Dugout racing in Mozambique

dugout

Daring dug-out canoeists battle for supremacy of the lake!

It may be over for this year - the annual Manda Wilderness Canoe Race coincided with the timing of the Olympics, creating more hype than normal - but it could be worth planning on for next year.

Held on Mataka beach on the remote, untouched Mozambican shores of Lake Malawi/Niassa, the event includes dugout canoe races for men, women and mixed teams as well as swimming races for children from local schools. All 10 lakeshore villages of Manda Wilderness participated, the overall winners being Ngofi village - which is no surprise as they have done so for the past two years in a row!

The dugout canoe, locally known as the 'macorro' to the Nyanja people, is a challenge to balance on - after all it is a hollowed out tree! The skill required to complete the race is quite impressive and only the best of the best get placements in this annual event. After the race, the dugout canoes will revert back to their original use of small-scale subsistence fishing.

The event is organised and sponsored by the Manda Wilderness Community Trust and aims to bring the disparate communities of the lakeshore together, strengthening local Nyanja identity and helping bring awareness to a previously forgotten corner of Africa. The Trust is supported by Nkwichi Lodge which has just been nominated as a finalist in the Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Awards in the 'Doing it All' category for small resorts. Nkwichi and the Trust work with the villages of the area in various other development initiatives of the Manda Wilderness Project.

Nkwichi Lodge is a hidden, hand-built lodge located in the north-western corner of Mozambique, on the eastern side of Lake Malawi (or Lake Niassa as it is called on the Mozambican side). Nkwichi Lodge has been recognized as a pioneering eco-tourism establishment and has been awarded many accolades, including Africa's Leading Responsible Tourism Company and Best Small Hotel/Accommodation at the Virgin Responsible Tourism Awards.

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