Hotel accomodation varies from hotels that approach the international deluxe standard to round rondavels with thatched roofs, with almost every shade of difference in between. The official Hotel Board decided in late 1966 to classify the hotels. It was decided that the star system would be used. In order to qualify for one star an hotel, whether rural or urban, have to meet minimum requirements for service, cleanliness,and available amenities. Although the Hotel Board took into consideration international standards, it eveolved its own Zambian system for awarding the stars. Under the system they were classified: Internation Delux 5 star (***** ), 4star (****), 3 star (***), 2star (**), 1 star (*), rural (R) and ungraded (U).
Shiwa Ng’andu
It is located in the northernmost part of Zambia amongst the rolling granite hills that form the tail end of the Great Rift Valley, an area of unsurpassed natural beauty, the “real Africa”. A majestic house built in the 1920s in the style of a traditional English country home. Loaded with history, it has been converted into a magnificent and exclusive lodge.
The original brick mansion and its surrounding 40 square-mile estate were built by Sir Stewart Gore-Browne. A former British Army officer who fell in love with the African bush. All five guest rooms have been lovingly restored with their original hardwood furnishings plus modern en-suite bathrooms. The whole place has a special, welcoming ambience with fireplaces lit every evening.
The guest experience at Shiwa Ng’andu is truly unique. Guests enjoy complete access to the estate, from the extensive historical archives, the wildlife reserve and lake, to the day to day workings on an estate farm. Relaxed morning drives, horse riding through the hills and fascinating historical tours.
Shiwa Ng’andu is a unique and fascinating destination in Zambia.
https://www.classicsafaricompany.com.au/activity/shiwa-ngandu
Lundazi Castle
The Lundazi Castle is famous throughout the country and is without a doubt, one of the strangest sights in all of Zambia. Located in Lundazi in Eastern Province, over 730km away from Lusaka, the building is exactly what it sounds like, a replica of a Norman-style castle complete with turrets, spiral staircases, and even a dungeon. It was built by a man named Errol Button who was the district commissioner in the area in the 1940s. He had been instructed to build a guesthouse for visiting government officials and instead came up with the idea of building a castle.
The expense of building the castle was far greater than the budget that had been allocated to him, so Button took advantage of the local population’s inability to pay high taxes and had them work on the castle in place of payment. The result was a castle designed by a British colonialist and built by the almost-indentured labor of the Zambian people. The amount of work that it must have taken to build this structure in early twentieth-century Zambia must have been excessive, and the castle now stands as an example of the misguided efforts of colonialism in Africa.
The Castle is one of the most popular spots to stay in Lundazi (and one of the only), and being a busy venue for conferences, it is often booked full. However, if you can manage to stay here, it certainly promises to be an interesting experience. The rooms are simple and somewhat sparse but clean. The main attraction is that you are actually sleeping in a castle! There is a bar and restaurant offering cold beers and good nshima as well as chips and other lighter fare. You are paying more for the experience of staying at the castle than the quality of the room, but as far as Lundazi goes, it is definitely at the higher end of available accommodations.
https://otherplaceszambia.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/the-lundazi-castle/
http://www.chipoautumn.com/2016/10/06/touring-the-lundazi-castle/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW7u-cs5bqg
Kapishya hot springs
With natural, sulphur free water, these natural springs are fed by three cold water springs which permeate down 6-7 kilometres to be super heated and then forced back to the surface dropping 10 degrees celsius with every kilometre, so ending up on the surface at a luxurious 41 degrees celsius. As your feet sink into the soft white sand, you can forget about the stresses of the outside world and truly relax.
https://hiddengemsofzambia.com/northern-region/kapiysha/
White water Rafting
The Zambezi River below the Victoria Falls is widely considered to be the best rafting river in the world. A deep Channelled high volume river, the Zambezi has class 3 to 5 rapids interspersed with tranquil pools. This enables you to marvel at the magnificent beauty of the Batoka Gorge between some of the most exciting and challenging rapids rafted anywhere on the planet. Trips on offer vary from only a couple of hours to a full six days adventure all the way to Lake Kariba.
South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa National Park is the highlight of eastern Zambia. Known to locals as simply 'the South Park,' it was initially founded as the Luangwa Game Park in 1904, and converted to one of three game reserves in 1938. The impressive park covers an area of about 9050 square kilometers of the Luangwa Valley floor, and lies anywhere from 500 meter to 800 meter above sea level. With its western and northwestern edge bounded by the Muchinga Escarpment, and the southern border lined with the meandering Luangwa River, there's no shortage of dramatic and fascinating topography in this stunning game-rich park.
https://www.southluangwa.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgYLv4fe-6wIVQ-7tCh36twPKEAAYAyAAEgIuWfD_BwE
Kafue National Park
Kafue National Park is the oldest and largest National Park in Zambia and the second largest National Park in the world. Kafue covers an area of approximately 22 400 sq km of unspoiled wilderness teeming with wildlife.
