Lesser Known Waterfalls
of Zambia's Luapula and Northern Provinces

A trip report by Ilse Mwanza and Karen Tranberg Hansen
(July 25 to Aug 10, 2003)

Introduction

The Central-African Plateau region in Zambia consists of three separate plateaux or relief divisions: the Southern Plateau (or low veld) of less than 900m above sea level, the Eastern/Central Plateau (or middle veld) of between 900 and 1200m elevation, and the Northern/Northwestern Plateau with elevations of up to 1600 metres (Zambian Education Atlas, pp 9-10).

 

It is the latter, the high veld, that interests us most because this northern plateau drops off towards our river valleys in dramatic scarps. The plateau soils are mostly ferralitic sandveld or clay soils (where agriculture is poor) with extensive moors and swamplands (rainfall of more than 1500mm per annum) and good savanna woodland coverage (miombo woods and riverine forests) (Drescher, p.54).

 

These cool highland moors and forests retain the plentiful rainfalls like huge sponges, releasing the accumulated waters, slowly but steadily, over escarpment-mountain slopes as rivers and streams, and especially in form of spectacular waterfalls (like water spilt on a table that runs off in all directions). People keep saying "In any other country these falls would be a major tourist attraction. Here in Zambia most people are unaware of their existence" (Quarmby, p.22), which we found to be certainly true. This ignorance includes people living in the falls' vicinity, not to mention map-makers. A number of falls in Zambia don't even have a 'slash' on a map (geographers' symbol for waterfall of rapid), much less so are noted down by name. One learns of these by sheer coincidence, and that's why "just driving around" is so important and educational. Maybe some of you, seeing the below, will be inspired to try the same? We would very much hope so.

References:

• Allen, Quentin, "Northern Waterfalls Trip", Concept Marketing Ltd. 2001;
• d'Elbee, Francois, "Waterfalls of Zambia", 2001;
• Drescher, Alex, 'Sambia', Klett 1995;
• GRZ/Ministry of Education, 'Basic Education Atlas of Zambia', Macmillan 1997
• Quarmby, Crispin, "Just driving around in the North", Health Rescue Int.1992.

The Falls:

Falls visited in 2003-04	Falls never been to	Unknown and rarely visited Falls
Chipoma Falls Chishimba Falls Chusa Falls Kalambo Falls Kapuma Falls Kundabwika Falls Kundalila Falls Lunzua Falls Lupupa Falls Lwitikila Falls Mambilima Falls Mulembo Falls Mumbuluma I Falls Mumbuluma II Falls Mumbuluma III Falls Musonda Falls Mutinondo Wilderness Falls Namundele Falls Ntumbachushi Falls Pule Falls Senkele Falls	Yangumwila Falls Danger Hill Falls Mbulomotuta Falls Luangwa Escarpment Falls Kapamba Falls Chipopoma (or Mwaleshi) Falls Muchinga Escarpment Falls Mountain Wilderness Falls Changwena Falls Chisanga Falls Ibbwe Munyama Falls Mutanda Falls Kabompo Gorge Falls Chavuma Falls	Ngozya Falls Kambole Falls Kavuna Falls Keso Falls Mwepwe Falls Chaka Falls Bulalo Falls Izimponda Falls Lunzua I Falls Lunzua II Falls Muzinga Stream Falls Chisala Falls Luvu Falls Nkulumashiba Falls Munyamadzi Falls Kapamba Falls Sanzye Falls Luwingu State Ranch falls Mapopa Falls Chisanga Falls Mkushi River falls Milombwe Falls Mulungushi Falls Lunsemfwa Gorge falls Lunsemfwa R. tributary falls Chongwe Falls Chipili Falls Mwasha Falls Mumbotuta Falls Nyambezu Falls Mutanda Falls Luamisamba Falls Luakela Falls Ngombe Falls West Lunga Falls Meheba Falls Machenje Falls Chinkwazi Falls Mahumba Falls Sanyombo Falls Songwe Falls Ciyababi Falls

Camps, Resthouses and Lodges noted and/or sampled on the trip

Photographs: I. Mwanza