Chizumulu Island
Island Small Lake Malawi island with fishing villages
Off Lake Malawi, Chizumulu Island offers sandy beaches, coral snorkeling and small village life; visitors arrive by ferry for laid-back walks, local markets and freshwater fishing.
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Chizumulu Island is a small inhabited island in Lake Malawi, administered as part of Malawi’s Northern Region and closely associated with nearby Likoma Island. It is one of the two Malawian islands located inside waters belonging to Mozambique, a legacy of colonial-era boundaries.
The island offers a low-density, rural lakeside environment with shoreline settlements, simple local roads and paths, and freshwater lake access for swimming and fishing. Local life is concentrated in small villages along the coast rather than inland urban development.
Historically the island has been linked administratively and economically to Likoma and to Malawi; its status inside Mozambican waters stems from 19th-century colonial arrangements. Over time it has remained sparsely developed and largely reliant on lake transport and small-scale subsistence activities.
Geographically it sits just east of Likoma Island in the northeastern sector of Lake Malawi, off the Mozambican coast and within Malawi’s Northern Region. The surrounding landscape is lake shoreline with scattered trees and scrub rather than high relief.
- Jurisdiction: Located administratively with Likoma District in Malawi's Northern Region despite being surrounded by Mozambican waters due to colonial-era boundaries.
- Access: Boat is the primary means of access; schedules vary seasonally and from the nearby island of Likoma and mainland landing points.
How to Get to Chizumulu Island #
Chizumulu Island is in Lake Malawi just off Likoma Island (Northern Region). Typical access is by boat from Likoma; Likoma itself is served by the MV Ilala ferry (seasonal schedule) and by scheduled regional flights to Likoma Airport. On arrival at Likoma, local motorboats make the short crossing to Chizumulu (a matter of minutes); on the island most settlements are within a short walk of the landing points.
Tips for Visiting Chizumulu Island #
- Take the earliest scheduled boat from Likoma Island or Nkhata Bay when services operate - waters are calmer in the morning and small-boat crossings are less likely to be cancelled by afternoon winds.
- Coordinate transfers and accommodation ahead of time; ferry schedules are irregular and many day-trippers miss the island's quieter east coast viewpoints because they try to fit everything into a single unpredictable boat trip.
- Explore by bicycle or on foot from the main jetty and head to local villages: visitors often concentrate on the small beaches but miss the island's community life and viewpoints above the shoreline.
Best Time to Visit Chizumulu Island #
The dry season (May-October) is generally the best time to visit Chizumulu Island for calmer waters and more reliable travel connections.
Weather & Climate near Chizumulu Island #
Chizumulu Island's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in November) and warm winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 18°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1262 mm/year), wettest in February with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 22°C. Heavy rain (291 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 22°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (333 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 22°C. Heavy rain (232 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 22°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
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May
May is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 21°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. The driest month with just 2 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 2 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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September
September is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 21°C. The driest month with just 2 mm and clear sunny skies.
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October
October is warm, feeling like 28°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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November
November is the hottest month, feeling like 29°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 23°C. Heavy rain (222 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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