Bodytonic's Guide to Lake of Stars
Lake of Stars: The History
The Lake of Stars Festival takes place in Malawi, deep in the heart of Africa, and runs from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th October 2008.
Since 2004, autumn in Malawi has seen the Lake of Stars Festival take place on the palm fringed shores of Africa's third largest lake: Lake Malawi. The festival raises money for charity, promotes Malawian music and provides travellers and Malawians alike with the opportunity to enjoy fantastic live music in an exotic and beautiful location. International and African artists share the stage at Chintheche Inn. So far artists such as Groove Armada's Andy Cato, Felix B (Basement Jaxx), Yewande (US), the Chibuku DJs, Bugz in the Attic's Mikey General, Ben Westbeech (Brownswood), Rodney P & Skitz (1Xtra), Annie Mac (Radio 1), Blue African Skies, and Goldfish have all journeyed out to the warm heart of Africa to perform. Joining them have been some of the biggest names in Malawian music – Tikhu Vibrations, Wambali, the Black Missionaries, Lucius Banda and Joseph Tembo to name a few. Performances range from African jazz and gospel groups to beatboxers, circus performers, and DJs.
In October 2007, Bodytonic took our inaugural trip to The Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi - it was the best trip of our life and I think we all agree on that.
A quick vid to show you what its all about.
Lake of Stars 2008
Location
Sunbird Livingstonia Beach, Senga Bay, Malawi
Lineup Seth Lakeman - Live, Mary Anne Hobbs (BBC Radio 1), Scratch Perverts, Man like me - Live, Ali B (Fabric), Neech - Live, The National Parcs, Beatlife Samba Band, Love thing, Bodytonic DJ's, Kormac Live Band, Boom Monk Ben, Full Phat, DJ Antichris and Xenen, Mr Paul and James Rand, Flash Aktins, Mc Profit- Live, Urban Gorrilla DJ's, DJ Excel and Sandman, Scott (Stylus), Okeeba Jubalo, Artcha, Pierre Brewer, Steph Holland (Out of the Gloom), Mike B, Johnny Pluse, Audiodroid, Alex K (Itchy Soul), Str8 Necklin DJ's, Nick Mulvey(Portico Quartet) Live, Lucky Strike (Veri Lo Records) Adam Scrimshire, Jon Rokka (Kingpin), Gecko (Kingpin), Kraymon (Kingpin).
Accommodation
There are plenty of good lodges in the Senga Bay and Salima area as well as the festival site at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach. Prices range from €4 to €100 depending on where you want to stay.
Travel info
Flights:
Prices range from €800 to €1200 return.
The main tour operator from the UK is Global Link
E Travel seems to have the best rates for flights from Dublin
Main airlines that fly to Lilongwe and Johannesburg are Kenya Airways and KLM
Shots
You will need to get some shots and malaria tablets so make sure and get to the doc at least a month before you plan on going.
Money
There are ATM's in most big cities but you will need to carry a decent amount of cash with you.
Bodytonic's Trip 2007
Day 1 - Travelled to London-Some of us head to "The End" to see Steve Lawler play and some of us headed to Shoreditch for a night out.
Day 2 - Hung out in London and catch our flight to Lilongwe (Malawi's capital city).
Day 3 - Arrived Lilongwe. Stayed the night at Mabuyacamp. This place has nice vibe about it and plenty of travellers coming through as well as a nicely stocked bar that did wonders for us after the long flight.
Day 4 - Traveled from Lilongwe to South Luangwa National Park Zambia. Stayed at Track and Trail River camp which was so beautiful. Got to have elephants eating from the trees right outside our chalets at night.
Day 5 - Safari around South Luangwa. Got to see everything lions, zebra, crocs, hippos, leopards, giraffes, warthogs and more.
Day 6 - Safari Around South Luangwa
Day 7 - Travelled from South Luangwa to Nkhotakota on the shores of Lake Malawi
Day 8 - Arrived at Lake of Stars festival, pitch our tents and party!
Day 9 - Party at Lake of Stars festival
Day 10 - Party at Lake of stars festival
Day 11 - Left festival and headed to Nkata Bay. Stayed in Njaya Lodge with the best host we ever came across called Dixon. Dixon we love you.
Day 12 - Nkata Bay chillin'
Day 13 - Mzuzu went to see Wells for Zoe
Day 14 - Nkata Bay chillin'
Day 15 - Headed Back to Lilongwe for another night at Mabuya camp. Best people ever for keeping our rooms for us as we didnt arrive until 11 at night after a ten hour drive during which we had a blow out tire. So all at Mabuya camp thanks again for keeping those rooms for us.
Day 17 - Had a 10 hour stop over in Nairobi - went to set from Out of Africa and went to the Carnivore Restaurant - the name says it all.
Day 18 - Home
Here's a few of our pics for you to have alook at.
Plan of action for 2008
Sept 26 - Leave Dublin
Sept 27 - Arrive in Johannesburg
Sept 28 - Catch internal flight to Livingstone, Zambia where we'll take in Victoria Falls
Sept 29 - Livingstone & Victoria Falls Zambia
Sept 30 - Fly back to Johannesburg, South Africa
Oct 1 - Kruger Park, RSA, Sudwala caves, God's Window game watching
Oct 2 - Barra Reef http://www.barrareef.co.za/, Inhambane, Mozambique, Quick tour of Maputo http://www.maputo.com/
Oct 3 - Barra Reef www.barrareef.co.za, Inhambane, Mozambique
Oct 4 - Vilanculos (Bazaruto), Mozambique
Oct 5 - Vilanculos (Bazaruto), Mozambique - Dhow trip to the Islands
Oct 6 - Vilanculos (Bazaruto), Mozambique
Oct 7 - Chimoio, Mozambique
Oct 8 - Tete, Mozambique
Oct 9 - Blantyre, Malawi
Oct 10 - Senga Bay Malawi- Lake of Stars Festival
Oct 11 - Senga Bay, Malawi- Lake of Stars festival
Oct 12 - Senga Bay, Malawi- Lake of Stars festival
Oct 13 - Lilongwe and Head home
If you fancy coming along or want anymore information about Lake of Stars contact aoife@bodytonicmusic.com for more details.
Wells for Zoe Fundraising
Is an Irish NGO in Malawi that we went to visit last year when we were there. It is a small Irish humanitarian organisation. At present they are involved with wells and pumps for safe drinking water, rainwater harvesting, and small dams for water storage, in four rural areas of Malawi. Set up in 2005, Wells for Zoë concentrates on low cost, small scale, appropriate and sustainable water technology.
We are currently trying to raise funds for this organisation. If you could donate anything small or large it would be great.