Likomo Island, Lake Malawi
Kaya Mawa
Built entirely by the hands of the local community, Kaya Mawa is the epitome of luxurious rustic chic. Featuring an excellent range of room and house options, all with views over the clear waters of Lake Malawi, Kaya Mawa has been listed by Conde Nast as one of the world’s top ten most romantic places to stay. Built entirely by the hands of the local community, Kaya Mawa is the epitome of luxurious rustic chic. Featuring an excellent range of room and house options, all with views over the clear waters of Lake Malawi, Kaya Mawa has been listed by Conde Nast as one of the world’s top ten most romantic places to stay.
Built entirely by the hands of the local community, Kaya Mawa is the epitome of luxurious rustic chic. Featuring an excellent range of room and house options, all with views over the clear waters of Lake Malawi, Kaya Mawa has been listed by Conde Nast as one of the world’s top ten most romantic places to stay. Built entirely by the hands of the local community, Kaya Mawa is the epitome of luxurious rustic chic. Featuring an excellent range of room and house options, all with views over the clear waters of Lake Malawi, Kaya Mawa has been listed by Conde Nast as one of the world’s top ten most romantic places to stay.
Location
Kaya Mawa is a cluster of rooms and houses spread between two beaches on either side of a rocky headland on the southwest coast of the island of Likoma. It’s a place where baobabs and mango trees clad the slopes leading down to rounded granite boulders, golden sands, and crystal-clear waters.
Likoma Island’s position on Lake Malawi puts it closer to Mozambique than the shore of Malawi itself, which lies 40 kilometres to the west. Access to the island is therefore by air, with guests landing at Likoma’s small airport and enjoying fantastic aerial views of this enormous lake.
Likoma Island’s position on Lake Malawi puts it closer to Mozambique than the shore of Malawi itself, which lies 40 kilometres to the west. Access to the island is therefore by air, with guests landing at Likoma’s small airport and enjoying fantastic aerial views of this enormous lake.
Accommodation
Kaya Mawa has eleven houses and rooms perched around its beautiful lakeside setting, all of which either have direct access to the beach or have their own plunge pools. Built in collaboration with the local community, there’s a delightful upcycled, rustic and authentic style to the whole site. Rooms and cottages are thatched and feature whitewashed exposed stone walls; the blend of colours and furnishings feels Mediterranean with tropical-island spice.
Spacious and luxurious in all senses, the accommodation options at Kaya Mawa range from three rooms that they humbly define as ‘standard’, through to four premium cottages, two houses ideal for older families and groups of friends, and two more houses that are perfect for families with younger children. And for utter decadence, space and features, including a private beach and pool, along with five terraces, Ndomo House is a set apart from the rest of the development.
Kaya Mawa’s bar and restaurant are just metres away from the water’s edge, with wonderful views over the waters and neighbouring island of Chizimulu. The menu features dishes with imaginative blends of African and European flavours and these are perfectly accompanied by sundowner cocktails from the vantage point of the lookout.
Kaya Mawa’s bar and restaurant are just metres away from the water’s edge, with wonderful views over the waters and neighbouring island of Chizimulu. The menu features dishes with imaginative blends of African and European flavours and these are perfectly accompanied by sundowner cocktails from the vantage point of the lookout.
Experiences
In a place as idyllic as this, it may be tempting to feel the sand between your toes as you wander towards a lounger, intent on spending a day or two relaxing with a book. Alternatively, there are plenty of activities to engage with once you’ve had your R&R, though given that Kaya Mawa means ‘maybe tomorrow’, perhaps not.
- The crystal-clear waters are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. There are about 400 species of cichlid fish species to spot.
- Watersport options are plentiful here. Take out a paddleboard or a sailing boat. There are also three boats available for wakeboarding and waterskiing.
- Exploring the island by foot or bicycle is a great way to meet cheerful local people, visit the market, and see the extraordinarily large St. Peter’s Cathedral.
- Discover the good works of Kaya Awa, which is engaged in numerous community projects and was the first tourism development in Malawi to be powered completely sustainably.
- Birdwatchers will find plenty of species to spot on Likoma Island, including the extremely rare Pel’s fishing owl.
- Discover the island’s numerous groves of mango trees and the inland grasslands punctuated by stately baobab trees.
Why Travel with Journeysmiths
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.