• Casabio ChroniclesCasabio ChroniclesTraveler
    Produce being transported to and from the markets.
    Produce being transported to and from the markets.Our first views of Lake Chilwa.One of the very few motorised boats.Fishing nets, Yav boats and busy humans preparing for the day.We are on our way to Chisi Island.Setting his nets for the days catching.Chisi Island and all of her Baobabs greeting us.Mountain view from one of the island villages.Bee hives are abundant on Chisi.Blessing, his older brother and I enjoying the sunshine together.A place of prayer.Inside this Church.Much fun was had with the children in this village.The children wave us on out way.Many uprooted baobab trees due the cyclone Freddy.Catching birds for food in these traps is common. This child was happy to have caught so many.Yav boats being built by craftsman on the island.Some of the activities undertaken in the waters of Lake Chilwa.Long poles are used to propel the boat through the waters.

    Island Adventures

    Jun 28–29, 2025 in Malawi ☁️ 17 °C

    With a 4:30 am rise and a 2-hour drive, we made it to the shores of Lake Chilwa, Malawi’s 2nd largest lake, just as the hustle and bustle of the day began.

    David, with his masterful people and negotiation skills, found a cheerful boatsman, Jose, to take us to the island of Chisi to explore for the day. Needless to say, this turned out to be quite an adventure indeed, and one I struggled to enjoy to its fullest. We neglected to eat a proper meal before heading off, and while we thought we would be able to buy some local grub from the islanders, there was none on offer. The island community understandably farms and sustains itself using the lake and forest resources, and there is no need to sell produce whatsoever, apart from on the mainland.

    Be that as it may, there were many joyful moments to be had, despite my HANGRY self. The children on this island were my absolute highlight, so present, available, playful, bright, unfiltered, and curious, as I find most children to be………..truly remarkable beings these young ones!

    And the giant Baobabs, they welcomed us as well as accompanied us throughout the day. These colossal ones are vast on the island, with those closest to the shoreline having suffered uprooting due to Cyclone Freddie. Seeing these now sleeping giants drive home the reality of global warming, the community shared with us how much worse the rains and winds were, destroying these trees as well as the marshlands in the lake, resulting in a drastic decline of fish and bird species.

    What a privilege to be welcomed on the island as we were and to see how a population of about 6000 people live together, dance together, pray together, and glimpse into a way of life that is so different from the ones David and I live.    Read more