This park is renowned for offering fantastic wildlife viewing, while there over 400 species of bird to keep the birders enthralled. Despite the Park's proximity to both Lusaka and the Copper belt, it has remained underdeveloped. The Kafue National Park is still untouched, wild and diverse and offers visitors one of the best safari experiences in Zambia.
Guests can enjoy a variety of activities accompanied by expert guides including game drives, bird watching and fishing. The Kafue River that runs through the park is what gives it its name, and ensures that guests enjoy a well-rounded land and water-based experience.
https://www.sunsafaris.com/safari/zambia/kafue-national-park/
LIVINGSTONE ISLAND
Victoria Falls is one of the world's natural wonders and among the most spectacular sights in all of Africa, and the best vantage point from which to witness it is Livingstone Island. David Livingstone first glimpsed the Mosi-oa-Tunya (Smoke that Thunders) after being canoed across to this very island. Tongabezi offers five trips a day to Livingstone Island. A twin-engine boat will take you on a thrilling journey through the fast-moving channels of the Zambezi.
On the island you will be given a guided tour, learning about its history from ancient times when it served as a sacrificial site to the present day and its World Heritage status.
DEVIL'S POOL
Here’s an infinity pool like no other! One of the most astounding natural pools to be found anywhere, Devil’s Pool has a reputation for attracting thrill-seekers from the far corners of the earth. It offers daring swimmers the chance to experience the ultimate delight: peering over the brim of the largest curtain of falling water in the world. What is less well known is how effortless this life-changing adventure is. Just a short swim from Livingstone Island, Devil’s Pool is thrilling but completely safe. Guided tours to Livingstone Island have a 100% safety record and our guides will be with you at all times to offer a hand, share fun facts, or simply take photographic evidence to bring home to the family.
Devil's Pool is open during the drier months of the year, usually between mid August and mid January, when the Zambezi water levels are low enough for swimmers to take the plunge.
Royal Livingstone Express
Duration: 4 hours - Location: Mulobezi Railway Line
The Train;
The Royal Livingstone Express consists of five carriages restored by Rohan Vos of Rovos Rail and pulled by either Locomotive 156 or Locomotive 204. The train is fully air-conditioned and configured from the front as follows;
Locomotive 156 or 204
Carriage No.6049 Club Car / Kitchen Car
Carriage 4821 Leather Dining Car
Carriage 211 Wembley Dining Car
Carriage 4101 Lounge Car
Carriage 4933 Observation Car
- Group size: from 1 to 30 people
- Pickup location: Pick up from the Accommodation within Livingstone Town
- Drop-off location: Drop Off to the Accommodation within Livingstone Town
- Pickup time: (4.00 PM - 4.30 PM)
- Drop-off time: (8.30 PM - 9.00 PM)
Planned Itinerary:
4:00 pm - Guests will be picked up from the Royal Livingstone and (for other Lodges time may vary) in Luxury Bushtracks Vehicles and given a short road transfer to the Bushtracks Siding, formerly the Old Mulobezi Railway Offices or otherwise known as Kilometre ‘0’ of the Mulobezi Line. A safety brief will be given by the Bushtracks guide en route to the station. Tickets will be issued to all guests that include an indemnity on the reverse. On arrival the train will be stationed at the siding with the locomotive ‘in Steam’ thus giving a photographic opportunity to anyone who wishes. Guests will board the train through the Lounge Car where drinks and snacks will be offered.
The train will travel on the “Cape to Cairo” mainline which will then take it to the Victoria Falls Bridge. Once on the mainline the train leaves the outskirts of Livingstone and travels into The Victoria Falls World Heritage Site. Game such as elephant and antelope are often spotted en route to the border post
The train will stop on the bridge for approximately 20 minutes and guests will have a chance to disembark from the train at this point.
A five course set dinner will be served at the Palm Grove siding before heading back to the Bushtracks siding.
