Planning a trip
Hearing music in Malawi
Lake of Stars is a three-day lakeside festival with a broad mix: Afrobeat, folk, electronic, indie and reggae. It suits travellers who like a festival tied to its landscape. The stages face east, so sunrise sets are part of the draw, and the tip is to camp close to the beach and wake early, because the sunrise soundchecks are as moving as the headline acts.
The listing gives the last weekend of September, but the festival is currently on an irregular schedule, so check the festival site before planning anything. When it runs, the site opens on Friday morning and the programme continues through Sunday night. The lakeshore is warmest in late September and the lake is calm at dawn. Camping and lodge accommodation are both available, and lodge bookings sell out six months ahead.
Fly to Lilongwe (LLW) or Blantyre (BLZ), then drive or take a minibus to Mangochi, three to four hours from either airport. Local taxis run from Mangochi to the festival site, 45 minutes north. Because lodges sell out so far ahead, confirm that an edition is running before you commit to a booking.
FAQ
Questions people ask
When is Lake of Stars Festival?
When it runs, it is held over three days in late September, usually the last weekend, on the Lake Malawi shoreline. The site opens Friday morning and the programme runs through Sunday night. Check the festival site, as the schedule is currently irregular.
How do you get to Lake of Stars in Malawi?
Fly to Lilongwe (LLW) or Blantyre (BLZ), then drive or take a minibus to Mangochi, three to four hours from either airport. Local taxis cover the last 45 minutes north to the festival site.
Is Lake of Stars still running?
It is listed as currently on an irregular schedule, so check the festival site before planning a trip. When it runs, it is annual, three days in late September, and it has been going since 2004.
Pulse
Electronic music in Malawi
Malawi is on Pulse, the Sonic Paths map and radio of African electronic music: electronic music in Lilongwe (festival).
More across the continent: African electronic music on Pulse and every dated festival.