Malawi: Snorkeling

Lake Malawi covers nearly 20% of the country and there are some excellent snorkelling opportunities along the whole coast.

It's the best way to see the thousands of brilliantly coloured cichlid tropical fish, of which there are over 500 species. The water is clear, calm and warm, with temperatures between 22 and 27°C.

The Lake is shark-free and tideless with numerous islands and rock formations beneath the surface. It's widely recognised as one of the best freshwater diving destinations in the world. With very safe conditions. Snorkels are available to hire and are reasonably priced.

There is a risk of catching bilharzia in the lake, but if you stick to swimming in fast moving water away from the villages the risk is minimal.