Chitimba Beach
Chitimba
A sandy stretch of Lake Malawi shore at the foot of the escarpment, with backpacker camps that make a good base for swimming and resting before or after the climb.
Chitimba lies beside the M1 road, close to the start of the zigzag road. The lakeshore has a long sandy beach and several backpacker camps, including Chitimba Beach Lodge. Overland tour trucks often stop here to camp. You can swim in Lake Malawi and watch fishermen paddle their dugout canoes back to shore. The camps can arrange vehicles or guides up to Livingstonia. The lakeshore is hotter than the escarpment top, and mosquitoes are plentiful, so take malaria precautions. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) may be present in the lake, so ask the camp about conditions before swimming. About 5 km south, around Florence Bay, there are also a few small camps.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Gorode Road (Livingstonia Switchbacks)
- Livingstonia Escarpment Viewpoint (Mushroom Farm)
- Manchewe Falls
- Livingstonia Mission Heritage Buildings
- Stone House Museum
- Livingstonia Mission Church