Lake Malawi is approximately 40,000 years old. It’s the most southerly lake in the East Africa Rift Valley system, the third largest in Africa, ninth largest in the world and its tropical waters contain more fish species than any other lake on earth. Livingstone was the first European to discover the lake in 1859 (upon which he named it Lake Nyasa) and on august 16^th 1941 it was the site of the British Empire’s first naval victory when, at the beginning of the first world war, a British gunboat (Captain Rhoades in command) received orders to sink the German Empire’s only gunboat on the lake – which they promptly did (disabled with a single shot from a range of 2,000 yards).

That’s the factual travel info from today’s trip to the great lake. Long drive, about five hours, but the scenery was amazing and I was so glad to get out of Lilongwe again.

The landscape was sweeping and it was a chance to see the real Malawi. We passed witchdoctors in traditional dress, scenic bomas with delicately thatched huts and clusters of school children learning their lessons in the shade of a baobab tree.

We mostly drove at 60kph, but at least we could get a fleeting feel for the ‘real Malawi’.

The lake was majestic and it was a fitting place to celebrate ‘Bruce Lee’s’ birthday. We nailed a take on the lake as an intro to the programme and then as it got dark and the generator was switched off (we stayed in the gecko lounge – to be recommended) there was no electricity so we hit the sack poised for an early start.