The Republic of Malawi, formerly Nyasaland, is a democratic, densely populated country located in south eastern Africa. Malawi became a fully independent member of the British Commonwealth on July 6, 1964.
For almost thirty years, the government of Malawi and the Malawi Congress Party were one. When Malawi was declared a republic in 1966 the country was formally declared a one-party state. Under Banda, all citizens had to be members of the party. This situation changed in a 1993 referendum, which instituted a multi party system. In the country's first democratic elections, Banda and the MCP were soundly defeated.
The Great Rift Valley runs through the country from north to south. In this deep trough lies Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa, making about 20% of Malawi's area. Lake Malawi is sometimes called the Calendar Lake as it is about 365 miles long and 52 miles wide. Malawi's economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and has few exploitable mineral resources. Its three most important export crops are tobacco, tea and sugar.

 

Mar30 The rain stopped when we get up at 5:30 am to start day 77 for the ride to Chitimba where we will be staying two nights at th Chitimba Beach Camp. On the way we passed the little fishing village of Ngara with a multitude of hollow log boats with which the fishermen go out on the lake to cast their nets.  The ride itself was long and tedious with little variation and headwind all day long. But the campsite where we ended up after 122km is fantastic. Right on the beach, nice shady grassy areas for the tents, a comfortable tropical, open to the wind lodge where we can order drinks and food, showers, etc. Not to forget the view over Lake Malawi. A lovely place to spend our rest day. Good for me to recuperate as I am still not 100% and lack leg strength.


TdA report, day 79-83
!!!TOO SICK AND TIRED, TO BE INSPIRED!!!
I think this is an appropriate way to describe my situation for the ride through Malawi! This is not due to the country, the landscapes or its people. If anything, this is one of the nicer countries we cycle through. The people are without exception the kindest and friendliest you will find anywhere. They usually speak at least some English so simple conversations are possible. The landscapes and views are great, and make for interesting rides. The temperatures are very tolerable and very from a cool 17 degrees in the morning at an elevation of 1400m, to the high 30's in the afternoon at lower elevations of 1000m. The fact is that since the urinary tract infection, from which I have fully recovered, I have been feeling OK but low on energy and without any desire to cycle fast. On top of that my legs, bum muscles and lower back hurt badly. The latter situation has improved greatly since the evening in Kasungu one of the participants, Chris Maund, gave my legs a thorough, therapeutic massage. It did wonders to alleviate the stiffness and painful situation!
As a result of all this I have not even attempted to ride at race pace, but rather have ridden at a very leisurely pace to help the recuperation process. And, important for me, to maintain the E(very) F(...ing) I(nch) status, my first goal before a good end classification. If I slip from 4th place, so be it.
As I write this it is our rest day (day 83, April5) in Lilongwe where we stay at the Mabuya Camp, and where I took a room for the two nights we stay here. A nice, typical African room with a straw roof, simple and clean. Lilongwe has a pleasant small town appearance. It is small enough to get an over view of the town, and big enough to have modern facilities as banks, shopping malls, garages, you name it, it is there. However, along the Lilongwe river still exists the old shanty town and market, right next to the modern town.

 

To get here we cycled 4 days from Chitimba Beach Camp. 

Apr 1 When we left Chitimba we had a spectacular climb from Lake Malawi level right away up the hills to the highland just west of the lake. We camped in the town of Mzuzu, elevation 1200m, at the Lodge of the same name. The vertical for the day 1450m and the distance 136km.
Apr 2 That day was a killer for all of us. A distance of 124km with 1800m vertical which got us to a bush camp, el. 1400m, on some soccer fields at a village about 22km before Jerda. Hundreds of locals had their entertainment watching our every move.
Apr 3 Today was a bit easier as we descended overall to the town of Kasungu, el. 950m, where we stayed at the very nice Kasungu Inn. Here Chris gave me the first therapeutic massage that did wonders for me.
Apr 4 We cycled to Lilongwe (el. 1000m), still 800m vertical for a distance of 129km and a headwind all day.
Apr 5 Lilongwe rest day. Because of the good roads and good weather I have no bicycle maintenance to do, and the laundry is done for me for a few hundred Malawian Kwatchas. I have a nice room and bed to rest well. In the morning I have uploaded pictures to the website (unfortunately the photo album is out of order for the time being) on the computers available at the camp, visited town, eaten a lot, and Chris has given me the second massage of the legs and lower back, to help me get over my problems.

Tomorrow, Good Friday, we head westward to cross the border of Zambia after about 95 kilometres, and will leave beautiful, hospitable Malawi behind us.