2008 saw a somewhat decrepid group of paddlers limping back from Lake Malawi, having once again built a fleet of ply canoes fit for the expedition. We paddled and sailed up the Shire River, which drains out Lake Malawi, and continued Northwards onto the lake itself.
We encountered choking fly swarms, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, storms, 6 ft swells, malaria, scorpions, snakes and even a worm in Steve's foot. We also found that everything we had heard about Lake Malawi was true - its crystal clear waters, full of beautiful tropical fish to snorkell with (and eat), picture-perfect sandy beaches, backed by lush mango-rich forests coming right down to the waters edge, stars and sunsets like you have never seen and fantastic thunderstorms in the evenings.
Our daily meetings with the local villagers were some of the highlights for us, and the shoreline proved home to some of the friendliest people you could want to meet while on an extended canoe trip.
Lake Malawi really is quite something. It encompasses the raw wilds of Africa with dream-like paddling environments.

Here are some photos form Lake Malawi, click to enlarge a photo.