We got an all day bus from Dar to Mbeya. Arriving tired in Mbeya someone in the bus station told us we could get a bus to Nkhata Bay tomorrow morning and that Brent and Kathy were already on it. We went and met Brent and Kathy at a cheap place in town. They had booked the tickets but were dubious as were we. In the book it says no direct buses and that anyone who sells you a ticket is scamming you.We had not handed over any money.In the morning despite not really believing it we did buy the ticket.First part of journey fine made it to the border.The promised bus was not waiting on the other side.We had been stupidly scammed.Got a taxi there were five of us a girl called Jay also been scammed and we headed straight to Chitimba beach.The taxi driver was very nice a good first impression of Malawi.The beach was also very nice as was our room, very good to swim in freshwater you feel clean when you get out.

Next day Kathy and Brent headed down to Nkhata bay and we with Jay decided to walk 17 kilometers up to Livingstonia.It was very hot, Jay got a lift after about ten minutes.Me and Keeley persevered up the road; only saw a dozen trucks in first three hours.It was a very hard walk, Keeley said it was harder than Kili, the heat was very bad.We did get some amazing views over the lake.Our first stop after three hours was the mushroom farm where we would be staying.It was a very cool eco place with compost toilets, solar showers, chickens, ducks and a goat.We picked up Jay and walked the last hour through small villages and coffee plantations into Livingstonia.Livingstonia was built by missionaries in 1894 it was unlike anywhere else in Africa we have been.Wide tree lined avenues some big brick building nice houses and a roundabout although we only saw a couple of cars.We went to all the sights but somehow over looked the church and headed back down.On the way down met some very nice and chatty students who as it was Friday had drink on there mind.Told us about all the alcohol in Malawi and how drunk it could get you.The sun was going down as we rushed towards the Mushroom farm.A South African working in a mine picked us up it was his birthday and he was going to the Mushroom farm for a couple of beers.We made it back just as the last of the light was fading and were greeted by a vegetable curry it was fantastic.Having a warm shower by starlight was a great experience hands down best shower ever.We had a few drinks and then went to bed in our tent.We were all in three man tent it was perched on the edge of a cliff views were stunning.

Next morning we headed up to Manchewe Falls, very nice falls.We got to have a cooling swim in a pool and got to see a cave behind the waterfall.Then we had to hike back down, we were joined by Katie who had been at the mushroom for over a week and this was her second time.Katie was carrying her big bag I was not envious.The heat was almost as bad but made it down in a couple of hours, no one stopped and only two vehicles came down the road so everyone had to walk.We had chips in a plastic bag at the bottom very needed as we did not have the money for breakfast at the Mushroom farm.We went back to Chitimba beach while Katie and Jay headed to Nkhata Bay with little chance of making it.We ate at local Rasta place met a couple of South Africans at the campsite having BBQ. I had a couple of bits of meat and a few drinks.