8:30 pm - The train will draw into the Bushtracks Siding. A Bushtracks guide will be waiting to transfer guests back to the hotel.
https://www.victoriafallszambia.travel/Royal_Livingstone_Express
Kasaba Bay
Until the late 1960s Kasaba Bay Lodge was accessible only by air, or boat from Mpulungu, and catered to wealthy and international visitors. The Mporokoso District authorities had a humble guesthouse at Sumbu Bay, reached by a gravel road from Mporokoso. In the early 1970s this road was connected to Kasaba Bay Lodge, and a new lodge was built at Nkamba Bay.
At that time and into the 1970s, Sumbu was considered to be, with South Luangwa and Kafue, one of the best national parks of Zambia, with elephants and lions being common.
Game numbers in the park declined in the 1980s and 1990s due to a lack of management exacerbated by the cutback of the country's domestic airline which used to fly visitors to the park. Its remoteness by road and proximity to war and conflict in the DR Congo, the land border of which is only 25 km to the north, deterred visitors.
https://archello.com/project/kasaba-bay-resort
https://www.markoshea.info/oba4-3_zambia_tanzania03-1f.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nsumbu_National_Park
RICH RIVERS IN ZAMBIA
Blessed with three major rivers, several substantial tributaries, and many smaller rivers, as well as vast natural lakes and the enormous Kariba dam, Zambia is one of the most water rich countries in Africa. The source of the Zambezi is in northwest Zambia and runs through the Barotse Floodplains until it forms the border with Zimbabwe. After providing power from Kariba Dam, it is joined by the Kafue River and later the Luangwa before heading out to the Indian Ocean. The Kafue and Luangwa Rivers are the life blood of the Kafue and Luangwa National Parks, teeming with hippos, crocodiles, waterbirds and plains game coming to drink. Many other rivers traverse the country with an abundance of delightful waterfalls.
RIVERS
Monkey Business at the Victoria Falls
The Rhodesian and Central African Annual - 1954
Visitors to Northern Rhodesia are familiar with the antics of the tame monkeys and baboons who are to be found at many of the tourist centres in the territory. At tea gardens especially they gather in large numbers. A famous beauty spot is on the banks of the Zambesi River on the Northern Rhodesian side of the Victoria Falls: here the families of monkeys and baboons are a constant source of delight to tourists and no visit to the Falls would be complete without calling in at the tea gardens to feed and photograph the monkeys. They are so tame and friendly that they will come and sit at the table with you and they are so used to being photographed that they now almost pose for the camera. Until quite recently the presence of vehicles in the nearby car park held no interest for them but lately some of the more adventurous types, mostly young baboons, have taken to carrying out a tour of inspection among the parked cars. That is why the wise motorist keeps his car doors locked. These pictures, which record a spot of "monkey business" tell their own story.
Gorge swing, High Wire, Bungee & Rap jump, Livingstone
This is the world’s first commercial High Wire. A cable is spanned across the gorge 135m long and 75m above the ground. A full body harness is attached securely from your back to the cable and you take a running dive off the edge of the cliff and soar across the deep gorge like a bird in flight.
These activities are operated on a spectacular site above rapid number 7. You will freefall for about 50 metres before swinging out into the middle of the gorge. After several pendulum swings you will then be lowered to the ground where you can take a track back up to the top of the gorge. This can also be done as a tandem. You can purchase the DVD or photos of your jump once you have finished.
The ‘flying fox’ is a cable slide across the gorge and rather than jumping off into thin air, you slide or ‘fly’ across the gorge attached to a special harness before being pulled back in again.
If you want to try a change from the more traditional abseiling, then you can also try rap jumping, where you descend the rock face facing the ground and keep pushing off from the rock face as you head towards the bottom of the gorge.
A 350-foot drop, against the beautiful backdrop of the majestic Victoria Waterfalls. Feel the extreme rush of adrenaline when you do a bungee jump ...
https://www.zambiatourism.com/activities/adventure/gorge-swing/
Luangwa National Park
Luangwa National Park, park located in northeastern Zambia, southern Africa. Divided into two separate parks, one north and one south, the Luangwa National Park covers an area of 6,000 square miles (15,540 square km) and lies at an elevation varying from about 1,600 to 3,600 feet (500 to 1,100 metres). Following a period of decline in the 1970s and ’80s in which poaching was rife, efforts were made to revive the park.
