Nkhata Bay

The ancestors of Nkhata Bay residents were the Tonga (Lakeside Tonga). In the 19th century the area suffered frequent attacks from the Ngoni people, who fled north to escape the rule of the Zulu king Shaka, in South Africa.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200304290329.html|title=Malawi: Malawians Take a Leaf From Zulus And Publicly Display Tribal|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=29 April 2003|work=AllAfrica}}

Chitumbuka is the most spoken common language, followed by Tonga in the town of Nkhata. In homes, Tonga and Tumbuka are used.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVrsAmvjhNQC|page=134|title=Language Planning and Policy in Africa: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa|accessdate=21 June 2008|isbn=1-85359-725-2|year=2004|author=Baldauf, Richard B.|author2=Kaplan, Robert }} Historically, the Tongas who are the most occupants of the Nkhata-Bay District, were part of the Tumbuka group. Glotolog categorizes Tonga and Tumbuka in a single group.

Nkhata Bay is dependent on fish.{{cite web|url=http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18887|date=13 June 2008|accessdate=21 June 2008|title=Malawi: Fish production reaps more in 2007|last=Banda|first=Sam Jnr.|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928063117/http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18887|archivedate=28 September 2011|df=dmy-all}} Farming, especially cassava, is the main occupation in the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-27532874_ITM|title=Low dietary cyanogen exposure from frequent consumption of potentially toxic cassava in Malawi.(Statistical Data Included)|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=1 January 2000|work=International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition|author=Chiwona-Karltun, L.|author2=Tylleskar, T. |author3=Mkumbira, J. |author4=Gebre-Medhin, M. |author5= Rosling, H. |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080113204538/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-27532874_ITM |archivedate = 13 January 2008}} Rubber plantations also exist at Nkhata Bay.{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18250631_ITM|title=Malawi newspaper hails newly launched regional development initiative.|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=16 December 2004|work=Asia Africa Intelligence Wire}} In May 2008, the Lweya irrigation scheme in Nkhata Bay was "rehabilitated".{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9706|title=Insurance Issues -Insurers go North|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=28 May 2008|last=Chinyang'anya|first=Lester|work=The Daily Times}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Income from tourism is a major source of income to the Nkhata Bay community.

In April 2002, over {{convert|1000|ha|acre}} of "corn, rice, nuts and cassava" were washed away at Nkhata Bay after heavy rain, causing a worsening of food shortages.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-51960151.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020105508/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-51960151.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2012|title=Heavy rains destroy crops in northern Malawi|date=10 April 2002|accessdate=21 June 2008|publisher=Associated Press}} In March 2006, Nkhata Bay received over 300 bags of maize from the Feed the Nation Fund, because the area was suffering from food shortages.{{citation |id={{Factiva|LQAF000020060310e23a000h2}}|title= Feed the Nation feeds Nkhata Bay|date=10 March 2006}} There were heavy rains in April 2006, causing further damage to Nkhata Bay.{{citation|id={{Factiva|LQAF000020060418e24i000jj}}|title= Disaster hits Karonga, Nkhata Bay|date=18 April 2006}} Malawi's former minister of agriculture, Uladi Mussa Monday, stated in May 2008 that due to heavy rain and flooding, crops in Nkhata Bay had washed away; he said this would cause an "acute food shortage".{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9681|title=MP predicts hunger this year|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=27 May 2008|last=Chipalasa|first=Mike|work=The Daily Times}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Weather box

|location = Nkhata Bay, Malawi (1961–1990)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan high C = 28.8

|Feb high C = 28.9

|Mar high C = 28.8

|Apr high C = 28.6

|May high C = 27.3

|Jun high C = 25.8

|Jul high C = 25.5

|Aug high C = 26.6

|Sep high C = 28.7

|Oct high C = 30.2

|Nov high C = 30.4

|Dec high C = 29.2

|year high C = 28.2

|Jan mean C = 24.7

|Feb mean C = 24.7

|Mar mean C = 24.4

|Apr mean C = 23.9

|May mean C = 22.1

|Jun mean C = 20.3

|Jul mean C = 19.9

|Aug mean C = 20.8

|Sep mean C = 22.8

|Oct mean C = 24.7

|Nov mean C = 25.6

|Dec mean C = 24.9

|year mean C = 23.2

|Jan low C = 21.1

|Feb low C = 21.1

|Mar low C = 20.8

|Apr low C = 20.0

|May low C = 17.9

|Jun low C = 15.7

|Jul low C = 15.2

|Aug low C = 15.6

|Sep low C = 17.4

|Oct low C = 19.8

|Nov low C = 21.2

|Dec low C = 21.3

|year low C = 18.9

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 224.2

|Feb precipitation mm = 200.7

|Mar precipitation mm = 358.0

|Apr precipitation mm = 283.0

|May precipitation mm = 134.0

|Jun precipitation mm = 37.2

|Jul precipitation mm = 32.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 5.2

