# Likoma Island > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Likoma_Island > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Likoma_Island.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likoma_Island > Source revision: 1357009205 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Island in Lake Malawi Likoma Island Sentinel-2 satellite image of the island. Likoma Island Geography Location Lake Malawi Archipelago Likoma Islands Adjacent to Lake Malawi Total islands 2 Major islands Likoma, Chizumulu Island Area 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi) Administration Malawi Region Northern Region District Likoma Capital and largest city Likoma Demographics Population 9,000 Pop. density 500/km2 (1300/sq mi) **Likoma Island** is the larger of two islands in [Lake Malawi](/source/Lake_Malawi), in [East Africa](/source/East_Africa), the smaller being the nearby [Chizumulu](/source/Chizumulu). Likoma and Chizumulu both belong to Malawi, and together they make up the [Likoma District](/source/Likoma_District). Although both islands lie just a few kilometres from [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique), and are entirely surrounded by Mozambican [territorial waters](/source/Territorial_waters), they are both [exclaves](/source/Exclave) of [Malawi](/source/Malawi). ## Geography The island has an overall area of 18 km2, and is located in the north-eastern part of Lake Malawi, 7 km north-west of [Cobue](/source/Cobue), Mozambique. The closest town on the Malawian coast is [Chintheche](/source/Chintheche). ## History Settlement on the Island began as a result of Slave Trading, driving Natives to flee to the Island as place of refuge.[1] In 1884 Missionaries from the [Universities' Mission to Central Africa](/source/Universities'_Mission_to_Central_Africa), in response to a plea by [David Livingstone](/source/David_Livingstone), established their headquarters on Likoma Island. Due to the presence of British missionaries, the island was assigned to Malawi rather than Mozambique when national borders in East Africa were established after [World War II](/source/World_War_II). ## Natural environment Despite a high population density, the natural environment of Likoma island is largely unspoiled. The coast is varied, with rocky slopes, sandy bays and swamps. The interior of the island is mostly covered by [grassland](/source/Grassland), with a large number of baobab trees (of the *[Adansonia digitata](/source/Adansonia_digitata)* species) and [mango trees](/source/Mangifera_indica). Fauna is mostly composed of small [reptilians](/source/Reptile), [amphibians](/source/Amphibian), [birds](/source/Bird) and a number of [invertebrates](/source/Invertebrate), including [scorpion spiders](/source/Platyoides). On the coast, [crocodiles](/source/Crocodile) are occasionally seen. The waters around Likoma, as is usual in Lake Malawi, host a number of [cichlids](/source/Cichlids); some species, such as *[Labidochromis caeruleus likomae](/source/Labidochromis_caeruleus)*, are [endemic](/source/Endemism) of the Likoma area. ## Population Likoma is densely populated, with about 10,500 inhabitants dispersed in a dozen settlements, the main being the eponymous town of [Likoma](/source/Likoma%2C_Malawi); the nearby island of Chizumulu has a further 4,000 inhabitants. The most represented ethnic groups are the [Nyanja](/source/Chewa_people) people (60%) and the [Tonga people](/source/Tonga_people_of_Malawi) (25%), followed by smaller groups of [Tumbuka](/source/Tumbuka_people), [Yao](/source/Yao_people_(East_Africa)), and [Chewa](/source/Chewa_people). Their main economic activity is [fishing](/source/Fishing), although agriculture (mainly [rice](/source/Oryza_sativa) and [cassava](/source/Cassava)) is also represented. The town of Mbamba hosts a busy market. It is also the site of the [Anglican](/source/Anglicanism) [Cathedral of St Peter](/source/St_Peter's_Cathedral%2C_Likoma), one of the largest churches in Africa.[2] As a consequence of [poverty](/source/Poverty) and insufficient hospitals, the situation of [public health](/source/Public_health) on the island is critical, although [malaria](/source/Malaria) (which is widespread in Malawi) has not been reported. In 2005-6, Likoma has been the subject of a scientific study on the [epidemiology](/source/Epidemiology) of [HIV](/source/HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases.[3] Despite the minimal economic development of Likoma, there are several schools serving all settlements, and [literacy](/source/Literacy) is thus widespread. ## Infrastructures and transportation Likoma has no paved roads, and there are few [motor vehicles](/source/Motor_vehicle). [Electricity](/source/Electricity) is provided by a generator and a solar bank. This affords the island 24 hour electricity, with the exception of 1-5 minutes at around 10 pm, while they switch the power source. There is a small [telephone network](/source/Telephone_network) on the island, although telephones themselves are quite rare.