Monkey Bay
Southern Region, Malawi
Why visit Monkey Bay?
Monkey Bay is a lakeside village on the southern shore of Lake Malawi with a population a little over 15,000, functioning both as a fishing and boat-repair centre for the lake's small shipping trade and as one of Malawi's main lake ports. It is the southern terminus of the historic MV Ilala ferry, which has run the length of Lake Malawi since 1951, departing weekly from Monkey Bay for the far north near Chilumba before returning. The village is also the gateway to the rocky islands and forests of the UNESCO-listed Lake Malawi National Park and the watersports scene at nearby Cape Maclear.
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By Car / Road
Monkey Bay is about 2.5 hours north of Blantyre, on the road to Cape Maclear.
What are the things to do?
- Lake Malawi — Swimming, boating, and beach activities.
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- Cape Maclear (south by road) — Best beaches on Lake Malawi.
- Mangochi (north) — Lake town with the museum.
- Blantyre (2.5 hours south) — Commercial capital.
Nearby in Southern Region
More places to explore around Monkey Bay.
Guide content as of June 2026. Portions adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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