Lake Malawi National Park

Lake Malawi National Park protects the Cape Maclear peninsula and its islands at the southern end of the lake, a World Heritage Site for the cichlid fish: hundreds of species, most found nowhere else, evolved in the lake's clear water and best seen by snorkelling off the rocks. It is a beach park rather than a wildlife park, with fish eagles, kayaking to the islands, diving, and the village of Chembe along the shore. The lake is warm year-round; the dry season from May to October is clearest. It is a malaria area, and bilharzia is present, so ask locally about swimming spots.