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After crossing the border drove long to get to the capital city of Lilongwe, staying at a nice campsite in the city. Found some new scientist magazines circa 1999 and 2000, I took them for future reading!! Next morning went to town for food shopping again and drove to Kande beach, we arrived there late it was already dark and so we pitched tent next to the toilets in between the trees, mark was passed because he claimed it is the path to the loo, but Craig and I did not move coz were too lazy to lift the damn tent. Chill out at the bar after meal then off to bed. We have lots of eggs in the truck and made myself a really good omellete then had a swim in the cold but refreshing water of Lake Malawi, monopolized the Table tennis table for most of the day, Tash complained but we ignored her, Craig and I were at it for hours at a time only stopping to do lunch or swim, we got addicted to the damn ping pong. Went for a run, 5 miles almost and took us almost 2 hours, i ran barefoot and my ankles were swollen after that and was really sore, we are here for couple of days, and i spent it swimming in the lake despite the scare of bilharzia, i figured it is not stagnant water, the waves are strong so the parasite could not possibly be there, i hope. Some went for PADI diving and some snorkelled, me and Craig just played ping pong to no end, at the end of our stay we broke 4 balls! Brian lost his camera one night while drunk, left it in the bar table while he skinny dipped with others, and someone nicked it..From there we head towards Chitimba, stopping at some craft stores, i bought small Malawi chairs for my nephew and niece quite cheap and good quality! Drive to Chitimba was awesome, gorgeous mountains, lake on the other side, quite cool drive, scenery once again fantastic, lush vegetation etc. Overnite at Viphya lodge campsite, the toilet was aweful! the only saving grace is we camped in the beach right next to the lake and you here the sound of the waves at night as you get to sleep. rained that night and Christina kindly put our windows down . before we left the next day Criag and I went for our last swim in the lake, the water is warm and inviting, some went for a swim the night before. if I am getting bilharzia might as well enjoy the lake to it's fullest. Drove to the border at Sonwe lots of form filling the immigration guy was grumpy and was very particular about us completely filling up the forms correctly!

Spent only 6 days in Malawi and did not take lots of photos, nevertheless I trully enjoyed our time there and yes i did swim in the lake, Bilharzia infested or not it was a very beautiful lake and just could not resist it, note to self, get tested for schistosomiasis in 6 months.

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