Ndole Bay Lodge offers the best lodge accommodation on Lake Tanganyika, Zambia. It is situated on the South Western shore of Lake Tanganyika in far Northern Zambia near the small town of Nsumbu and just outside Nsumbu National Park.
There are a variety of ways to get to Ndole Bay Lodge depending on your time constraints and budget.
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Ndole Bay Lodge utilities an airstrip situated inside Nsumbu National Park for charter flights, there are no scheduled airlines flying to Lake Tanganyika yet.
We can help you book a charter flight from any major airport in Zambia, although the best prices are generally based from Ndola international. We do not take any commissions on charters and normally will put you directly in touch with them to make payments. We meet all flights at the airstrip, and after a 5 minute car ride it is then about 40 minutes by boat to Ndole Bay Lodge, a great introduction to the wonders you will see during your stay.
The key to getting a good price on a charter is making sure you have enough people to fill the plance, most charter planes in Zambia work on 4, 8 or 10 passengers. If you are short numbers we are happy to advetise and help you fill a plane, although of course this cannot be gauranteed.
For the real adventurous there is a helicopter landing pad at Ndole Bay, however private helicopter charters in Zambia are extremely expensive.
Proflight Zambia offers scheduled flights from Lusaka and Ndola to Kasama. We offer road transfers to Mpulungu (2 hours) to connect with our high speed boat transfers to Ndole Bay Lodge (2.5 hours).
In order to get between Ndole Bay and Lusaka / Ndola in the same day ensure you plan your Proflight bookings to utilize flights arriving to Kasama BEFORE midday on the way here and departing AFTER midday on your way home.
Please feel free to contact us to help you book the correct flights.
The roads in the far North of Zambia re in varying states, depending on the route and time of year. However in general they are all steadily being improved and apart from the very height of the wet season all are passable in a higher clearance vehicle and 4×4 is rarely needed. It is a good idea to make sure you carry a good spare and ensure your jack and tools are the correct sizes.
Northern Zambia makes for great road trips, and you can tailor your trip to suite your interested and time available. All the below routes/maps and suggestions are our opinions only, please rely on your own directions.
Below is an overview of the highlights on the various routs to Ndole Bay, these are waht we consider the best of the far North and hope you get to see at least some of them!
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Ndole Bay Lodge has a reliable fleet of twin engine craft which make lake crossings enjoyable, comfortable and safe. Pick ups are easily arranged for flights from the local airstrip.
In Mpulungu, safe parking for vehicles and any trailers is possible with prior arrangement. The trip across the lake from Mpulungu to Ndole Bay Lodge passes dramatic cliffs, valleys, headlands and beaches.
The looming outcrop of “Kapembwa” (spirit of the lake) or Yendwe valley shrouded in tropical fog ensures something unique.
Depending on your budget, a range of boats are available for hire from Ndole Bay, making the trip anywhere from two to six hours, all with experienced coxswains and safety equipment.
Ferry
A government operated ferry travels between Mpulungu and the small township of NSumbu where Ndole Bay is located. The ferry “Stella” travels most week days in each direction, please contact us for the current schedule. The ferry departs either point at between 0730 and 10 am and takes about 6 hours. Ndole bay offers free pickups and drop-offs to the harbour in Nsumbu for guests booked with us. A great way to share a local experience, the ferry service runs on schedule and there are toilets on board as well as drinks and snacks, all seating areas are shaded. Please check with us on the latest schedules for the ferry. The ferry departs from the old Saint George fishery in Mpulungu and Standard Fisheries, depending on the day of week.
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More than 100 years later, that description of Lake Tanganyika still holds true. Africa’s most magnificent stretch of water, crystal clear, calm, warm, mysterious and very, very deep.
