BASED IN NKHATA BAY, ON THE NORTHERN LAKESHORE OF MALAWI, AFRICA.

JOIN US AT MAYOKA VILLAGE BEACH LODGE AND WE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME

WE OFFER QUALITY BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION TO SUIT ALL BUDGETS FROM INDIVIDUAL SHADY CAMP SPOTS TO ENSUITE FAMILY COTTAGES. THE SMALL BUT STYLISHLY DECORATED AND WELL EQUIPPED CHALETS PERCH ON THE SLOPES OF OUR LUSH GARDENS ALL LOOKING OUT OVER THE LAKE WITH PRIVATE BALCONIES AND CHILL OUT SPOTS.

ALL OUR GUESTS HAVE ACCESS TO FREE STAND UP PADDLE BOARDS, KAYAKS, CANOES AND SNORKELING GEAR.

WE HAVE WIFI INTERNET HOT SPOT IN THE COMMUNAL BAR AND RESTAURANT AREA

MAYOKA IS THE HUB OF TRAVELER ACTIVITY IN THE NKHATA BAY AREA, WHETHER YOU WISH TO RELAX IN A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT, ENJOY AN AMAZING MEAL OR MAKE NEW FRIENDS AT THE BAR THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE AND QUALITY SERVICE.

WE OFFER A FREE BOAT TRIP EVERY TUESDAY AND ARE FAMOUS FOR OUR FRIDAY NIGHT BBQ BUFFETS AND ALL DAY SUNDAY PIZZAS.

THERE IS LIVE MUSIC FROM LOCAL MUSICIANS EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT AND WE LOVE TO HOST LOCAL TALENT ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS THROUGH OUT THE YEAR.

NKHATA BAY IS AN BUSY TOWNSHIP WITH CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS, A BUSTLING MARKET PLACE AND BEAUTIFUL BEACHES. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO FROM HIKING AND SCUBA DIVING TO BEACH VOLLEY ALL WITH THE LOCALS.

MAYOKA IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO REST UP FOR A FEW DAYS, CONNECT WITH LIKE MINDED PEOPLE AND EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY AND GENEROSITY OF MALAWI.

CONTACT US ON:

PHONE / WHATSAPP +265 (0) 999 268 595

EMAIL:

[email protected]

[email protected]

KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR MORE INFO

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ACCOMMODATION

The gardens are a heaven for local wildlife, especially birds. Sitting on your balcony or outside your tent you can spot many varieties of sunbird, kingfishers and if your lucky bushbabies in the evening. There is a family of otters living on the lake shore that can be seen at dawn and dusk.

All along the shore we have little beaches and chill out spots where you can relax in a hammock or to sun bathe on the loungers. We have beautiful outdoor hot showers where you can bath in the sun or under the stars with a great view of the lake. To protect the environment we use compost toilets which are really easy and pleasant to use.

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Chalets

All our chalets are individual in shape, size and style, each one is fully furnished with all that you can need to be comfortable, unpack and make yourself at home. We have singles, doubles, twins, triples and a quadruple chalet, depending on whether you’re a couple or group of friends. Every chalet has its own private balcony with a great lake view and although close to the bar and restaurant you will find it peaceful and secluded.

• Standard chalets with shared bathrooms are $35 per double or twin beds per night, $20 for single, or $15 per person for 3-5 persons in a triple or quadruple chalet.
• Children under the age of 10 are free of charge and between 10 and 15 years of age half price.

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Ensuite Stone Chalets

We currently have four en-suite stone cottages if you wish to spoil yourself, they are more spacious and have private bathrooms with hot showers and bathtubs and tea/coffee making facilities. The cottages are suitable for couples or friends and we have one family cottage that sleeps up to five people.

• Single en-suites are $30 per person per night. Double or twin en-suite are $45 ($22.50 per person) per night. Our family Cottage sleeps up to 5 people for $18 per adult per night.

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Dormitory And Camping

We have a two spacious dormitories that sleeps eight or six people, also fully equipped with mosquito nets, individual bed lights, all the bedding.

• Dormitory beds are $12 a night.

Our campsite consists of terraces amongst the trees in the gardens overlooking the lake. It is possible to self cater, we have a bbq area that you are welcome to make use of and we can help you get fires started and lend you the use of fridges, pots and pans.

• Camping is $5 per person per night.

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ACTIVITIES

We are so fortunate at Mayoka Village that the waters of Lake Malawi are so clear. In the Northern region you will find the deepest part of the lake, 750 meters, which is only 5 kilometers from Nkhata Bay. This means that the waters will always be clean no matter what season it is. The lake varies in temperature only a little through out the year with the warmest being 26 degrees and coolest 21, so what ever the season it is always pleasant to swim.