[4] [Likoma Airport](/source/Likoma_Airport) is a tarred airstrip found on the island and can be reached by plane from [Lilongwe](/source/Lilongwe).[5] The island's main transportation is the [MV *Ilala*](/source/MV_Ilala) [steamer](/source/Steamboat) that circumnavigates Lake Malawi, stopping at the main settlements and the islands. The [MV *Chambo*](/source/MV_Chambo) links the island with the town of Nkhata Bay on the west side of the lake once a week. Smaller boats (including [dhows](/source/Dhow)) cross the [strait](/source/Strait) between Likoma and Chizumulu, and also between Likoma and [Cobue](/source/Cobue) in Mozambique. Both goods and people are transported through these routes. Likoma is a tourist destination which has a few hotels and backpacker hostels, usually based on [ecotouristic](/source/Ecotourism) principles. The waters around Likoma support [snorkelling](/source/Snorkelling) and [diving](/source/Underwater_diving). ## Notable residents [Grace Malenga](/source/Grace_Malenga) was born here before going on to become Malawi's first woman doctor working in the country.[6] ## Gallery - Baobab trees - [MV *Ilala*](/source/MV_Ilala) ## References Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Likoma Island](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Likoma_Island). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Malarial prophylaxis in small isolated communities in central Africa / by R. Howard"](https://wellcomecollection.org/works/vzmrzg3t/items). *Wellcome Collection*. Retrieved 2026-02-06. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Malawi Tours and Safaris | View Rates and Prices (2020) : MoAfrika Tours"](https://www.moafrikatours.com/malawi-safaris). *MoAfrika*. Retrieved 2020-05-27. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Helleringer, Stéphane; Mkandawire, James; Kalilani-Phiri, Linda; Kohler, Hans-Peter (April 2014). ["Cohort Profile: The Likoma Network Study (LNS)"](https://academic.oup.com/ije/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/ije/dyt001). *International Journal of Epidemiology*. **43** (2): 545–557. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ije/dyt001](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fije%2Fdyt001). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1464-3685](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1464-3685). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3997370](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3997370). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23543589](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23543589). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The islands of the lake"](http://sianandsteve.weebly.com/the-islands-of-the-lake.html). *Kaya Papaya*. Retrieved 2020-05-27. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The islands of the lake"](http://sianandsteve.weebly.com/the-islands-of-the-lake.html). *Kaya Papaya*. Retrieved 2020-05-27. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-drmalenga_6-0)** Malenga, Grace (September 2007). ["Retiring gracefully"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3345631). *Malawi Medical Journal: The Journal of Medical Association of Malawi*. **19** (3): 128–130. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1995-7262](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1995-7262). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3345631](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3345631). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23878658](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23878658). ## External links - [Likoma Island at Malawi Tourism](https://web.archive.org/web/20110417063116/http://www.malawitourism.com/Pages/The%20Regions/North/likoma.html) - [Likoma Island at Go2Africa](http://www.go2africa.com/malawi/central-lakeshore/likoma-island/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235320/http://www.go2africa.com/malawi/central-lakeshore/likoma-island/) 2007-09-27 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) - [Travel diary of Chris Farrell](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716192559/http://www.tarantism.com/mefloquine/lakemalawi.html) - [Sunrise Inn, Likoma](https://web.archive.org/web/20130914174849/http://sunriseinnmalawi.com/) [12°04′S 34°44′E / 12.067°S 34.733°E / -12.067; 34.733](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Likoma_Island¶ms=12_04_S_34_44_E_) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Likoma Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likoma_Island) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likoma_Island?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.