Cape Maclear

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title: "Cape Maclear" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lake-malawi", "populated-places-in-southern-region,-malawi"] topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Maclear" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_name
native_nameChembe
nicknameThe Cape
settlement_type
image_skylineOtter Point, Cape Maclear (Malawi).jpg
imagesize300px
image_captionOtter Point, Cape Maclear
pushpin_mapMalawi
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pushpin_label_positionbottom
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Malawi
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameMalawi
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Southern Region
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Mangochi District
unit_prefImperial
area_land_km2
population_as_of2008
population_blank1_titleEthnicities
population_blank2_titleReligions
timezone+2
coordinates
blank1_name_sec2Climate
blank1_info_sec2Aw
::

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Cape Maclear or Chembe is a town in the Mangochi District of Malawi's Southern Region. The town, on the Nankumba Peninsula, is on the southern shore of Lake Malawi and is the busiest resort on Lake Malawi. Cape Maclear is close to the islands of Domwe, Thumbwe and Mumbo Island on Lake Malawi, and is in Lake Malawi National Park.

History

In 1859, the missionary and explorer David Livingstone uncovered the Cape, and named it "Cape Maclear" after his friend, the astronomer Thomas Maclear, who was Her Majesty's Astronomer at the Cape of Good Hope. In October 1875, a new mission, "Livingstonia", was set up by a group of members of the Free Church of Scotland. Before the missionaries arrived, the area was controlled by the Muslim Yao people. The graves of some of the missionaries are in Cape Maclear, overlooking the bay. Although Cape Maclear had a good harbour, the poor soil in the area, and the prevalence of the tsetse fly, meant a more suitable base had to be found; the mission moved to Bandawe, near Chintheche, in 1882.

Wildlife

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Lake_Malawi_-Cape_Maclear-_Thumbi_Island_Sunset.jpg" caption="Looking towards Thumbi Island"] ::

Cape Maclear and its islands, forests and bay were declared a national park in 1980, creating the Lake Malawi National Park, the first freshwater national park in the world. In 1984, the area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are several species of bird at Cape Maclear, including kingfishers, Dickinson's kestrels, and freckled nightjars. There is a museum about the formation of Lake Malawi and its wildlife at Cape Maclear. UNESCO has recommended wildlife preservation at Cape Maclear.

Tourism

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Sunset_at_Cape_Macclear_(Malawi).jpg" caption="[[Lake Malawi]] at Cape Maclear"] ::

Cape Maclear is "a leading tourist destination", and is the busiest resort on Lake Malawi. The area is popular with backpackers. There are bars, restaurants, lodges and guesthouses in the town. Activities available in Cape Maclear include snorkelling, hiking, boat cruises, kayaking, and diving. In October 2001, the Malawian government invited investors to fund a $6,000,000 construction of a new 150-room, four-star hotel at Cape Maclear. In June 2003, plans were announced to build an ecolodge on Maleri Island, near Cape Maclear.{{cite web|url= http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=36804|title=Malawi plans development of eco-lodges|accessdate=24 June 2008|date=13 June 2003|work=Engineering News|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel}} In February 2005, the Malawian government announced plans to increase ecotourism at Cape Maclear with new accommodation and facilities. These plans proved too ambitious for the fragile Malawian economy and tourist industry.

Transport

In February 2006, the Malawian government announced plans to build a new road from Cape Maclear to Monkey Bay. The current road is a bumpy dirt track, and there is no regular public transport at Cape Maclear. Regular bus service extends only from Lilongwe to Monkey Bay where private minibuses can be hired for the trip to Cape Maclear.

Healthcare

The Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic was established here in 2004 to treat diseases such as dysentery, bilharzia and malaria. There are no diagnostic services or surgery carried out at the clinic. Mags Riordan founded the clinic, she is the mother of a man who drowned in Lake Malawi, near Cape Maclear in 1999. The clinic is supported by the Billy Malawi Project.

Bilharzia is common at Cape Maclear; the incidence of the disease at Cape Maclear was three times higher than the rest of Lake Malawi in 2008.

Sport

Every summer, a multi-day yacht race is held on Lake Malawi. The race starts at Cape Maclear, heads north, and ends at Nkhata Bay.{{cite web|url= http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2007/06/30/764048.html?s=2|title=Das "warme Herz Afrikas" liegt im Süden (2)|accessdate=24 June 2008|date=30 June 2007|last=Fischer|first=Andreas|work=Hamburger Abendblatt|language=German}}

References

References

  1. Collins, Dr. Martina. (10 June 2008). "Life as a GP in Malawi —the warm heart of Africa". [[Irish Medical Times]].
  3. Rogers, Douglas}}{{dead link. (5 February 2001). "Malawi: On a mission in Africa (2)". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  4. Murphy, Alan. (2007). "Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari". [[Lonely Planet]].
  5. Bass, Thomas A.. (1990). "Camping with the Prince and Other Tales of Science in Africa: And Other". [[Houghton Mifflin]].
  6. Livingstone, David. (1865). "Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries: And of the". J. Murray.
  7. Murphy, Alan. (2007). "Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari". [[Lonely Planet]].
  8. Good, Charles M.. (2000). "The Steamer Parish: The Rise and Fall of Missionary Medicine on an African". [[University of Chicago Press]].
  9. Good, Charles M.. (2000). "The Steamer Parish: The Rise and Fall of Missionary Medicine on an African". [[University of Chicago Press]].
  10. Murphy, Alan. (2007). "Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari". [[Lonely Planet]].
  11. (1 February 1879). "The American missionary". [[Cornell University]].
  12. (1 July 1882). "The American missionary". [[Cornell University]].
  13. Fischer, Andreas. (30 June 2007). "Das "warme Herz Afrikas" liegt im Süden (1)". [[Hamburger Abendblatt]].
  14. Bass, Thomas A.. (1990). "Camping with the Prince and Other Tales of Science in Africa: And Other". [[Houghton Mifflin]].
  15. Riley, Laura. (2005). "Nature's Strongholds: The World's Great Wildlife Reserves". [[Princeton University Press]].
  16. Chimwala, Marcel. (20 May 2005). "Malawi scouts investors for tourism initiative...". Engineering News.
  17. Walters, Joanna. (8 June 2003). "Take the plunge in the lake of stars". [[The Observer]].
  18. Rogers, Douglas. (5 February 2001). "Malawi: On a mission in Africa (1)". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  19. Chimwala, Marcel. (19 October 2001). "Malawi seeks investor for hotel project". Engineering News.
  20. Chimwala, Marcel. (18 February 2005). "Tenders invited for Lake Malawi ecotourism project". [[Engineering News (Creamer Media).
  21. (28 February 2006). "Malawi: Investors, Tourists Wear Smile in Cape Maclear". [[AllAfrica]].
  22. Murphy, Alan. (2007). "Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari". [[Lonely Planet]].
  23. (6 April 2001). "Animal magic". [[The Guardian]].
  24. (2008-05-28). "GPs needed for Malawi project". Irish Medical Times.
  25. Dawood, Richard M.. (2002). "Travellers' Health: How to Stay Healthy Abroad". [[Oxford University Press]].

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lake-malawipopulated-places-in-southern-region,-malawi