Mumbo Island Camp

Destination

Malawi

Mumbo Island Camp is named after the pristine, practically deserted tropical island on which it is built. The crystal-clear, warm waters of Lake Malawi National Park boast some 2000 species. It's no wonder this region of Lake Malawi is often considered the best freshwater diving and snorkelling location on the planet. Accommodation at the intimate Mumbo Island Camp comprises tastefully furnished, comfortable tents with hot bucket showers and 'eco-loos'. With an exclusive limit of only 14 guests at a time, Mumbo Island Camp is perched on rocks high above the water - blending with the environment perfectly to create a place of rustic charm and minimal impact. Tucked into the lush foliage, each tent is fully furnished with its own shaded view-deck and hammock. Mumbo Island Camp adheres to strict principles of eco-architecture, so the dining area, bar and water sport gazebo, are all hand built from timber, thatch and canvas. Unlike most island destinations in the region, Mumbo Island has never been populated by humans and is still in its natural state. This, together with the focus on non-motorised water sports, makes Mumbo Island Camp ideal for the active outdoors enthusiast.

Directions To Mumbo Island Camp

Mumbo Island Camp is situated on Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Area Attractions

Lake Malawi is Africa's third largest and second deepest lake. Measuring just short of 600km north to south and 80km wide in places, it dominates the eastern side of Malawi and constitutes roughly 20% of its surface area. For the people of Malawi, the lake is an integral part of their cultural heritage and vast trove of natural resources - with fish species such as chambo forming the primary protein source of the nearly 20 000 people that live on the lakeshore and beyond. On the surface a number of islands pepper the lake, separated from the mainland by alternating bands of sandy flats and deep water. Palm fringed beaches and soaring mountains surround the warm crystal clear waters of Lake Malawi. Picturesque fishing villages dot the shoreline, their cultures unchanged for thousands of years. On the shores miombo woodland and baobabs occur, and mammals such as baboon, vervet monkey, dassies and hippo are most commonly sighted. Bird life is abundant, with over 100 bird species - particularly waterbirds. Lake Malawi is dominated by the ubiquitous African Fish-Eagles, but enthusiasts will be rewarded with sightings of the shyer and less common forest birds that inhabit the bush around the tents, such as the north-eastern hypoxanthus variety of Sombre Greenbul. Other species seen include African Harrier-Hawk, Trumpeter Hornbill, White-breasted Cormorant, Water Thick-Knee, African Paradise-Flycatcher and a variety of herons, weavers, doves and starlings. Beneath its waters a wide range of underwater habitats, including sandy, weedy, rock-sand interface and reed beds, harbour an abundant wealth and diversity of mostly endemic aquatic life. Lake Malawi supports over 2000 species of freshwater - a greater variety than any other lake on Earth, more than all of Europe and North America combined. The majority of these are colourful fish called cichlids (locally named mbuna) of which Lake Malawi contains more than 400 types, or 30% of all known species. Much of this astounding underwater diversity is protected within the Lake Malawi National Park at Cape Maclear in the south, the first in the world set aside for the protection of freshwater fish and a World Heritage Site. On Mumbo Island the mammals present are the spotted-necked otter and the rarer Cape clawless otter. The spotted-necked variety is remarkably unafraid of humans and often approaches and joins guests for a snorkel or swim! Mumbo Island Camp is noteworthy for the high occurrence of rainbow skinks and large water monitors in particular. Snakes identified include the variegated bush snake and African rock python (both non-venomous).