Cape Maclear

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Cape Maclear
other_name =
native_name =Chembe
nickname = The Capecite web|url=http://www.imt.ie/news/2008/06/life_as_a_gp_in_malawi_the_war.html|title=Life as a GP in Malawi —the warm heart of Africa|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2008-06-10|last=Collins|first=Dr. Martina|work=Irish Medical Times]
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imagesize = 300px
image_caption =Otter Point, Cape Maclear


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pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_map_caption = Location in Malawi
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Malawi
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Southern Region
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Mangochi District
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latd= 14|latm= 01|lats= |latNS=S
longd= 34|longm= 51|longs= |longEW=E
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Cape Maclear (or Chembe) is a town in the Mangochi District of Malawi's Southern Region. The town, situated on the Nankumba Peninsula, is on the southern shore of Lake Malawi and is the busiest resort on Lake Malawi.cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/africaandindianocean/malawi/720923/Malawi-On-a-mission-in-Africa.html?pageNum=2|title=Malawi: On a mission in Africa (2)|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2001-02-05|work=The Daily Telegraph|last=Rogers|first=Douglas] Cape Maclear is close to the islands of Domwe and Thumbwe on Lake Malawi,cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC&printsec=frontcover#PPA201,M1|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2007|last=Murphy|first=Alan|coauthors=Armstrong, Kate; Firestone, Matthew D.; Fitzpatrick, Mary|ISBN=1740597451|page=pg.201|publisher=Lonely Planet] and is in Lake Malawi National Park.

History

In 1859, the missionary and explorer David Livingstone found the Cape, and named it "Cape Maclear" after his friend, the astronomer Thomas Maclear, who was the Astronomer Royal at the Cape of Good Hope.cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1Mglk5p8ArAC&printsec=frontcover#PPA94,M1|title=Camping with the Prince and Other Tales of Science in Africa: And Other|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=1990|last=Bass|first=Thomas A.|ISBN=0395415020|page=pg.94|publisher=Houghton Mifflin] cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1bUTAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPA368,M1|page=pg.368|title=Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries: And of the|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=1865|publisher=J. Murray|last=Livingstone|first=David] In October 1875, a new mission, "Livingstonia", was set up by a group of members of the Free Church of Scotland.cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC&printsec=frontcover#PPA160,M1|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2007|last=Murphy|first=Alan|coauthors=Armstrong, Kate; Firestone, Matthew D.; Fitzpatrick, Mary|ISBN=1740597451|page=pg.160|publisher=Lonely Planet] cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8y8XSs9xIEIC&printsec=frontcover#PPA61,M1|title=The Steamer Parish: The Rise and Fall of Missionary Medicine on an African|date=2000|last=Good|first=Charles M.|page=pg.61|accessdate=2008-06-24|isbn=0226302814|publisher=University of Chicago Press] Before the missionaries arrived, the area was controlled by the Muslim Yao people.cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8y8XSs9xIEIC&printsec=frontcover#PPA62,M1|title=The Steamer Parish: The Rise and Fall of Missionary Medicine on an African|date=2000|last=Good|first=Charles M.|page=pg.62|accessdate=2008-06-24|isbn=0226302814|publisher=University of Chicago Press] The graves of the some of the missionaries are in Cape Maclear, overlooking the bay.cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC&printsec=frontcover#PPA202,M1|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2007|last=Murphy|first=Alan|coauthors=Armstrong, Kate; Firestone, Matthew D.; Fitzpatrick, Mary|ISBN=1740597451|page=pg.202|publisher=Lonely Planet] Although Cape Maclear had a good harbour, the poor soil in the area, and the prevalence of the tsetse fly, meant a more suitable base had to be found;cite book|url=http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/pageviewer?frames=1&coll=moa&view=50&root=%2Fmoa%2Famis%2Famis0033%2F&tif=00041.TIF|title=The American missionary|date=1879-02-01|accessdate=2008-06-24|publisher=Cornell University] the mission moved to Bandawe, near Chintheche, in 1882.cite web|url=http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/pageviewer?frames=1&coll=moa&view=50&root=%2Fmoa%2Famis%2Famis0036%2F&tif=00216.TIF|title=The American missionary|date=1882-07-01|accessdate=2008-06-24|publisher=Cornell University]

