Kaya Mawa

Kaya Mawa sits on Likoma Island in the northern part of Lake Malawi, one of the world's deepest lakes. The name comes from the Chichewa and Nyanja phrase for 'maybe tomorrow' — which describes the pace accurately. Eleven rooms, houses and a private villa are spread along the beach and into the rocks above it, each one built differently: some are set directly at the lake's edge with a wooden walkway giving straight access to the water, others perch higher on rocky outcrops with wide views across to the neighbouring island of Chizimulu or south towards the Mozambican coastline. White-washed and exposed-stone interiors are furnished with pieces made largely at Katundu Workshop on the island. Several rooms have private plunge pools or infinity pools; Makungulu sits on its own small rocky isle reached by a wooden bridge.

The lake is the activity. Kaya Mawa is partnered with Likoma Island Divers, a PADI resort with two in-house instructors covering everything from a three-hour discovery dive to full certification courses. Above water, the lodge offers kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing on Lasers, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and kitesurfing. E-bikes are available for a circuit of the island, taking in the cathedral built in 1905 and the valley of the baobabs. The spa is set into the rocks beside the lake.

Kaya Mawa was built by local hands and runs entirely on renewable energy — the first resort in Malawi to do so. Access to Likoma Island is by small aircraft or by ferry across the lake.