Lake Niassa

Lake Niassa is the Mozambican name for the more commonly used Lake Malawi.  The Lake lies between Mozambique's northwestern most province and Malawi.  One of the Great Rift lakes, Niassa is 600km in length and is home to over 1000 species of fish.  Many of the fish found in Lake Niassa are cichlids which have adapted a vast array of colours, physiological and behavioural adaptions to compete and survive.  The underwater scenery in Lake Niassa resembles something like a tropical marine habitat only without the coral.

The water of the Lake also has a special quality.  Crystal clear, blue-green and unsalty, it is incredibly inviting.  Unlike the sea, it's not affected by tides but storms can whip up during the rainy seasons and there are often small waves.  The shore is characterised by white beaches, smooth round boulders (a bit like the Seychelles) and forested slopes.

The Mozambican side of the lake is very remote and undeveloped.  Villages subsist here but there is little by way of tourism.  The infrastructure is poorly developed and it is most easily reached from Likoma Island which is nearer Mozambique but technically belongs to Malawi.

Niassa is properly off the beaten track and for an idyllic beach holiday, it is quite perfect.  It can be combined with safaris in Malawi or Zambia aswell as Mozambique.