When to go · Nkhata Bay
Nkhata Bay in December
Avoid month. Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Apr (rainy season; rain impacts on tracks and boat trips).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Temperature
- 29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C) / 21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 15
- Crowds
- Low
- Malawi overall
- Prices
- Low
- Malawi overall
Verdict
Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Apr (rainy season; rain impacts on tracks and boat trips).
Is another month better than December?
December is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
Weather in December
- Nkhata BayHighs around 29 °C (84 °F), lows around 21 °C (70 °F), rain on about 15 daysHighs around 84 °F (29 °C), lows around 70 °F (21 °C), rain on about 15 days
- Lakeshore, Malawi · Cape Maclear, Senga Bay, Nkhata Bay, Likomarainy
Lake water is clearest and calmest May–Oct; the mwera wind from the south-east can whip up waves Jun–Aug. Oct–Nov is very hot at 500 m.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Malawi overall
- Low
- Prices · Malawi overall
- Low
Malawi overall: Rains set in; Christmas fills lake lodges with residents.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Nkhata Bay, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Avoid
May: Great (better)
Daytime high
Dec: 29 °C (84 °F)84 °F (29 °C)
May: 27 °C (81 °F)81 °F (27 °C)
Night low
Dec: 21 °C (70 °F)70 °F (21 °C)
May: 18 °C (64 °F)64 °F (18 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 15
May: 6 (better)
Crowds
Dec: Low
May: Medium
Prices
Dec: Low
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Dec: 0
May: 0
December: Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Apr (rainy season; rain impacts on tracks and boat trips).
May: Inside Nkhata Bay's best window: May–Nov (dry season).
Nkhata Bay: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast