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      OTHER TOWNS IN ZAMBIA

   Chipata

Chipata used to be known as Fort Jameson back when Zambia was still Northern Rhodesia and was an important trading post in the early part of the century. Now it is a bustling town where you can buy almost anything. Colourful markets selling fruit, vegetables, chitenje cloths, second hand clothing and little trinkets. There is a large Indian community here and their presence is evident in the number of ornate and colourful mosques around the town. It is also the gateway to Malawi and many Zambians cross the border regularly to do shopping trips in Lilongwe only an hour and a half away.  Its also the Gateway to the Luangwa Valley. There are a few motels to stay at here that are basic but clean. (see Directory.) There is also a Campsite run by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Look for the blue and white sign on the main road.

Mamarulas is a cosy Guesthouse and Campsite on the road to Mfuwe.

The Ngoni Tribe lives in this area

Protea Hotel Chipata is located on the outskirts of Chipata town, three hours drive from South Luangwa National Park and only 130km to the capital city of Malawi; Lilongwe.

 

 

   Choma

In the Southern Province, halfway between Luska and Livingstone. There is an excellent museum in Choma called the Choma Museum and Crafts Centre Trust and it has played a major role in the development of rural crafts in Zambia.  Try Masaku Lodge or Mambashi Chalets for tranquil overnight stops along this main rd between the two major towns of Zambia.

 

   Isoka

A small town just off the Great North Road towards the border at Nakonde. It has a district hospital, post office and a few shops. It does have a run down motel but its probably better to camp at the police station. Six kilometres from Isoka one can find a set of waterfalls in a series of 3 falls, there is a place to camp but no facilities. The area is very isolated and one can swim in the pools below the second falls. The first is about 15m high, the second, about 30m.

 

   Kabwe                                                   map

The town of Kabwe is where Zambia's most famous prehistoric Broken Hill man was found in the 1920s.  Broken HIll was Kabwe's previous name.

Rhodesian (Kabwe) ManThe Kabwe skull (often known as ‘Broken Hill Man’ after the name of a nearby town) is older than the (38 000yr) claim, at 125,000 to 300,000 years old, and it was found on 17 June 1921 by a Swiss miner, Tom Zwiglaar, in a limestone cave. It was the first early human fossil to be found in Africa and was sent to Arthur Smith Woodward (1864-1944), who gave it the new species name Homo rhodesiensis (Rhodesian Man).

More recent anthropologists have preferred to see it as a primitive form of Homo sapiens, but are undecided on the precise species. It may be related to Homo heidelbergensis, the ancestor of the predominantly European Neanderthals (there were never any Neanderthals in Africa) or it may indeed be a separate species, Homo rhodesiensis, as Arthur Smith Woodward originally proposed, which would be our direct ancestor.


http://www.kmatthews.org.uk/cult_archaeology/out_of_place_artefacts_7.html

 

Kabwe is a two-hour drive from the capital, Lusaka. Kabwe was previously known as Broken Hill and was named by an  Australian mining prospector who lived in the town. Other places of interest include. 

 

 

  • The Big Tree (in town) - where early settlers used to congregate and relax

  • Bwacha Political monument

  • Broken Hill Mine

  • Turbotite deposits

  • Mulungushi power station - the first hydro power in Zambia and central Africa and was commissioned by King George

KABWE Accommodation: Tuskers Hotel, Kabwe Lodge,  Zambezi Source Lodge ( See Hotels for contact details)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busrah/3239948601/   Really excellent picture of Kabwe at this link - must see!

 

   Kapiri Mposhi  

A small railway town at the junction of the road to the Copperbelt that to the North Eastern part of the country along the Great North Road. There is a market along the main road, fuel station, a motel and a few shops. But otherwise, not much to stay for. Petrol gets more expensive from here on so it's a good place to fill up. This is where the Tanzania Zambia Railway line (Tazara) begins, going all the way up to Dar es Salaam. 