|Sep precipitation mm = 3.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 14.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 118.0

|Dec precipitation mm = 247.0

|year precipitation mm = 1657.0

|Jan humidity = 84

|Feb humidity = 84

|Mar humidity = 85

|Apr humidity = 84

|May humidity = 81

|Jun humidity = 78

|Jul humidity = 75

|Aug humidity = 72

|Sep humidity = 69

|Oct humidity = 68

|Nov humidity = 75

|Dec humidity = 81

|year humidity = 78

|unit precipitation days = 0.3 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 19

|Feb precipitation days = 17

|Mar precipitation days = 20

|Apr precipitation days = 18

|May precipitation days = 10

|Jun precipitation days = 5

|Jul precipitation days = 4

|Aug precipitation days = 2

|Sep precipitation days = 1

|Oct precipitation days = 2

|Nov precipitation days = 8

|Dec precipitation days = 17

|year precipitation days = 123

|Jan sun = 170.5

|Feb sun = 159.6

|Mar sun = 195.3

|Apr sun = 192.0

|May sun = 238.7

|Jun sun = 237.0

|Jul sun = 254.2

|Aug sun = 288.3

|Sep sun = 300.0

|Oct sun = 313.1

|Nov sun = 264.0

|Dec sun = 201.5

|year sun = 2814.2

|Jand sun = 5.5

|Febd sun = 5.7

|Mard sun = 6.3

|Aprd sun = 6.4

|Mayd sun = 7.7

|Jund sun = 7.9

|Juld sun = 8.2

|Augd sun = 9.3

|Sepd sun = 10.0

|Octd sun = 10.1

|Novd sun = 8.8

|Decd sun = 6.5

|yeard sun =

|source 1 = NOAA{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MW/67493.TXT

| server = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| title = Nkhata Bay Climate Normals 1961–1990

| accessdate = 8 March 2015}}

|date=June 2014

}}

File:the ilala.jpg

Nkhata Bay is a port visited by the MV Ilala steamship, a boat which travels up Lake Malawi from Monkey Bay in southern Malawi, to Chilumba in the north, via Likoma Island and Chizumulu. In July 2006, plans were announced to "rehabilitate" Nkhata Bay port, and to re-establish a ferry service between Nkhata Bay and Mbamba Bay in Tanzania.{{cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=89561|title=Crowding in|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=21 July 2006|work=Engineering News|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel}} This route is currently serviced by motorised dhow. There are regular minibuses that travel from Nkhata Bay to Mzuzu, Nkhotakota and Salima.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2007|page=191|accessdate=21 June 2008|isbn=978-1-74059-745-6|last=Murphy|first=Alan|author2=Armstrong, Kate |author3=Firestone, Matthew D. |author4= Fitzpatrick, Mary }} Express buses travel to Blantyre, Mzuzu and Karonga that depart from the police road block, 3 km from the town.

In June 2008, it was announced that the African Development Bank (ADB) would fund the reconstruction of the road from Nkhata Bay to Mzuzu.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9846|title=Blantyre-Zomba road to be reconstructed|date=6 June 2008|accessdate=21 June 2008|last=Khunga|first=Suzgo|work=The Daily Times}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} As of 20 June 2008, it is expected that the ADB will partly fund the reconstruction.{{cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=135295|title=Malawi in talks over funding for Blantyre–Zomba road reconstruction|date=20 June 2008|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel|work=Engineering News}}

Nkhata Bay's local football team are the Nkhata Bay Police; the team were renamed to Eagle Strikers and now play in Mzuzu. The team play in the TNM Super League.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9663|title=Bullets maintain top spot|work=The Daily Times|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=26 May 2008|last=Banda|first=Sam Jnr.|author2=Chipalasa, Mike}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} There is a ladies' football team in Nkhata Bay, and are called the Nkhata Bay United Sisters of Malawi. The club was founded in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.noticias.info/Archivo/2007/200701/20070112/20070112_253991.shtm|title=Football for Hope: África, la tierra de los sueños|publisher=Noticias|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=12 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525071339/http://www.noticias.info/Archivo/2007/200701/20070112/20070112_253991.shtm|archive-date=25 May 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Netball is also played in Nkhata Bay. In June 2008, the champions of Nkhata Bay were Kawalazi, and received a prize of 30,000 Malawian Kwacha.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9907|title=Nico Life splashes prizes to top district netball winners|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=11 June 2008|work=The Daily Times|last=Tayanjah-Phiri|first=Francis}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Each summer there is a multi-day yacht race which starts at Cape Maclear in the south, and ends at Nkhata Bay.{{cite web|url=http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2007/06/30/764048.html?s=2|title=Das "warme Herz Afrikas" liegt im Süden|language=German|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=30 June 2007|work=Hamburger Abendblatt}}