Formerly a game reserve, it was established as a national park in 1972 along 120 miles (193 km) of the Luangwa River rift valley, a wide area of alluvial flats containing Karoo sediments and dissected into ridges. It rises gently westward to about 2,500 feet (765 metres) at the foot of the 4,600-foot (1,400-metre) Muchinga escarpment. Vegetation in the park consists of growth characteristic of miombo (woodland), savanna, thickets, and floodplain grassland bordered by riparian forest. The meandering river has changed course many times, leaving dry beds and oxbow pools rich in vegetation nestled between high ranges of mountains. The park’s abundant and varied animal life includes vervet monkeys, baboons, leopards, lions, elephants, zebras, black rhinoceroses, hippopotamus, kudu, eland, buffaloes, puku, Cookson’s wildebeest, wild dogs, hyenas, cheetahs, giraffes, and sable and roan antelopes. Birdlife is abundant and includes storks, geese, cranes, and carmine bee-eaters. The Luangwa River provides a habitat for the Nile crocodile. The park is accessible by air or road. The main camp is located at Mfuwe, where a number of trails begin.
THE VICTORIA FALLS
Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800s as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. In more modern terms Victoria Falls is known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world.
Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, at the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly two kilometres, into a gorge over one hundred meters below.
https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/waterfalls/victoria-falls/
Livingstone Crocodile Park
The Livingstone Crocodile Park allows visitors a unique encounter with Africa’s iconic Nile crocodile! This is a safe haven for crocodiles that are regarded as a danger to local communities. A visit to the park is a fun and educative experience for the whole family – learn about these incredible apex predators and see some of the largest crocodiles from the Zambezi River alongside a fascinating display of snakes on a guided tour with our Reptile Rangers. We aim to inspire in our visitors a respect and understanding for the crocodile, spark a curiosity and awareness for the future. We educate visitors and local communities on crocodile behaviour and snake management in order to ensure the survival of the species and the well-being of the communities that live beside them. We are located just 10 minutes from Victoria Falls, open daily except Wednesday! Recommended duration of visit – approx. 1h 30. All ages welcome!
http://www.livingstonetourism.com/gwembe-reptile-park-and-safaris/
David Livingstone Museum Tour
Witness actual tools, journals and maps used by the explorer David Livingstone, as well as Natural History, Anthropological, African Culture and Zambian biodiversity in a tour of the David Livingstone Museum in Zambia
https://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/david-livingstone-museum.html
ZAMBIA’S SPECTACUALR WATERFALLS
Zambia is one of the most water-rich countries in Africa and her many rivers cascade into fabulous displays of falling water as they wind over the undulating landscape. The most spectacular is of course the not-to-be-missed Victoria Falls, but there are 17 other beautiful falls dotted around the country. Waterfall Tours are becoming a popular trip providing access to these out of the way delights as well as opportunities to see rural village life in Zambia.
MAJOR WATERFALLS
SMALLER WATERFALLS
- Chipembe Falls
- Chipoma Falls
- Chisimba Falls
- Kabweluma Falls
- Kundabwika Falls
- Mumbuluma Falls
- Mutumuna Falls
- Ntumbachushi Falls
- Nyambwezi Falls
https://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/waterfalls/
Below is the spectacular Lumangwe falls on the Kalungwishi River in Northern Zambia. The waterfall is 40 meters high and 160 metres wide and flows throughout the year.
The Hidden Gems within the Mutinondo Wilderness
“It’s just breath taking!”
Mutinondo Wilderness lies on a plateau 30 km west of the Luangwa Valley. This area offers 10,000 hectares of PRISTINE Miombo woodland, massive chunks of granite inselbergs, crystal clear rivers to swim in and drink from and PICTURESQUE waterfalls and dambos.
To reach a little piece of magic in Zambia: the Mutinondo Wilderness. This place is so unique: an almost untouched area dotted with enormous granite rocks, numerous waterfalls to cool off in and plenty of birdlife, insects and antelope. The view from the top allowed us to imagine the vaster, older, wilder Africa that once stood around Mutinondo. Owned by the most amazing couple - Lari & Mike.
A piece of paradise!
https://hiddengemsofzambia.com/northern-region/mutinondo-wilderness/
Siavonga
Siavonga has become known as the ‘Riviera of Zambia’ as the town is spread out along the north bank of Lake Kariba and is host to holidaymakers, both local and international, all year round.The ‘riviera’ image is enhanced by an affluent Zambian community that is developing as business people from out of town invest in holiday homes in the area. Tthe spectacular Dam Wall is nearby, which is also the Kariba border crossing into Zimbabwe. Only a two and a half hour drive on good roads from Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, it is both a popular weekend getaway as well as a conference destination for the Lusaka businiess community.
The Zambezi Valley is very hot in the summer months (October to March) but luckily cooled by the summer rains. In winter it is warm – to cool and dry (April to September).
