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The Afro Island
Real name Thumbe Island, Cape Mclear, Lake MalawiI thought I would share with you what I can see at this moment in time. I am sat on the balcony in the bar at the Grecko Lodge in Cape Maclear, Malawi just as the sun is about to set. In front of me is an area of Lake Malawi so vast it could be mistaken for the sea. It is calm and little waves lap the shore. Directly ahead, plonked majestically in the lake is a mound of island called 'Thumbe Island' where we had lunch earlier today. It is triangular in shape and is covered with dark green trees and shrubs. From here it looks like the top of a huge head with afro hair that has the face submerged in the water of the lake. Have a look at the photos and hopefully you will see what I mean.
To the right of the island I can see a range of hills on the horizon and more hills closer to the land where there are more trees. Dotted around the lake are lots of canoes and small boats, some with one or two fishermen on and others empty just bobbing along in the water.
To
the left of the island it’s just lake and more lake – miles and miles of it as far as the eye can see. Small boats dot the horizon and a couple of kingfishers are skimming the surface of the lake for fish. The water is calm with hardly any movement except for from the birds and the boats.
On the land to my right I can see my volunteer friends from our house basking on sun loungers on the beach, soaking up the very last of the day’s rays. Close to them is a huge green tree with full branches under which a blue and white speedboat is moored.
To my left on the sand is a lot more activity, mainly from the local people who live parallel to this lodge, just back slightly off the beach. People are out in force making use of the lake in many different ways. A couple of young kids are having a bath in it before bed, being lathered up on the sand and then diving into the water to rinse off. A lady is washing two freshly caught fish in the water before cooking them and another lady is
collecting water in a huge bucket which she will put on top of her head to carry back to her house. There’s also a man washing dishes with his hands (no cloth).
Slightly back from the water’s edge is a group of about 5 or 6 young men chattering and a small fire has been lit to keep them warm as the sun goes down. That seems to be quite a common thing to do in Malawi both by the lake and in-land.
I can hear music in the distance, children shrieking and waves lapping on the sand. I can also see small lights on the horizon right side of the island – apparently they are lights of small fishing vessels which are used to entice the fish to the surface of the water making them easier to catch.
That just about sums it up for now and daylight is fading fast. The sun is setting behind Thumbe Island and the sky is changing from blue to pink to a darker mixture of creams and browns. It’s still pleasantly warm after a hot afternoon, but time to go inside to cover up and apply the dreaded deet
before the mosquitos come out to play again!
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Karen
non-member comment
Hi Amanda, What an amazing time you are having and thank you so much for describing everything in such detail and for sharing it with everyone - it makes is easier to try and picture (and smell) what you experiencing. I am sure that nothing can fully prepare you for what you will encounter during your stay but what an enriching time you will have. Keep posting and we will keeping following. Love Karen