 

   Kasama

Kasama is a fairly big town on the Great North Road. It has fuel, various banks, a hospital, post office and police station. There is a large airport that is on the domestic flight schedule. Avgas is available here from BP. The best accommodation is at the Thorntree Guest House.  (See Guest Houses)The rooms are all en suite and some have TV’s. There is a pleasant restaurant and a bar. The train station is on the Tazara Railway line to Tanzania.

 

   Kazembe

A small town on the Mansa / Nchelenge road, which incidentally is one of the better roads in the whole of Zambia. There are a few shops and fuel stations but no accomodation. Kazembe mostly known for the splendid Umotomboko Ceremony held in late July every year. (See People)

The two day ceremony is a grand affair, mixed with ritual, semi-mystic performance, pounding drum beats and long speeches. Tributes of beer and food are brought to the chief by the women. The chief, smeared with white powder, then goes to pay homage to his ancestral spirits and is carried back to his palace to the beating of drums. The unusual attire of the chiefs and senior council - brightly coloured cotton skirts (in memory of an early king who received gifts of cloth from Portuguese ambassadors) worn with western suit jackets, attest to the way ancient tribal traditions are changing and blending with contemporary times.

   Luanshya

A  small town on the Copperbelt.
For accommodation try Cholwa Guesthouse

 

 

   Mansa

The town of Mansa emerged as the centre of Luapula province in the 1960’s. It is just across from the Copperbelt though the Zaire peninsula that juts into Zambia. One can get a fairly wide range of supplies, fuel and services here. The Mansa Hotel has very spacious comfortable rooms as well as a restaurant and Bar.

 

   Mbala

Before independence Mbala was known as Abercorn and played an important role during the First World War in the then Northern Rhodesia. It was strategically important due to its proximity to the German East Africa border (now Tanzania) and was also the place where German forces surrendered their control of East Africa. Today it a small quiet town with a few shops and businesses.

If you’re passing through on the Great North Road between Kasama and Mpulungu, don’t miss the Moto Moto Museum. It is situated 4kms beyond Mbala and holds an impressive and well-displayed range of cultural artefacts from the tribes of the Northern Province. There are archaeological finds and historical displays on the earliest explorations carried out in this region of Africa. The museum also houses an impressive display of artefacts from the First World War in Northern Rhodesia where the Germans finally surrendered in 1918, the struggle for independence. The museum also promotes Zambian culture through their dance troupe which performs every Sunday at the Cultural Arena, just 50 m from the museum, except during the rainy season between December and April. Nearby is Lake Chila, a small lake which has a golf course on its banks. The Germans, after their surrender in the First World War were ordered to dispose of their weapons in the lake, many of which have been retrieved and are on display at the Moto Moto Museum. The Grasshopper Inn offers clean but basic accommodation for reasonable rates.

 

   Mkushi

Mkushi is small farming town just off the Great North Road with a few shops, petrol station a post office, hospital and police station. A good overnight stop is the Forest Inn, about 30kms before the Mkushi Turn off. There are several quaint little en-suite chalets and a shady campsite with good facilities.
Sweetwater Guesthouse is just near the Mkushi River Bridge.

 

   Mongu

Located on high ground overlooking the Zambezi River floodplain, Mongu is the bustling capital of the western province. It is also the center of the Barotseland, the Kingdom of the famous Lozi people. Traditional culture is alive here and the Lozi King, the Litunga, has his winter palace (dry season) at Lealui, 15 km northwest of Mongu, and his summer palace (wet season) at Limulunga 15 km north of town.