The Member of the Malawian Parliament for Nkhata Bay North in 2008 was Ephraim Mganda Chiume.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9806|title=PSC adamant on Katopola|date=5 June 2008|accessdate=21 June 2008|work=The Daily Times|last=Khunga|first=Suzgo}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The MP for Nkhata Bay Central in 2006 was Symon Vuwa Kaunda.{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11205C34921DD4F0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|publisher=MIJ FM, Blantyre|title=Malawian leader drops vice-president from cabinet|date=2 June 2006|accessdate=21 June 2008}} The MP for Nkhata Bay South West in 2008 was Silvester Kasambara, a member of the opposition.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=10004|title=Opposition MP praises K229 budget|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=19 June 2008|work=The Daily Times|last=Kashoti|first=Dickson}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Kasambara caused a storm in Parliament in June 2008 when he pledged 10,000 Malawian kwacha to the Malawi national football team, after their 1–0 victory against Egypt, the African champions, in a FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifier.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9977|title=Flames unite warring MPs|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=18 June 2008|work=The Daily Times|last=Kashoti|first=Dickson}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The MP for Nkhata Bay North in 2024 was Chrissie Kanyasho.{{Cite web |title=PWC Home – PWC Malawi |url=https://pwcmalawi.org/pwc-home/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |language=en-US}}

There are bars, restaurants, two grocery stores, a bus station, tailor shops, a taxi rank and a market in Nkhata Bay. There are four banks, NBS, FNB, Malawi Savings and Opportunity Bank, as of early 2013 the automated teller machine will allow withdrawals using most foreign credit or debit cards in the two banks on the top of the hill, NBS and FNB. There is internet access in a few internet cafes, Nkhata Bay Communications Center, Jessie's and others. And free access to internet at Butterfly lodge in South Bay. There are public telephones.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6XFx6VNHWkC|title=Africa on Six Wheels: A Semester on Safari|page=114|accessdate=21 June 2008|year=2007|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0-8032-8054-0|last=Levitov|first=Betty}} The District offices are in town and there is a post office. You can pay your ESCOM bill in town, and Water Board bill at the top of the hill.

Nkhata Bay has a police station.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-116387073.html|title=Malawi minister survives electoral campaign accident|date=9 May 2004|accessdate=21 June 2008|publisher=Xinhua News Agency}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Robberies of tourists have occurred at Nkhata Bay, but are rare.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2007|page=228|accessdate=21 June 2008|isbn=978-1-74059-745-6|last=Murphy|first=Alan|author2=Armstrong, Kate |author3=Firestone, Matthew D. |author4= Fitzpatrick, Mary }}

There is a hospital in Nkhata Bay, and in October 2006 it received a donation from the National Bank of Malawi.{{citation|id={{Factiva|LQAF000020061013e2ad0008e}}|title= NBM donates K4.5m equipment to hospitals|date=13 October 2006}} AllAfrica have reported that parts of the Nkhata Bay area are not receiving appropriate AIDS treatment.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200611150531.html|title=Malawi: Aids Treatment Fails to Reach Remote Lakeshore Community|date=15 November 2006|accessdate=21 June 2008|work=AllAfrica}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

