Lake of Stars - and travelling to/from Malawi from zambia

[soulfulofsoul]

I am planning to go to Lake of Stars and check out a bit around there. I am going in September and will be there for about 3.5 weeks. I am a female in my thirties travelling solo.

I would like to volunteer with Lake of Stars and have emailed them a couple of times but not heard back. There's no number to call or anything, besides I am sure they are busy and don't want to be hassled by potential volunteers. I actually have tonnes of relevant experience and am still hoping I can get involved. I don't really want to go to festival on my own but if I can volunteer that would be great.

So I am thinking I might just go there and turn up a few days before and say "what needs doing?"

Flights to Malawi are expensive from here (Perth, aust) so I might fly in and out of Zambia. I could fly in and out of Malawi if necessary.

Apart from Lake of stars I would like to do one other organised thing. I am dead giants organised tours usually but will probably do one. Maybe hiking or kayaking or a safari. Does anyone have any suggestions of places in or around Malawi? Not really keen on Victoria Falls. And I'm not fit enough/ keen enough to climb mountains.

Also suggestions of places to visit (doesn't have to be an activity) are welcome.

I am planning to get from Lasaka to Lilongwe by
1) bus from Lusaka to chipata
2) shared taxi to border
3) shared taxi or minibus to Mchinji
4) Minibus to Lilongwe

Does anyone have any advice for me?

 

[DownwardDog]

I've driven from Harare to Blantyre crossing the Malawi-Mozambique border and it was very sketchy with lots of delays, impromptu bush camping and copious bribes required. I couldn't recommend it and, sad to say, as you would be a solo female traveller it's my opinion that you could count yourself lucky if you all got away with was low grade harassment. Malawi itself isn't that bad by African shithole standards so you could fly PER-JNB then JNB-BLZ and take it from there.

 

[soulfulofsoul]

I'm not saying your wrong but I think driving yourself is a bit different. Also you entered through a different border. I get the impression that it's a fairly well worn path and that there are plenty of buses taking tourists. Most things online seem to suggest its safe.

Was your journey recently, btw?

 

[DownwardDog]

I'm not saying your wrong but I think driving yourself is a bit different. Also you entered through a different border. I get the impression that it's a fairly well worn path and that there are plenty of buses taking tourists. Most things online seem to suggest its safe.

Was your journey recently, btw?

I think it would have been the summer of 2004 or 2003. You're right that the crossing from Mozambique to Blantyre isn't very well travelled. The road is/was fucking terrible and the soldier on the Mozambique side was sat on a plastic bucket which was his throne of office.

 

[soulfulofsoul]

I think it would have been the summer of 2004 or 2003. You're right that the crossing from Mozambique to Blantyre isn't very well travelled. The road is/was fucking terrible and the soldier on the Mozambique side was sat on a plastic bucket which was his throne of office.

I'm brave but driving myself through borders seems craz... er a bit too challenging for me.

Do you have anywhere you would suggest checking out in Malawi or Zambia? (or nearby)

 

[DownwardDog]

I'm brave but driving myself through borders seems craz... er a bit too challenging for me.

Do you have anywhere you would suggest checking out in Malawi or Zambia? (or nearby)

I was there on business so didn't really see much beyond the inside of various offices where I dispensed yet more bribes.

 

[chilango]

I was going to travel from Lusaka to Lilongwe overland via Mozambique, but it looked a pain in the arse and the transit visa was expensive so ended up flying from Lusaka to Lilongwe. onward travel from Lilongwe to the Lake was easy enough.

 

[chilango]

Can't give you too many tips as I was either happily chilling by the lake or spending time with friends in Lilongwe.

Most of my time in Zambia was spent near Vic Falls apart from a few dull days in Lusaka.

 

[Boudicca]

I think I was there so long ago that my experience probably isn't relevant. But anyway, Lusaka is a bit dodgy, like quite a lot of capital cities, but Malawi I found to be pretty safe.

But when I was there, all women had to wear skirts, and Lonely Planet was confiscated at the border as it said something rude about the president.