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 | Kayak Africa and Mumbo Island
Kayak Africa are the founders and owners of the camps on Mumbo Island and Domwe Island, and manage the camps on a daily basis. Mumbo Island is also a member of the prestigious Wilderness Safaris portfolio, which confirms it's status as one of the best camps in Southern Africa.
Kayak Africa has a tour operator office in Cape Town to help you get there - contact us for personalised and focussed service of the highest caliber.
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 | Mumbo one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World
We at Kayak Africa are delighted to announce that Mumbo Island was chosen as one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World in the UK Sunday Times Travel Magazine! Mumbo was one of only ten hotels chosen in Africa and Asia.
We are very proud!
See what they said by selecting "More"
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 | Domwe Island on the cover of February Getaway Magazine!
We were delighted to discover that Domwe is the cover star of Getaway Magazine's February 2012 issue featuring a great article on two gals roadtrippin' through Malawi in a Mini Cooper.
And they have very kindly also featured Domwe and Mumbo both in two beautiful double page spreads. Thanks, Getaway! Get your copy quickly!
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 | Why take our word for it? What guests have to say in blogs and articles
Susie Vester on Mumbo: Island Paradise at Mumbo
Sarah Isaacs has a great time island hopping: Island Hopping on the Lake of Stars
Kate Goss recommends Domwe: A castaway holiday on Domwe
Clare Bock blogs about our bread on: The recipe for our famous bread rolls on Domwe
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 | Mumbo Selected Finalist in Imvelo Awards
Kayak Africa’s Mumbo Island was selected a finalist in three categories in FEDHASA’s Imvelo Awards for Responsible Tourism in Africa. We were nominated in three categories:
· Best overall environmental management system
· Best waste management system
· Best social involvement programme.
Sadly we didn't win - but just wait until next year!
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 | A picture says 1000 words....
Mumbo Island was fortunate to have photographer Joe Cannon visit it's fair shores during 2009 as a guest of Wilderness Safaris. Joe has recorded his memories on You Tube for all to see. Take a minute or three to check it out at Mumbo Island Camp by Joe Cannon
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 | SCUBA Diving at Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi
Kayak Africa has been operating its Dive School in Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi National Park since 1996. We offer all PADI courses from Discover Scuba to Dive Master. Our classes are small and personal so you get all the guidance and attention you need. (Rob and Patrick have just certified their 600th and 100th PADI divers respectively - that's experience you can rely on!)
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 | Expedition up the Tanzanian Shore of Lake Malawi
Kayak Africa completed a successful lake expedition in Nov 2011 covering approximately 1160 km in our faithful old wooden boat, Nankapakapa. The two American guests were treated to three days kayaking along the Livingstone Mountains on the Tanzanian lake shore. The scenery was stunning and we were lucky enough to have great weather during the kayaking portion of the trip.
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 | Honeymoon on heart-shaped Mumbo!
We have had a spate of happy honeymooners on Mumbo Island over the last few weeks, all of whom have been very impressed with just how special the island is. Our record so far is three honeymoon couples and two proposals on the island in the same week – something in the air perhaps?
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 | "Surfs up? Who cares...."
"I think I was destined to be a surfer. Every facet of my life revolves around surfing, and no aspect more so than holidays. So, for me, a landlocked country such as Malawi was never a holiday option, and it was due to quirky fate that I ended up doing a kayaking trip between the islands off Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi.
Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of the lake. Its iridescent blue waters, giant granite boulders, stunning island camps and rainbow-coloured cichlid fish all made it one of the most amazing trips of my life.
Looking back now, it's funny to think that as I kicked back in the hammock, beer in hand, the furthest thing from my mind was what the surf might be like." Barry Tuck (Africa at its Best, GO! Magazine Feb 2007)
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 | TimesOnline Green Spaces Awards
Mumbo Island was honoured to be selected as one of only six finalists in the category "Best Places to Stay (Worldwide)" in TimesOnline's December 2008 Green Spaces competition.
The judge's final comments were as follows........
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 | Clothes for Orphans from Mumbo's cushions
In February this year, Billy Bwanali, our local tailor, re-upholstered every cushion on Mumbo and Domwe islands. He completed this task in three days, setting up his treadle machine on Kayak Africa’s deck and sewing all day, while we provided tea and meals. Some of the old cushion covers were still in good nick, so we used them to make 100 new dresses and shirts for the orphans in Chembe village. How is that for a great story of reducing, re-using and recycling?
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 | Fresh pasta (and a new home industry) on Mumbo
The latest great innovation on Mumbo Island is the making of home made, fresh pasta in our island kitchen. Our inspired island manager, Mare, procured two pasta machines from friends who no longer used them. Now each chef team makes delicious fresh pasta for our guests during their weeklong shift on the island. Carbonara, primavera, arrabiata – enjoy Italian flavour on our African island!
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 | Domwe Island comes to the party!
(Tessa Makepeace and family visited Domwe in Apr '09)
"I think it is fair to say that Domwe was the highlight of our trip to Malawi. We had the most wonderful, relaxing and magical time there, watching the dug-outs go out fishing every morning, and then wakening to hear them coming back the next morning, full of song and always happy to respond to our happy waving.
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 | Malawi's first SCUBA Instructor
Kayak Africa is very proud to announce that our well-known Dive Master, Patrick Phiri, 40, has become the first Malawian to qualify as PADI SCUBA Diving Instructor. He has just returned form Johannesburg where he sat his final exams, having attained over 85% in all subjects.
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 | Shape magazine on health and paddling
The Feb 2008 edition of Shape has this to say, "The best exercise for water-babies, paddling is a great back and core muscle workout. It's the perfect exercise to achieve toned arm, shoulder and back muscles and naturally toned, sleek and strong core muscles, in (bonus!) a serene and beautiful environment."
Visit www.shapemag.co.za for more.
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 | Name the spot.....
Fame at last - the cover of the August 2007 edition of Getaway! The magazine doesn't mention it, but we at Kayak Africa know where this is - the beach on Mumbo Island!
Featured in the picture is something our past guests will remember with fondness - our faithful motorboat Nankapakapa (which is Chichewa for kingfisher). The photo was taken by Justin Fox in February 2002. Since then we have added a new jetty, so no more clambering up and down the ladder. Rising water levels in the lake have also necessitated a bigger bridge than appears in this photo.
Nature rules in the Lake Malawi National Park!
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 | Two islands, two covers in two months!
"The jukebox song playing at the Seattle Reggae Bar fades as we push our kayaks off the beach and aim for open water. Our destination is Domwe Island off Cape Maclear in the Lake Malawi National Park. A guide paddles with us - it is a 5km paddle - and an hour later we drag the kayaks from the blue-green water.
The camp, located within an exclusive concession, is set out on different levels among wild figs, granite boulders the size of lorries and a giant baobab. Each of the five platforms is out of sight of the others. The shower is a bucket which camp staff fill with hot water.
We have the island to ourselves tonight. This must be what Richard Branson feels like!"
Anim van Wyk and Dawie Verwey visited Lake Malawi with GO! magazine (Oct 2007 edition).
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