June 23, 2008

Africa & Mideast | Malawi

Malawi Magic

By Nicole Cotroneo

Take a front row seat on the Lake of Stars.

view map

Madonna’s tastes have often been questionable but her ardor for Malawi is not one of them. The Material Girl fell in love with the tiny African country, controversially adopted a son from among its one million orphans and then made a documentary about it. All of which put Malawi on the map — and now it’s back in the spotlight with the July 1 opening of Pumulani, the country’s first luxury lodge that is set in a national park.

Pumulani’s 10 individually designed villas overlook the southern lip of Lake Malawi — Africa’s third largest lake, and among the ten largest in the world. Stretching over 360 miles, this inland sea is famous for reflecting the sky in its placid waters — pioneering explorer David Livingstone dubbed it the “Lake of Stars.” Guests at Pumulani (meaning “place of rest” in Chichewa) get a front-row view from their hillside perch, where in addition to sun-filled bathrooms with soaking tubs, each villa has an elevated deck overlooking the lake.

When you’re itching for a dip, you can hit the camp’s infinity pool or move down to Pumulani’s private beach. From kayaking to snorkeling, wakeboarding to scuba diving (some parts of Lake Malawi plunge well below sea level), you can stay wholly occupied until sunset. At that hour, it’s time to board the resort’s 40-foot wooden dhow — a traditional, handcrafted sailboat that Pumulani dedicates to sundown cruises.

Pumulani is the newest property for Zambian operator Robin Pope Safaris, and the company’s first step outside the bush. But guests can easily tack on a tailored walking tour of South Luangwa National Park, one of the richest wildlife areas in Zambia, Malawi’s western neighbor. And if you’re around October 10, you’re in for a rare treat: the fifth annual Lake of Stars Festival showcasing world-famous musicians alongside local Malawian talent. The three-day charity bash has drawn stars such as Felix B from Basement Jaxx, who said he’d never met “such friendly people” as in Malawi. Little wonder too — the nation is known as the “warm heart of Africa.”