Malawi - part 2

I arrived in Nkhota-kota at 5pm, thinking the Ilala would arrive at 8pm. After asking around the locals soon informed me that they did not expect the Ilala Ferry to arrive before 12pm.

I walked down to the lake where all the people were waiting for the ferry. Everyone waited at a broken down building and I soon found out that the Ilala was most definitely not on time. I sat and waited with the locals till the sun rose at 6am when only the Ilala arrived. I boarded the Ilala 10 hours late, bitten by mosquitoes and hardly any sleep.

Wanting to embark the ferry was a complete new adventure. It was every man for himself as everyone on the ferry wanted to get off and I wanted to get on board. I climbed over boxes of fish and vegetables with everyone protesting that I am going the wrong way. I immediately went up to 1^st class and tried to sleep for 4 hours while waiting to head further south.

As the engines started and the ferry made its way south, the crew asked me to pay. I walked around and realized that 2^nd class was empty. 1^st class was a better option but I had limited money and decided to take 2^nd class.

We arrived in Monkey Bay at 12pm and this would be where the Ilala would dock. It was too late to find accommodation and I decided to stay on the ferry till the sun came up. Having docked I told the crew that it’s to late and I am going up to 1^st class to sleep.

The next morning I headed to Cape Maclear. I met an Australian Traveler and we took a pick up truck to Cape Maclear where I stayed for a three days.

I’d been to Cape Maclear before when I was 13 years old. On our visit with my parents I met a local called Francis. Francis would always write letters to me and my brother. Upon arrival in Cape Maclear I went into the village to find Francis. I found his sister and she told me that he was in Blantyre. On the morning I left Cape Maclear to go to Blantyre Francis showed up outside my tent. He was back in town and the community told him that I’d been looking for him. He had a chat where after I took a pick up truck with my Australian friend Adrian to Blantyre.

Blantyre is the biggest city in Malawi and I only stayed for a night. The next morning it was off to Mozambique as this would be a new challenge with no one speaking English and the distances between destinations being further.

Malawi is a great country with the friendliest people. Malawi is a small country and accommodation is easily available with numerous transport options. I had an amazing stay in this beautiful country and will be going back as soon as I get the opportunity.