Nkhotakota

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Nkhotakoma
Traditional mud and thatch houses on the beach of Lake Malawi in Nkhotakota
Traditional mud and thatch houses on the beach of Lake Malawi in Nkhotakota
Nkhotakoma (Malawi )
Nkhotakoma
Nkhotakoma
Location in Malawi
Coordinates: 12°55′S 34°18′E / -12.917, 34.3
Country  Malawi
Region Central Region
District Nkhotakota District
Elevation [1] 1,548 ft (472 m)
Population (2008)[2]
 - Total 33,150
 - Languages Chichewa
Time zone +2 (UTC)

Nkhotakota (formerly Kota Kota) is a town in the Central Region of Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi (formerly Lake Nyasa) and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. As of 2008 estimates Nkhotakota has a population of 33,150.

Contents

[edit] History

Nkhotakota was originally a group of villages in the 19th century which later served as a market for Arabian slave traders.[3] David Livingstone convinced Chief Jumbe to stop trading slaves under a tree in Nkhotakota in the 19th century, which is currently in existence under a mission.[4] Later Malawi president Hastings Banda gave speeches under another tree in Nkhotakota during the 1960s, this one ironically known as the Livingstone Tree.[4] This town was hit by the 2001 floods, and was the worst hit area of Malawi's Central region.[5] Today, Nkhotakota is the largest traditional African town in Malawi[3] and bears a strong Swahili-Arab influence.[6]

[edit] Geography

Mwaya Beach at Nkhotakota Bay on Lake Malawi
Mwaya Beach at Nkhotakota Bay on Lake Malawi

Nkhotakota lies at an elevation of 1,548 feet (472 m)[1] on the shore of Lake Malawi.[3] It is located on a rocky ridge overlooking a natural harbor overlooking Nkhotakota Bay, formed by a sandbar.[3]

It is situated 1 mile (2 km) away from Makuta, 2 miles (3 km) away from Kapeta, 1 mile (2 km) away from Mbaluko and 1 mile (2 km) away from Mtenje.[1] In addition, Nkhotakota is 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, and 378 kilometres (235 mi) from Blantyre, Malawi's largest city.[7]

[edit] Wildlife

Nkhotakota is home to the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, where, according to Lonely Planet, one has a good chance of seeing elephants.[8] The reserve is also home to several antelope species, buffalo, and leopards.[9] Several large rivers cross this reserve, the largest in Malawi.[4]

Roughly 24 km south of Nkhotakota is the Chia Lagoon, a large bay linked to Lake Malawi by a narrow channel, crossed by a bridge near Nkhotakota's one major road.[4]

[edit] Economy

Locals fish on the Chia Lagoon using triangular nets on poles.[4]

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Population development

Year Population[2]
1987 12,163
1998 19,421
2008 33,150

[edit] Languages

Chichewa is the main language spoken in this town.[10] A Swahili settlement was also established in Nkhotakota.[11] Several Chewa speakers live to the south of Nkhotakota,[12] and Tonga is spoken in its north.[13]

[edit] Facilities

Christian cemetery in Nkhotakota
Christian cemetery in Nkhotakota

[edit] Medical

There is a hospital in Nkhotakota.[14] In its efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Society for Women Against AIDS in Malawi (SWAM) implemented a two year project in Nkhotakota.[15]

[edit] Banks

A branch of the Commercial Bank of Malawi is located on the main north-south road in Nkhotakota, offering foreign exchange facilities yet no credit card withdrawals.[4]

[edit] Petrol stations

There is a BP petrol station in Nkhotakota.[4]

[edit] Nkhotakota Pottery

Nkhotakota Pottery is located 2.5 km from Nkhotakota.[4] They offer a number of pottery courses, starting at US$90.[4]

[edit] Transport

Nkhotakota is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi.[16] The nearest airport is at Kasungu, 48 miles (77 km) away.[1] A bus runs from Salima for two hours daily.[17] In addition, minibuses run from here to Nkhata Bay along the main road which connects these towns.[18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Nkhotakota, Malawi". FallingRain Genomics. Retrieved on 2008-06-27.
  2. ^ a b "Malawi: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population". World Gazetteer. Retrieved on 2008-06-27.
  3. ^ a b c d "Nkhotakota". Encyclopaedia Britannica (2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Murphy, Alan; Armstrong, Kate; Firestone, Matthew D.; Fitzpatrick, Mary (2007). Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari. Lonely Planet, p. 197. ISBN 1740597451. 
  5. ^ "More Rains, Renewed Problems". AllAfrica (2001-03-21). Retrieved on 2008-07-01.
  6. ^ Murphy, p. 159.
  7. ^ "Malawi distance table". Wild Malawi (2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-20.
  8. ^ Murphy, p. 31.
  9. ^ Murphy, p. 166.
  10. ^ Baldauf, Richard B.; Kaplan, Robert (2004). Language Planning and Policy in Africa: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa, p. 85. ISBN 1853597252. 
  11. ^ Baldauf, p. 91.
  12. ^ Baldauf, p. 82.
  13. ^ Baldauf, p. 84.
  14. ^ "Poverty Reduction is Malawi's Priority". AllAfrica (2002-10-17). Retrieved on 2008-07-02.
  15. ^ "SWAM in the Fight Against HIV/Aids". AllAfrica (2007-05-07). Retrieved on 2008-07-02.
  16. ^ "Malawi: Transportation". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved on 2008-06-27.
  17. ^ Murphy, p. 176.
  18. ^ Murphy, p. 191.
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