Also at Limulunga is the Nayuma Museum open from 08 hrs to 17 hrs Monday to Friday, full of exhibits on the Lozi Culture and their annual Kuomboka traditional ceremony - the Litunga's boat Journey from the wet palace to the dry palace in advance of the seasonal flood waters. While in Mongu, don't miss the Mumwa Crafts Association gallery of traditional Lozi wood and leather crafts, baskets, ceramics and furniture

  Mpika

Mpika is one of the bigger towns in the Northern Province on the Great North Road and one can get basic supplies here. There is a post office, a very good hospital and fuel. There is also an office of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Services. The North Luangwa Conservation Project has its head quarters here as does the Tazara Zambia railway line.The Crested Crane Hotel has adequate accommodation and there is a small resthouse for overnight stops. About 100 kms north Mpika is the grand Shiwa Ngandu Estate and Kapishya Hot Springs.  Also near Mpike is Mutinondo Wilderness Camp. (See Directory)

 

  Nchelenge, Kashikishi

The good tar road from Samfya will take you all the way to Nchelenge and Kashikishi via Mansa. These two little villages on Lake Mweru, show a quaint side of village life. Colourful markets selling local needs, second hand clothing and vegetables. Unfortunately the shoreline is lined with huts and access to the Lake is tricky unless you go further north to places where the population thins out. The Lake is essentially a source of fish and thus the livelihood of most villagers. There is a post office, clinic, hospital and fuel.

There is a good resthouse in Nchelenge offering large en-suite rooms and fairly good food at reasonable prices. Called the Lake Mweru Water Transport Guesthouse, it also arranges boat trips to the islands. In Kashikishi there are two guesthouses with clean, if somewhat colourful rooms, and very reasonably priced.Carry on along the tar road from Mansa and take the left turn towards Kazembe. From there it is 45kms to Nchelenge. Kashikishi is a few kilometres further down the road.This is definitely one of Zambia’s finest roads, all the way from Serenje, through to Samfya, Mansa and beyond - no potholes and very little traffic. The tar runs out just after Kashikishi. Take a boat from Lake Mweru Water Transport in Nchelenge to one of the islands. One can fish or explore the islands. Fishing rods and tackle are not provided, so bring your own.

 

  Serenje                   

A brief little town about 191kms from Kapiri Mposhi on the Great North Road. It has a good service station with toilets, a small shop and a few motor accessories. There is a wonderful restaurant/guest house in Serenje that deserves mention.  They have very charming rooms in their guest house and great service.

 

  Siavonga                       MAP

Situated on the north shore of Lake Kariba, Siavonga is the second largest tourist destination in Southern Province.  The town is only two and half hours (on good tar roads) from the Capital City Lusaka, and within easy reach of the border crossings at Chirundu and Kariba.  There are two Service Stations (BP on the border road and Caltex in town), a Post Office, Bank, local Hospital, and several small shops (including a bakery) where basic provisions can be found.

 A visit to Siavonga must include a visit to the magnificent Kariba Dam Wall, towering 118 metres above the Zambezi River, across the Kariba Gorge.  At the time of construction, the Kariba Dam was known as one of the engineering wonders of the world.  Given sufficient advance notice, visits to the Power Station deep inside the hillside at the Dam Wall can be arranged.  In addition, a visit to a working crocodile farm can be arranged as well as boating and fishing activities and canoe safaris down the mighty Zambezi River.

There are several hotels in the town.  Eagles Rest is a small family resort specifically focusing tourism and lake activities.  There are 12 comfortable Chalets situated on the Lake shore each with air-conditioning, fully mosquito proofed double or twin beds, en-suite bathroom and bar fridge.  The resort has full restaurant facilities offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, a swimming pool and beach bar.  Self Catering is allowed but the resort does not provide cooking or eating utensils (with the exception of a small braai fire which can be provided on request).  Eagles Rest has the only camp-site in the town situated in a secluded wooded area with male and female toilets and shower facilities.  Boating and fishing can be arranged and Eagles Rest is also the home of the Houseboat  Bateleur.

Other hotels in Siavonga focus mainly on the Conference market and include, Lake Kariba Inns, Lake Safari Lodge, Manchinchi Bay Hotel, Leisure Bay Hotel, Zefa Lodges and Sandy Beach Hotel.  In addition, there are a number of small Guesthouses available.

 

 

 


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