Monkey Bay
Encyclopedia
Monkey Bay or Lusumbwe is a town in Mangochi
whichi is in the Mangochi District
in the Southern Region
of Malawi
. The town is on the shore of Lake Malawi
and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. The population of Monkey Bay is estimated to be 14,591 as of 2008. Monkey Bay is 206 kilometres (128 mi) from Lilongwe
, Malawi’s capital city, and 253 kilometres (157.2 mi) from Blantyre
. With a population of about 500,000, Lilongwe is Malawi’s largest city. Monkey Bay is a tourist resort and is often travelled through on the road to Cape Maclear
.
In the late 19th century, the first Bishop of Likoma
, Chauncy Maples
, drowned near Monkey Bay in Lake Malawi. In the 1960s, there was a Fisheries Research Laboratory in Monkey Bay, funded by the then-Nyasaland
colonial government.
and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. It is at an elevation of 1630 feet (496.8 m).
Monkey Bay is situated 4 miles (6.4 km) away from Chimpamba, 2 miles (3.2 km) away from Zambo, 1 miles (1.6 km) away from Msumbi and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) away from Mbalamanja.
held a rally in Monkey Bay, and promised to help reduce poverty. The charity Save the Children
are active in the Monkey Bay area. According to a German development volunteer working with the Back to School Foundation, the residents of Monkey Bay are not living at the poverty line, but at the existence line. Houses are simple clay cottages, and few households can afford electricity, as the connection costs alone are three times the average monthly wage.
is in the town of Mangochi
. On 22 February 2010, a first bank opened its doors. Malawi Savings Bank Agency which was operating from the Post Office building moved into their own convenience, a refurblished and spacious building at the Trading centre.
; the MV Ilala and the Mtendere. The Ilala is 350-passenger steamship that has served the route since 1951. In March 2003, the European Union funded improvements to the road linking Monkey Bay with Masasa and Golomiti. In February 2006, the Malawian government announced plans to build a road from Monkey Bay to Cape Maclear. In March 2006, there was no road access to Monkey Bay, after the worst floods since 1978 had washed away several miles of road and a bridge. The rainfall measured around 158 millimetres (6.2 in) and several thousand people in the Mangochi District
were made homeless.
1,110 from a partner school, St Bernadette’s Primary School in Tullibody
, Scotland
. The relationship between the two schools was established after a priest from Monkey Bay visited St Bernadette’s.
, and Factiva
refers to Monkey Bay as the "best known resort-area" in Malawi. The area has "sandy beaches and tropical fish", and is popular with tourists. There are diving schools in Monkey Bay, however, according the Daily Telegraph, the schools are considered poor by tourists. The town is also a transit point to Cape Maclear
.
Mangochi
Mangochi is a township in the Southern Region of Malawi. Located near the southern end of Lake Malawi, in colonial times it used to be called Fort Johnston. As of 2008 it has a population of 51,429.-History:...
whichi is in the Mangochi District
Mangochi District
Mangochi is a district in the Southern Region of Malawi. The capital is Mangochi. The district covers an area of 6,273 km.² and has a population of 610,239.Mangochi contains thirteen National Assembly constituencies...
in the Southern Region
Southern Region
Southern Region may be:* Southern Region, Malawi* Southern Region of British Railways* Southern Region, Eritrea* Southern Region, Brazil, an official grouping of states for economic and statistical purposes* Southern Region, Serbia...
of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. The town is on the shore of Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. The population of Monkey Bay is estimated to be 14,591 as of 2008. Monkey Bay is 206 kilometres (128 mi) from Lilongwe
Lilongwe
Lilongwe, estimated population 902,388 as of 2009, is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It lies in the country's central region, on the Lilongwe River, near the border of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and on the main north-south highway of Malawi, the M1.-History:The city started life as a...
, Malawi’s capital city, and 253 kilometres (157.2 mi) from Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
. With a population of about 500,000, Lilongwe is Malawi’s largest city. Monkey Bay is a tourist resort and is often travelled through on the road to Cape Maclear
Cape Maclear
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...
.
History
Monkey Bay was ruled by the Muslim Yao chief and slave trader, Mponda, during the 1880s.In the late 19th century, the first Bishop of Likoma
Likoma Island
Likoma Island is the larger of two inhabited islands in Lake Malawi , in East Africa, the smaller being the nearby Chizumulu. Likoma and Chizumulu both belong to Malawi, and together they make up the Likoma District...