Nkhata Bay is described by Lonely Planet as "Caribbeanesque" and a "lush tropical indent".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2007|page=188|accessdate=21 June 2008|isbn=978-1-74059-745-6|last=Murphy|first=Alan|author2=Armstrong, Kate |author3=Firestone, Matthew D. |author4= Fitzpatrick, Mary }} There are several guesthouses and lodges for tourists in Nkhata Bay.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2007|page=189|accessdate=21 June 2008|isbn=978-1-74059-745-6|last=Murphy|first=Alan|author2=Armstrong, Kate |author3=Firestone, Matthew D. |author4= Fitzpatrick, Mary }} In February 2005, the Malawian government announced plans to build ecolodges as a way of increasing ecotourism in the Nkhata Bay area.{{cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=62664|title=Tenders invited for Lake Malawi ecotourism project|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=18 February 2005|work=Engineering News|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel}} The diving school in Nkhata Bay offers the "cheapest diving course in the world" according to The Daily Telegraph.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/africaandindianocean/malawi/721218/Malawi-Flying-under-water.html|title=Malawi: Flying under water|date=5 February 2001|accessdate=21 June 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|last=Isaacson|first=Rupert |url-status=dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080411070813/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/africaandindianocean/malawi/721218/Malawi-Flying-under-water.html |archivedate = 11 April 2008}} Nkhata Bay tourism has a long history. It has been part of the overland backpackers route between east Africa and cape town but the number of backpackers have dropped considerably in recent years. Political issues in Zimbabwe has revised the overland backpacking route so that many people now go through Zambia or the Mozambique coast. The Heart Hotel was a local owned establishment in the local village where very low budget backpackers could get a room and breakfast for well under one US dollar. Nkhata Bay became a place where people could rest on a long trip and spend very little money. With the opening of Njajay Lodge the scene changed a little. The town along with backpackers culture shifted to catering to a traveller with more money to spend. While the village now has many places to stay the problem has become attracting people who now often travel through other countries or easier accessed beaches in Malawi. Another shift that has reduced the amount of foreign visitors to Nkhata Bay is the increasing number of people travelling Africa by overland truck rather than independent backpackers travel. Overland trucks do not come to Nkhata Bay but instead, choose the beaches on Chinteche to the south. As a result, many of the local artists have moved their craft stalls to the Nkhata Bay/Chinteche road junction. This along with huge increases in international parcel rates from Malawi have made it increasingly difficult for the talented local artist to make a living. Many artists now set up stalls directly outside of overland truck camps around Malawi understanding that backpackers can no longer afford to send famous Malawi chief chairs and masks home.

In March 2000, 73-year-old man from Nkhata and a 22-year-old woman married, in what BBC News reported as "Malawi's surprise wedding of the year"{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/685244.stm|title=Malawi's unlikely love story|last=Tenthani|first=Raphael|accessdate=21 June 2008|date=21 March 2000|work=BBC News}}

In December 2002, a businessman, Mac Bosco Chawinga, was dragged in to Lake Malawi at Nkhata Bay by a crocodile; Chawinga managed to escape by biting the crocodile on the nose. The crocodile then released him, and Chawinga managed to return to the shore, although he had received severe injuries to his legs and arms. The Times reported that, according to "wildlife experts", Chawinga is the first person to survive after "using such an audacious tactic".{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article801410.ece|title=Man escapes by biting crocodile|date=13 December 2002|last=McGrory|first=Daniel|work=The Times}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2565827.stm|date=11 December 2002|title=Man bites crocodile|accessdate=21 June 2008|work=BBC News|last=Tenthani|first=Raphael}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2002/12/12/MNcroc.DTL|title=Man Bites Crocodile in the Nose|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=12 December 2002|accessdate=21 June 2008}}

On 9 May 2004, the then-Tourism, Parks and Wildlife Minister Wallace Chiume survived when a boat capsized in Nkhata Bay. At least six other people drowned in the accident. One of the dead passengers was a child. The boat was being used for campaigning in the Malawian election. Strong winds were blamed for the accident which happened {{convert|10|km|mi}} from the shore of Lake Malawi.{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.phpclick_id=84&art_id=qw1084203541935B254&set_id=1|title=Six die as minister's campaign boat capsizes|date=10 May 2004|accessdate=21 June 2008|work=Independent Online}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} 40 people were on the boat at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,79457,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040628085059/http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0%2C2172%2C79457%2C00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2004 |title=Six die in Malawi boat accident, minister survives |date=9 May 2004 |accessdate=21 June 2008 |work=SABC News }}

In 2006, the Nkhata Bay AIDS Support Organization was created in Malawi and later registered in the state of Wisconsin as a non-profit corporation. The American-Malawian partnership has led to great success in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Nkhata Bay District. Over six outreach clinics were established in the past two years, leading to a 23% drop in positive HIV testing results. The charity operates on a small budget coming from local Wisconsin donors.

{{cite web|url=http://www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch/Details.aspx?entityID=N035165&hash=898606365&searchFunctionID=244fa4d7-ee28-4353-89f9-9c9b7c4f13a7&type=Simple&q=Nkhata+Bay+AIDS+support%2c+org.|title=Nkhata Bay AIDS Support Org|date=23 August 2008|accessdate=23 December 2008|work=WDFI}}{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=6641038149&ref=ts|title=NkhataBayAIDSSupportInfodate=2008-12-23|accessdate=23 December 2008|work=Facebook Group}}

{{reflist|3}}

Category:Populated places in Northern Region, Malawi

Category:Lake Malawi

Category:Malawi–Tanzania border crossings