Snorkeling in Lake Malawi

The water of Lake Malawi is sweet and remarkably clear, so it’s ideal for snorkelling and diving. Out of all the large lakes in Africa, Lake Malawi is the best for snorkelling.

The reason for this is that there are more than 1.000 kinds of fish in Lake Malawi, and around 350 of these are endemic (which means they only live in this one location), making this truly a unique place in the world.

You can spot many different kinds of fish when you dive or snorkel here, such as the utaka, mbuna and aulonocara. These are cichlids, often found in aquariums. When you get into this lake you will see them quite quickly, they’re small but incredibly colourful.

Famous spots for snorkelling are Lake Malawi National Park, Manda Wilderness and the beaches between Mangochi and Monkey Bay. You can hire good snorkelling gear at these locations. Hit the water and look around, you’ll be amazed.

The best time to snorkel is the dry season from August until early December, because the rainy season reduces visibility.