Wildlife

Cape Maclear and its islands, forests and bay were declared a national park in 1980, creating the Lake Malawi National Park, the first freshwater national park in the world.cite web|url=http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2007/06/30/764048.html?s=1|title=Das "warme Herz Afrikas" liegt im Süden (1)|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2007-06-30|work=Hamburger Abendblatt|last=Fischer|first=Andreas] In 1984, the area became a UNESCO World Heritage site.cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1Mglk5p8ArAC&printsec=frontcover#PPA93,M1|title=Camping with the Prince and Other Tales of Science in Africa: And Other|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=1990|last=Bass|first=Thomas A.|page=pg.93|ISBN=0395415020|publisher=Houghton Mifflin] There are several breeds of bird at Cape Maclear, including kingfishers, Dickinson's kestrels, and freckled nightjars.cite web|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=icMuBQhW4vgC&printsec=frontcover#PPA100,M1|title=Nature's Strongholds: The World's Great Wildlife Reserves|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2005|publisher=Princeton University Press|ISBN=0691122199|last=Riley|first=Laura|coauthors=Riley, William|page=pg.100] There is a museum about the formation of Lake Malawi and its wildlife at Cape Maclear. UNESCO has recommended wildlife preservation at Cape Maclear.cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=67150|title=Malawi scouts investors for tourism initiative...|date=2005-05-20|accessdate=2008-06-24|work=Engineering News|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel]

Tourism

Cape Maclear is a "a leading tourist destination", and is the busiest resort on Lake Malawi. The area is popular with backpackers.cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2003/jun/08/malawi.watersportsholidays.wildlifeholidays|title=Take the plunge in the lake of stars|last=Walters|first=Joanna|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2003-06-08|work=The Observer] There are bars, restaurants, lodges and guesthouses in the town.cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/africaandindianocean/malawi/720923/Malawi-On-a-mission-in-Africa.html|title=Malawi: On a mission in Africa (1)|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2001-02-05|work=The Daily Telegraph|last=Rogers|first=Douglas] Activities available in Cape Maclear include snorkelling, hiking, boat cruises, kayaking, and diving. In October 2001, the Malawian government invited investors to fund a $6,000,000 construction of a new 150-room, four-star hotel at Cape Maclear.cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=12112|title=Malawi seeks investor for hotel project|accessdate=2008-06-24|work=Engineering News|date=2001-10-19|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel] In June 2003, plans were announced to build an ecolodge on Maleri Island, near Cape Maclear.cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=36804|title=Malawi plans development of eco-lodges|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2003-06-13|work=Engineering News|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel] In February 2005, the Malawian government announced plans to increase ecotourism at Cape Maclear with new accommodation and facilities.cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=62664|title=Tenders invited for Lake Malawi ecotourism project|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2005-02-18|work=Engineering News|last=Chimwala|first=Marcel]

Transport

In February 2006, the Malawian government announced plans to build a new road from Cape Maclear to Monkey Bay.cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200602280116.html|title=Malawi: Investors, Tourists Wear Smile in Cape Maclear|date=2006-02-28|accessdate=2008-06-24|work=AllAfrica] The current road is a bumpy dirt track,cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1sg8FnF2gC&printsec=frontcover#PPA204,M1|title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2007|last=Murphy|first=Alan|coauthors=Armstrong, Kate; Firestone, Matthew D.; Fitzpatrick, Mary|ISBN=1740597451|page=pg.204|publisher=Lonely Planet] and there is no public transport at Cape Maclear.cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2001/apr/06/netjetters2000sam.netjetters|title=Animal magic|date=2001-04-06|accessdate=2008-06-24|work=The Guardian]

Healthcare

There is a medical clinic in Cape Maclear; the Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic was established in 2004, and treats diseases such as dysentery, bilharzia and malaria. There are no diagnostic services or surgery carried out at the clinic. Mags Riordan, who founded the clinic, is the mother of a man who drowned in Lake Malawi, near Cape Maclear in 1999. The clinic is supported by the Billy Malawi Project.cite web|url=http://www.imt.ie/news/2008/05/gps_needed_for_malawi_project.html|title=GPs needed for Malawi project|accessdate=2008-06-24|work=Irish Medical Times]

Bilharzia is common at Cape Maclear; the incidence of the disease at Cape Maclear is three times higher than the rest of Lake Malawi.cite book|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LWTibZ1fRbsC&printsec=frontcover#PPA108,M1|title=Travellers' Health: How to Stay Healthy Abroad|last=Dawood|first=Richard M.|date=2002|accessdate=2008-06-24|publisher=Oxford University Press|ISBN=0192629476|page=pg.108]

port

Every summer, a multi-day yacht race is held on Lake Malawi. The race starts at Cape Maclear, heads north, and ends at Nkhata Bay.cite web|url=http://www.abendblatt.de/daten/2007/06/30/764048.html?s=2|title=Das "warme Herz Afrikas" liegt im Süden (2)|accessdate=2008-06-24|date=2007-06-30|last=Fischer|first=Andreas|work=Hamburger Abendblatt|language=German]

References