, Chauncy Maples
Chauncy Maples
Chauncy Maples was a British clergyman and Anglican missionary who became Bishop of Likoma in East Africa.Born in 1852, Maples had sailed for Zanzibar in 1876 where he set up clinics and schools for released slaves. Ten years later he founded the Anglican Mission on Likoma Island...
, drowned near Monkey Bay in Lake Malawi. In the 1960s, there was a Fisheries Research Laboratory in Monkey Bay, funded by the then-Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
colonial government.
Geography
Monkey Bay is on the shore of Lake MalawiLake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. It is at an elevation of 1630 feet (496.8 m).
Monkey Bay is situated 4 miles (6.4 km) away from Chimpamba, 2 miles (3.2 km) away from Zambo, 1 miles (1.6 km) away from Msumbi and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) away from Mbalamanja.
Living standards
In March 2003, the then-Malawian President Bakili MuluziBakili Muluzi
Elson Bakili Muluzi is a Malawian politician. He was the President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004 and was Chairman of the United Democratic Front until 2009.-Presidency:...
held a rally in Monkey Bay, and promised to help reduce poverty. The charity Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
are active in the Monkey Bay area. According to a German development volunteer working with the Back to School Foundation, the residents of Monkey Bay are not living at the poverty line, but at the existence line. Houses are simple clay cottages, and few households can afford electricity, as the connection costs alone are three times the average monthly wage.
Amenities
There is a supermarket and a market in Monkey Bay, although there are no banks, bureaux de change or automatic teller machines. There is an internet café and several guesthouses. The nearest ATMAutomated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
is in the town of Mangochi
Mangochi
Mangochi is a township in the Southern Region of Malawi. Located near the southern end of Lake Malawi, in colonial times it used to be called Fort Johnston. As of 2008 it has a population of 51,429.-History:...
. On 22 February 2010, a first bank opened its doors. Malawi Savings Bank Agency which was operating from the Post Office building moved into their own convenience, a refurblished and spacious building at the Trading centre.
Transport
Monkey Bay is connected to Lilongwe and Blantyre by bus services. The nearest airport is at Ulongwe, 49 miles (78.9 km) away. Two passenger ferries make weekly sailings along Lake Malawi between Monkey Bay and ChilumbaChilumba
Chilumba is a town in Malawi. It is located on the north-western coast of Lake Malawi, close to Karonga, in the Northern Region. Its population is between 2000 and 5000. The section of lake facing Chilumba is called Chilumba Bay....
; the MV Ilala and the Mtendere. The Ilala is 350-passenger steamship that has served the route since 1951. In March 2003, the European Union funded improvements to the road linking Monkey Bay with Masasa and Golomiti. In February 2006, the Malawian government announced plans to build a road from Monkey Bay to Cape Maclear. In March 2006, there was no road access to Monkey Bay, after the worst floods since 1978 had washed away several miles of road and a bridge. The rainfall measured around 158 millimetres (6.2 in) and several thousand people in the Mangochi District
Mangochi District
Mangochi is a district in the Southern Region of Malawi. The capital is Mangochi. The district covers an area of 6,273 km.² and has a population of 610,239.Mangochi contains thirteen National Assembly constituencies...
were made homeless.
Education
In June 2008, Nankhwala Catholic School in Monkey Bay received a gift of £Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1,110 from a partner school, St Bernadette’s Primary School in Tullibody
Tullibody
Tullibody is a town set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies north of the River Forth near to the foot of the Ochil Hills within the Forth Valley. The town is south-west of Alva, north-west of Alloa and east-northeast of Stirling...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The relationship between the two schools was established after a priest from Monkey Bay visited St Bernadette’s.
Medical
Monkey Bay has a hospital, but medical services are not extensive; surgery and diagnostics are however available in Monkey Bay.Law and military
Monkey Bay has a police station. It is also the headquarters of the 220-strong marine force of the Army of Malawi.Tourism
Monkey Bay has been described as "the country's best known resort" by Agence France-PresseAgence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
, and Factiva
Factiva
Factiva is a business information and research tool owned by Dow Jones & Company. Factiva aggregates content from both licensed and free sources, and provides organizations with search, alerting, dissemination, and other information management capabilities...
refers to Monkey Bay as the "best known resort-area" in Malawi. The area has "sandy beaches and tropical fish", and is popular with tourists. There are diving schools in Monkey Bay, however, according the Daily Telegraph, the schools are considered poor by tourists. The town is also a transit point to Cape Maclear
Cape Maclear
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...
.
Demographics
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 5 649 |
| 1998 | 8 793 |
| 2008 (estimate) | 14 591 |