The Lake of Stars is David Livingstone's nickname for Lake Malawi, one of the most famous lakes in Africa. So-called, because the still waters of the tide-less lake reflect the twinkling lanterns of the night fisherman in their dugout canoes.

Unfortunately, fishing no longer provides the income it once did: the lake has silted up with soil washed down from the tree-less hills surrounding it and the remaining fish, less productive in shallower waters, have been over-fished. As a result, the villagers of Mangochi are some of the poorest in Malawi.