they had a ding the night before. She wanted more tonight but he wanted to go and have a jol with his buddies instead. Although I had sympathy with both of them we pretended to hear nothing as Juan and I spoke Afrikaans to each other. After dinner Juan and I went down to the timber deck to do more satellites watching with our buddies and more Rooibos tee that was by now in great demand with the 3 Europeans. After every one went to bed I still sat there on the deck watching the unbelievable bright sky. The last time I saw the sky that bright was in the Mashatu game reserve in Botswana in 2001. That night I fell asleep with the sound of small waves braking against the rocks just meters away from our tents.
Topic: Africa tour to the equator and back in 40 days (Read 22569 times)
