Nkoma Mountain

Nkoma Mountain is about 45 minutes outside of Lilongwe. Nkoma is actually a small town. It is a really beautiful area and the town has one of the larger mission hospitals. Actually, Nkoma, amazingly, has the only optomologist in Central and Northern Malawi (yes including the capital-Lilongwe). Elene had problems with one of her eyes and she had to come here. The doctor was great - we think South African, but maybe English - and of all things, he found a piece of organic matter, most likely maize related (typical), in her eye. After using a needle to get it out she was fine!



We hiked with a couple of friends of ours. Carrie (right) is a pediatrician working for a company called Bailer - they have clinics set up across Africa. She and her fiance have been in Malawi for about a year. Brandon (her fiance) works on a male circumscision project. Circumscision has been proven to help prevent HIV/AIDS transmission. Jess (left)is a PHD student also from the U.S. She conducts research projects in Malawi on savings and credit. Right now she is setting up and studying the impacts of a project that gives incentives for people to save some of their income.




Maize is everywhere!







We thought this was an amazing view, but wait until you see the top.



Don't I look so confident, but you should have heard all the complaints about the stinging nettles - I was the only one "brave" enough to wear shorts.



Here are the views from the top.