THE LUMANGWE FALLS

Near the Chipembe Pontoon in the Northern Province, an astounding drop in the middle of nowhere creates what looks like a smaller version of Victoria Falls. At 35m / 115ft high and 100m  / 328ft across, the waterfall nourishes a small rainforest on the Kalungwishi River. They are quite magnificent and well worth the 9km / 6mi detour off the main road from Kawambwa to Mporokoso.

It is an ideal spot for camping, with visitor facilities. Because of its remote location, you may well be the only one there. The waterfall is said to be the home of the Great Snake Spirit called Lumangwe. In the olden days, this snake was said to have stretched itself between the Lumangwe and Kabweluma Falls, a distance of 5km / 3mi. This is a sacred site and just downstream is the only known location of an endemic flower known as Zygotritonia atropurpurea, which is part of the watsonia family.