Overview
Likoma Island, along with its sister Chizumulu Island, is in the Mozambican territorial waters of Lake Malawi/Nyasa. Both Likoma Island and Chizumulu belong to Malawi.
Understand
Electricity is provided by a generator and a solar bank. This affords the island 24-hour electricity, with the exception of 1-5 minutes at around 22ː00, while they switch the power source.
Get around
You can also hike and cross the entire island in a couple of hours.
See
St. Peter's Cathedral. Dates back from early 1900s. The building with an adjacent cloister is surprisingly big for this small island.The security guards will propose you to climb the tower for the panoramic views.
Viewpoint. Rocky promontory equipped with stone seat and table, offering a panoramic view of the South coast and Mozambique.
Ringing Rock. Concave boulder which rings like a bell when hit by a stone. The self-proclaimed "guardians" of the rock from the nearby village will guide you and ask you 5000 K for their community.
Ndomo House. Richly decorated luxury private house owned by Green Safaris. Sometimes rented by groups, the house can only be visited when there are no guests.
Fudwe Museum. Small museum with few artifacts and explanations. As of August 2024, the museum is undergoing a refurbishing and should be completed within the next months.
Do
Snorkelling. At the north-east end of the main island, the small is one of the best places to see colourful fish.
Buy
Katundu Home Decors. Workshop producing ethically handmade home decors from recycled glass, clay beads, seed, copper and employing single mothers with sustainable income.
Eat
Main staple foods on the Island are cassava and maize. Maize is mainly imported from Malawi mainland and Mozambique since the Island is not a conducive environment for such crop. Traditionally, people on the Island eat nsima prepared from cassava flour and maize flour. Fish is the main source of income and many people venture into fish selling. Fishing is mostly done by using locally dugout canoes and small boats. The commonly ate fish are usipa, utaka, and many other different species.
Drink
Tap water is available as well as bottled water. The choice rests on the an individual on what to drink in terms of water. A traditional sweet non-alcoholic drink called mahewu or maheu is available in different flavours to suit your choice.
Alcohol is sold in most parts of the Island and ranges from traditionally brewed gin (local gin called Kachasu and Masese) to factory brewed Calsberg beer and Chibuku. Masese and Chibuke are brewed from maize products. Malawi Gin and Powers No. 1 are also top on the list of visitors who date Malawi.
Sleep
Mango Drift Lodge. Situated along a southwest facing beach, the lodge gets great sunsets. There are a number of thatched chalets along the beach, as well as a dormitory and camping facilities. There is an on-site restaurant serving a full range, including pizzas from a wood burning pizza oven. Bar under a mango tree, and a pool table. Snorkelling gear and canoes freely available. Bike rental. A full PADI dive centre is also on-site, offering fun dives and all courses, from discover scuba diving up to Divemaster.
Ulisa Bay Lodge. Restaurant on terrace facing the lake and the sunset. The owner created the Ulisa Bay Pottery where you can learn and make your own pottery.
Sunrise Inn. Locally owned and established. Built on rocks, sitting over the lake, facing Mozambique. Stunning views and incredible opportunities for birdwatching, snorkelling, boating and riding in local dugout canoes.
Kaya Mawa. Owned by Green Safaris. Luxury units with highly decorated bedrooms, bath next to a window facing the lake, private deck on the lake, bar, restaurant (must be booked in advance if you are not sleeping there), bikes, quad bikes, scuba dives available, boutique with souvenirs.
Make Likoma Island your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5089793 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2025-07-08. This is not a date of field verification.
For current entry conditions and travel advisories, consult your government and destination authorities. We do not determine visa eligibility.