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Free Snorkeling Equipment

All along the shore right in front of Mayoka you will see a huge variety of colorful tropical fish. Lake Malawi is famous for its Cichlid fish, which are very popular for aquariums and with biologists. Cichlids are the fastest evolving fish in the world which means that the lake has more than 1500 different species, all different in color, pattern and behavior, there is even one fish that only swims upside down to feed on the bottom of rocks. Cichlids are also interesting because the mothers care for their young by keeping them in their mouth when threatened, a really fun thing to see when snorkeling if you are lucky.

We have plenty of snorkels and masks for you to borrow and can direct you to good sites and tunnels to swim through if you’re brave enough.

TWICE A WEEK WE OFFER A FREE GUIDED SNORKELING SAFARI WHERE YOU GET TO PADDLE BY CANOE TO SOME OF THE BEST DIVE SITES IN MALAWI.

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FREE KAYAKS, DUGOUT CANOES AND STAND UP PADDLE BOARDS.

We have traditional dug out canoes you can have fun trying to master and if you want to tour the area easily we have double and single kayaks which are easy to handle.

The stand up paddle boards are ideal for messing around. If you have more experience they are a great way to get some exercise while enjoying being out on the water.

Try the Mayoka Dug Out Canoe challenge to win a free nights accommodation

We have two touring canoes available for exploring, day trips and overnight trips and have snorkelling safaris going out twice a week. We are also have a collection of standup paddle boards for our guests to enjoy seeing Lake Malawi from a different perspective.

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Free Boat Trips

Join the free boat trip every Tuesday to have a great afternoon out on the lake and see more of the area.

• GO CLIFF JUMPING
• SEE THE FISH EAGLES FEEDING
• BEAUTIFUL ISOLATED BEACH AND FISHING VILLAGE
• PLAY TRADITIONAL MALAWIAN BEACH GAMES
• GO SNORKELING
• MEET PEOPLE AND HAVE FUN
• GO FOR A VILLAGE WALK

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FULL MOON BEACH PARTIES EVERY MONTH

Join our monthly full moon parties where we go by boat to an isolated beach where you can watch the sun set and the full moon rise at the same time.

• BBQ BEACH DINNER
• BONFIRE, DRUMMING, DANCING AND MUSIC
• FULL BEACH BAR WITH COCKTAILS
• VOLLEYBALL, FRISBEE, BEAUTIFUL WILD BEACH
• SEE THE SUN SET AND FULL MOON RISE
• FEED THE FISH EAGLES AND GO CLIFF JUMPING

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HIKING

We offer guided walks and hikes in the surrounding village where you can see real village life, have lunch with a family, see traditional clay pot making or climb Bungulu hill where you get 360 degree views of the whole area.

Maps are available if you wish to walk alone, Nkhata Bay is a very safe and friendly place to spend time.

We also do several other activities during the week such as going to play volley ball at Chikale beach or having canoe races. You will also find WOODPECKER CARVING SCHOOL at Mayoka where you can learn how to create your own carvings and curios. There are also community projects in the area that we are involved in that you can visit or help out with.

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RESTAURANT AND BAR

The center of all communal activity at Mayoka Village is our bar and restaurant area. Open and shady, it provides a cool place to relax on the big comfy sofa during the day and a lively place to have a few drinks, chat to other travelers after dinner.

• LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEK
• WI-FI HOT SPOT
• BOOK EXCHANGE / LIBRARY
• BOARD GAMES
• HOME MADE ICED TEAS / LEMONADES / SMOOTHIES
• THE BEST EVER HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, WAFFLES AND CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
• VERY COLD BEERS
• COCKTAILS
• FRIENDLY RELAXED VIBE
• FREE TEA AT 4PM EVERY DAY

The Views of the lake from our decks are stunning, especially during the rainy season when you get the best views of the lightning.

The communal area provides a focus for socializing, have a chat with our friendly staff, play some games with friends or get the latest information from the travelers grapevine!

We like to encourage local talent and support cultural activities, so you will find local musicians and bands performing in the evenings at least twice a week and on the last Friday of every month we have a special event to support a Malawian cultural activity such as a local school drama group or a traditional dancing display.

The Mayoka Restaurant

WOOD BURNING PIZZA OVEN

We cook all the food for our restaurant from fresh ingredients for each individual order, we are very proud of the quality of our food. We grow all our own fresh fruit and vegetables from our garden in the hills of Mzuzu and grow all our own herbs in the Mayoka gardens. We have an extensive and exciting menu with dishes from all over the world and on any given day you will find great lunch specials and evening meals which make the most of the seasonal produce. Our menu has vegan and gluten free options.

