Likoma IslandAbout Likoma Island
Likoma Island is an inhabited island in Lake Malawi administered as part of Malawi’s Northern Region. The island is home to a small town and an Anglican cathedral that is prominent on the skyline.
The Anglican St. Peter’s Cathedral and shoreline spots used for swimming, snorkeling and small-boat excursions. The island has local guesthouses and simple services concentrated around the harbor.
Anglican missionary activity established the cathedral and mission presence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the community has remained a lake-centred settlement since that period. The island economy is based on fishing, small-scale tourism and local services.
Likoma lies in the eastern part of Lake Malawi and is administered by Malawi, though it is close to Mozambique’s lakeshore. The island is accessible only by water and is a local transport node for ferries and dhows crossing the lake.
- Sovereignty: The island is part of Malawi despite lying close to Mozambique; administration and services are provided by Malawi’s Northern Region.
- Access: Access is by boat from mainland ports on Lake Malawi; boat services are the primary transport link for passengers and goods.
What to See#
- St. Peter’s Cathedral: St. Peter’s Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral constructed by missionaries in the early 20th century, notable for its scale relative to the island and its role as an ecclesiastical centre for the surrounding lake communities.
- Likoma town: Likoma town and harbor area, which contains the island’s main settlements, basic services and boat landings used by scheduled and charter ferries across Lake Malawi.
Best Time to Visit Likoma Island
Plan a trip in the dry season (May-October) for clearer water, calmer weather and easier travel around the island.
Weather & Climate near Likoma Island
Likoma 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 (1218 mm/year), wettest in February with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 22° - 29° | 25° | 299 mm | overcast | 76% | 1.8 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.6h |
| February | Good | 22° - 28° | 25° | 357 mm | overcast | 77% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.4h |
| March | Good | 22° - 29° | 25° | 203 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.1h |
| April | Excellent | 22° - 29° | 25° | 71 mm | some cloud | 76% | 2.2 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.7h |
| May | Ideal | 21° - 28° | 24° | 13 mm | mostly sunny | 69% | 2.4 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.4h |
| June | Ideal | 19° - 27° | 23° | 2 mm | mostly sunny | 65% | 2.6 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.3h |
| July | Ideal | 18° - 26° | 22° | 0 mm | mostly sunny | 61% | 2.7 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.3h |
| August | Ideal | 19° - 27° | 23° | 1 mm | mostly sunny | 57% | 3.1 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.6h |
| September | Ideal | 21° - 29° | 25° | 1 mm | clear | 51% | 3.1 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.9h |
| October | Ideal | 24° - 31° | 28° | 4 mm | mostly sunny | 49% | 2.7 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.3h |
| November | Excellent | 24° - 31° | 29° | 47 mm | partly cloudy | 53% | 2.7 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.6h |
| December | Good | 23° - 30° | 26° | 220 mm | overcast | 71% | 2.1 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.7h |
How to Get to Likoma Island
Likoma Island lies in Lake Malawi and is reached by water and by small aircraft. The island has an airstrip (Likoma Airport) used by light aircraft/charter services, and it is also served by lake ferries/launches (including the long‑route MV Ilala and local boat services) from lakeshore towns such as Nkhata Bay and other northern ports. On arrival the main settlement and cathedral are a short walk from the ferry landing or airstrip.
Tips for Visiting Likoma Island
- Take scheduled boat services from Nkhata Bay or Chilumba and aim for the first crossing of the day to secure accommodation and avoid day‑trip crowding on the island.
- Stay at least one night-day trips miss the island's evening atmosphere, cathedral and village life-and book lodging in advance during the dry season (May-October).
- Don't skip short snorkeling or diving excursions around the island; Likoma's reefs are among the clearest on Lake Malawi and are best visited by local dive operators who know the reefs' access points.