..   COMPANIES JOINING THE MALAWI TOURISM MARKETING CONSORTIUM Below are brief details of the companies which have joined or re-joined the Malawi Tourism Marketing Consortium over the last few months. Represented by Geo Group & Associates: www.geo-group.co.uk AQUA-AFRICA: Long established scuba diving operations at Nkhata Bay and, in conjunction with Danforth Yachting, at Cape Maclear. Includes accommodation at both locations and cafÈ/restaurant at Nkhata Bay. Internationally recognised scuba diving courses available. Other watersports arranged. Personal contacts for the trade: Andy and Dusty Botha www.aqua-africa.com; andy@aqua-africa.co.uk ; tel: +265 1352 284/ +265 9921 418; fax: +265 1352 308; postal: PO Box 209, Nkhata Bay, Malawi GAME HAVEN New (2006) 520 acre game sanctuary just outside Blantyre-Limbe on road to Thyolo. Five deluxe cottages with restaurant and 18 metre pool. Wide variety of antelope plus zebra, wildebeest, cerval cats, etc. Abundant birdlife and opportunities to walk in the sanctuary. Close to Blantyre and in easy reach of Mulanje Mountain. Personal contact for the trade : Mick Gange-Harris mick@africaleaf.com KUMBALI COUNTRY LODGE Although on the edge of Lilongwe, this lodge stand in its own 620ha estate. Accommodation includes 13 en-suite executive lodges and a restaurant. There is game to be seen on the estate including hyena and, occasionally leopard. In springtime there are carpets of wildflowers including orchids. A rural retreat only 5 minutes from the city. Personal contact for the trade: Maureen Pickering www.kumbalicountrylodge.com ; pickering@africa-online.net ; tel : +265 9963 402 / +265 99228 437 ; postal : PO Box 30420, Lilongwe 3, Malawi NJAYA LODGE Well-known lodge on the shores of the Lake by Nkhata Bay. Accommodation includes en-suite cottages and beach bandas. Fully catering and lots of watersports on the Lake. Previous visitors include Any Kershaw, Will Young and David Essex from the pop music world. Noted for its responsible tourism ethic. Personal contact for the trade : Paul Norrish www.njayalodge.com ; info@ nyajalodge.com ; tel (UK) +44 (0)9990 030 196 ; postal: PO Box 223, Nkhata Bay, Malawi General contacts for the Consortium: www.malawitourism.com ; enquiries@malawitourism.com ; tel : +44 (0)115 982 1903   BACKGROUND. Malawi is known affectionately as the "warm Heart of Africa", where visitors are welcomed with open arms and made to feel at home by friendly people. Formerly called Nyasaland (Land of the Lakes), it is one of Africa's most beautiful countries and is an affordable tourist destination that compares in scenic beauty to some of the world's top resorts. For a country that is completely landlocked, it is best known for its 558 km-long Lake Malawi that runs down the eastern side of the country but also has an abundance of spectacular wildlife, incredible scenery and genuinely friendly people. (see Malawi map)   Lake Malawi, affectionately called the "Lake of a Thousand Shinning Stars" is the largest freshwater body in the world. Basically it is just like an inland sea, offering picturesque golden beaches in a year-round tropical sunny climate. One can simply just relax on an uncrowded beach or hand feed tropical fish at the lake's freshwater national park, which has been declared a national heritage site by UNESCO More on Malawi Introduction Page.