Travel tips and advice if you are heading to the Lake of Stars festival in Malawi
27 - 29 September 2019
The Lake of Stars festival is a unique, immersive adventure through curated music, talks, poetry, theatre, film and wellness activities from Malawi and across the globe. It is an intimate new boutique festival taking place in a beautiful, remote setting where a castle stands on the curve of a tropical lake. It is one of Africa’s leading international art events,.
If you're heading to the Lake of Stars festival between 27 – 29 September in northern Malawi (Kachere Kastle), check out the following information and advice page. The vast majority of British tourists don't encounter any problems but it's best to be aware of a few things before you go.
Before you go
- Remember to take out travel insurance. It could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties. Make sure you carry the emergency contact number and policy number with you and leave a copy of your policy with someone at home
- Take 2 photocopies of your passport. Leave one at home and take the other with you
- Tell family or friends where you'll be staying
- Fill in the last page of your passport with your emergency contacts
At the festival
- Keep your valuables locked in a safe place (such as a hotel safe or locker on the festival site) and carry as few valuables as possible
- Carry a photocopy of your passport around with you
- Keep some spare cash separate from the rest
- Keep your cash and mobile in a zipped pocket
- Avoid walking home on your own. Take care on public transport and don't be distracted.
- If you plan to drive to the festival please ensure you lock car doors and keep windows closed. Armed carjacking is a risk, especially for drivers of four-by-four vehicles. Don't offer lifts to strangers and look out for obstructions in the road ahead
- Parking is available and is located approximately 1km away from the venue. We believe shuttle buses will be available. Vehicles and contents are left entirely at the owner's risk. Please plan accordingly and do not leave any valuables in your vehicle.
- Since elections in May 2019, Malawi has seen widespread demonstrations, which have on occasion turned violent; you should avoid large crowds or demonstrations and monitor our travel advice and local media for updates
- Laws and customs can be different in other countries. Penalties for drug possession can be severe. If you need help
- The festival should have an information point you can go to for help and advice and to look for lost property
- In an emergency, call 997 (Police), 998 (Ambulance) and 999 (Fire Brigade)
- If your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged and you can't get a new or replacement passport in time for travel, you can get an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) to get you home. You'll need to get a police report, if lost or stolen, and fill in an online application form, pay 100 online pounds and go to the British High Commission to collect the Emergency Travel Document. If the person needing the emergency travel document is under 16, a parent or guardian should apply on their behalf.
More about the Lake of Stars festival.
The Lake of Stars Project was set up in 2003 to attract more international visitors to Malawi, taking inspiration from events like WOMAD and Glastonbury. The festival acts as a vehicle to promote Malawi as a tourist destination, generating revenue and increasing awareness of this beautiful country and it's vibrant culture. Having won the Malawi Tourism Award in its first year, the festival has grown to become one of the best known on the African continent, attracting travellers from all over the world.
As the leading international festival in Malawi, Lake of Stars also provides local artists with a unique platform to showcase their art to a global audience, as well as attracting high profile names to perform from across the world, often for the first time in Africa. Previous international performers include Andy Cato (Groove Armada), Beverley Knight, Bombay Bicycle Club, Christian Tiger School, Felix B (Basement Jaxx), Foals, Freshlyground, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, John Wizards, The Maccabees, Mafikizolo, Major Lazer Soundsytem, Mary Anne Hobbs, Mokoomba, Nick Mulvey, The Noisettes, Oliver Mtukudzi, Reason, Ric Hassani, Sauti Sol, Seth Lakeman, Sway, Toya Delazy, Uhuru, YADi, DJ Yoda, Young Fathers, Zone Fam and many more.
Alongside the flagship festival, the Lake of Stars Project has produced a number of other cultural events including the Children’s Future Festival, Lilongwe Shorts film festival and Island in the Sky festival in Malawi, and UK editions of Lake of Stars in London and Glasgow festivals in the UK.
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