• AMAZING BBQ BUFFET EVERY FRIDAY
• PIZZA NIGHTS ON WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY
• HUGE MENU OF BEAUTIFUL FOOD FOR ALL TASTES
• CARROT CAKES AND CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
• FRESHLY SQUEEZED FRUIT JUICES
• DELICIOUS MILKSHAKES AND FRUIT SMOOTHIES
• LARGE SELECTION OF HERBAL AND SPECIALTY TEAS
• FREE TEA AT FOUR EVERY AFTERNOON

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INFORMATION

BELOW YOU WILL FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO REACH US, THE CLIMATE, BANKING AND MORE

Nkhata Bay is on the Northern lake shore, 48 km from the capital of the Northern region Mzuzu. 400 km from Lilongwe, 400km from the Tanzanian border.

Nkhata Bay is a major port of call for the Ilala ferry which arrives on Saturday afternoons from Likoma Island and the South, goes North to Ruware and Chilumba for one night then returns to leave on Monday evenings to the islands and South again. If you are planning to arrive on the ferry we will always meet the ferry when it arrives on Sundays and offer a free pick up service. If you will be leaving on the ferry we can organize a transfer for you.

If you are arriving by public transport we offer a free transfer service to the lodge, it is only 10 minutes walk but we know you will be tired and it always seems further when you have to carry your bags. Every one at the bus depot knows us so if you ask for a taxi or boat transfer we will pay the driver when you arrive.

If you are coming from Lilongwe by public transport it is much easier to travel by bus to Mzuzu and then take a taxi or minibus down to Nkhata Bay. There are many bus companies offering a good service leaving from Lilongwe, it is a 5 /6 hour journey. We recommend that you avoid the bus station in Lilongwe. The axa bus company runs a daily bus from Lilongwe City Mall to Mzuzu at midday and the Sosososo bus company runs a service from the Game Complex Car Park, to Mzuzu leaving at 7 am or 2 pm. From Mzuzu you can get shared taxis or minibuses or private taxis to Nkhata Bay, it is a 45 minute drive. There are routes coming up the lakeshore road direct to Nkhata Bay but they tend to be much slower and so only recommended if you plan on spending a few nights at Senga Bay or Nkhota Khota on the way.

Coming from Blantyre there are night buses that go directly to Nkhata Bay leaving at 5pm daily, otherwise it is advisable to break the journey by staying in Senga Bay or Lilongwe.

Coming from the North, Tanzania and the national park of Nyika plateau , then you will pass through Mzuzu and on to Nkhata Bay. There is good public transport daily, either the big buses or minibuses.

Please be warned if you are coming from Mbeya in Tanzania, there are a lot of very good con artists operating in the bus station. It is not possible to buy tickets from Mbeya to Mzuzu or even anywhere over the border into Malawi. Only buy tickets from the official ticket offices or better still once you are on the right bus. It is possible to reach the border by minibus, then the border is small enough to walk across and you can then catch minibuses to Mzuzu or Karonga. Also take care of the money changers, there is a foreign exchange office on the Malawian side just opposite the customs department.

The Climate

The dry and cool season runs from end April to end September, during this time there is rarely any rain, blue skies, hot sunny days but cool evenings. The lake is at its best for swimming, calm clear waters. You may need light weight warm clothing for the evenings in Nkhata Bay and warm clothes if you plan to visit the highlands of Nyika, but the temperatures are very pleasant during the day times.

The hot season runs from October to end December, this is when temperatures can reach the high 30’s but not all the time. But it is more humid as the rains build up.

Rainy season is from January to April, with the most rain falling in March. However this is a beautiful and exciting time of the year with spectacular storms and when everything is lush and green. In Nkhata Bay it does not rain that much, mostly in the very early morning hours, with the rest of the day hot and sunny. It does not rain everyday, usually for a few days in a row and then a few dry days in between. All the major roads in Malawi are in good condition with tarmac and so the rains don’t hamper transport.

Banking

There are now banks in Nkhata Bay which will change travelers cheques and foreign currency. They also have an ATM that accepts only Visa cards. Otherwise there are all the major banks in Mzuzu, one hours drive on one of the minibuses that travel between the two cities all day.

WE ACCEPT VISA CARD PAYMENTS

Health

There is a government hospital and a private doctors clinic in Nkhata Bay where you can get treatment for all minor illnesses, malaria, sprained ankles etc. For any serious injuries there are good hospitals in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Blantyre.

There has been no Bilharzia ( shistosomiasis ) found in the waters of the Nkhata Bay area to date, a German research group comes to test the waters yearly. Any where were you find rocky shores, deep and agitated water the parasite can not live, so we are lucky that we do not need to worry when swimming at Mayoka.

The taps in the bar and restaurant at Mayoka Village have safe drinking water that has been filtered and chlorinated. The bathrooms do not have treated water.

Shopping

Nkhata Bay is the center of the Nkhata Bay district and so has a good supermarket, lots of small shops and a market where you can get all the basics. For a better variety of fresh vegetables and better cuts of meat or for more unusual items like sun cream you will need to go to Mzuzu.