While most trips focus activities on, around or beneath the surface of Lake Malawi, away from the lake, the varied countryside presents spectacular scenery, just waiting to be explored by trekking through the mountains and hiking across its plateaus. Blessed with unique and diverse wildlife, nature lovers will adore the national parks and game reserves.

Lake Malawi, or the Lake of Stars, is the most southern lake in the African Rift Valley and the 3rd largest in Africa (9th in the world). But perhaps most importantly for freshwater diving and snorkelling, the lake's 25°C tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on Earth. Spending time at the lake is a wonderful way to chill out and relax. Whilst there are many adventure activities at the lake, it is quite easy to just let time slip by with a good book, a drink in hand and the unmistakeable cry of African fish eagles overhead.

Unfortunately Malawi is also a desperately poor country that was brought into the spotlight recently with Madonna's adoption of the young child David Banda. Unlike its neighbours, Malawi has quite densely populated rural areas with little development. Much of its rural community struggle to survive on subsistence agriculture, and it relies heavily on foreign Aid.

As a result, Malawi's travel and tourism industry has a very important role to play in the well-being and development of Malawi and its people. Most tourism operators have strong links to local communities, for whom they are often the main employer in the region. As a result, local communities and economic development are dependent to a large extent on tourism.

The Mud Hut Tribe are personally involved in one of the rural areas of Malawi, and see this involvement as a way of giving something back to Africa in return for wonderful sights, memories and friends which Africa has produced.

Reading:
To find out more about Malawi or to bag some books, dvd's or music for your trip, please take a look at the Mud Hut's Reading List!