Whether you’re revelling in the various water sports like kayaking and diving, indulging in a spa treatment overlooking the lake or just chilling on the beach with your loved one, Kaya Mawa shows you the best of lakeside living.
Our ‘maybe tomorrow’ ethos means you can do as much or as little as you like, just as long as you are having the African beach escape of your dreams.
On Likoma Island, each day is yours to plan out or simply take as it comes. You can choose to stay on the warm sand, head for the sparkling water or even relax all day on your private deck. Sometimes, just walking along the beach at sunrise or watching the lake glisten at night is all you need to feel the magic of the island. Take a look at all the options below.
Along with our complementary activities, you can choose from a host of non-inclusive activities to add to your days at Kaya Mawa. Want to know our favourite? It has to be our charming little spa, which is our antidote to those niggling aches and pains. Afterwards, you will float across the boardwalk back to the beach, glowing and stress-free. Take a look at all the options below.
Visit our reforestation project that is made up of six community-managed tree nurseries that have planted 1200 seedlings to establish a continuous planting cycle for years to come and build awareness around conservation on the island.
Meet the talented local artisans at the Katundu Workshop who create beautiful home décor pieces – often using recycled materials – which generate a sustainable income for their families.
Learn how our Sponsor an Island Child programme drives access to education for children in secondary school and university, supporting their development and future success within Malawi and beyond.
Explore the pristine waters of Lake Malawi in an underwater adventure, no matter your skill level. The only requirement? To leave the water with a bunch of great memories! No need to bring your own goggles, snorkel and fins as each House and Room at Kaya Mawa has its own snorkelling gear.
Laze on the beach, while enjoying a gorgeous lake view and a picnic basket filled with the day’s creation from our award-winning kitchen team. Think homemade bread and hummus, with a fresh salad and grilled fish, and washed down with a glass of South African wine, Mozambican beer or a cocktail with gin distilled here in Malawi.
Grab a kayak and paddle before setting off to explore the waters and other parts of the island beyond our bay. Watch as colourful fish flash in the clear water below you and look out to the Mozambican coastline beyond. The only sounds are those of nature – birds calling to each other and waves lapping against the kayak’s bow – and you leave the water feeling rejuvenated.
Enjoy the warmth of the sun on your back and the cool breeze blowing off the water as you glide across the lake on one of our stand-up paddle boards. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a pro because you will soon be balancing, paddling and having fun, all at the same time. Paddle along the shoreline, enjoying the beauty of the beach from a different perspective.
Head out into the forests to spot some of the island’s colourful birdlife or simply enjoy what feathered friend comes to visit while sipping your morning coffee. Likoma is home to over 100 different birds species, including huge colonies of white-breasted cormorants, black-shouldered and yellow-billed kites, and four types of kingfisher. And the cry of an African fish eagle is a sound you can never grow tired of.
Hop aboard one of our Taz or Topaz for a sailing safari on Lake Malawi. Conditions for sailing are excellent here since there are no tides or currents, but there’s always a light breeze for sail boats.
Indulge in a massage treatment at the Kaya Spa, which is perched on a rocky outcrop in Lake Malawi with a wooden boardwalk connecting it to the beach. Relax, meditate or even drift off to sleep as one of therapists work their magic on you to the soundtrack of lapping waves and African fish eagles. This is part of the Kaya antidote to niggling aches, pains and stress!
Try your hand at one or both of these exhilarating water sports. With skis that fit ages 5+ and a trained instructor give handy tips and pointers, you will be on your feet or knees in no time.
Go on an underwater adventure in Malawi’s giant freshwater aquarium, which has more species of colourful cichlid fish than any other lake in the world. We are a recognised PADI Resort and our in-house Divemaster knows the best spots to experience the lake’s diverse aquatic life.
Enjoy a blissful day out on the lake and see what freshwater species you can reel in. Our boatmen were all fishermen in their past lives so know where all the best fishing spots are. Here at Kaya Mawa we promote a catch and release policy to ensure the populations are kept healthy and growing.
Sightsee the island at your own pace and along the route of your choice on our solar-powered electric mountain bike. Which path will you take? Perhaps something off the beaten track or a little closer to civilisation. Make a stop to watch a troop of vervet monkeys, identify the bird behind that beautiful call or chat with a friendly Likoma local.