Ndole Bay Lodge offers the best beach lodge accommodation on Lake Tanganyika in 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...
Get off the beaten track and explore all that Northern Zambia has to offer.
This option provides the most freedom to explore the Northern circuit waterfalls and sights. We do recommend using high clearence 4WD vehicles in the wet season as the gravel road is rough in places. Ndole Bay Lodge is located 20 minutes from Nsumbu Township. Google maps is quite accurate for timings but do ask us directly for advice upon booking as to current conditions.
From Lusaka to Kasama: Its about 854kms and approx 13 hours from Lusaka to Kasama in a day.
From Lusaka to Mpika: 854kms of mixed condition tar roads (10 hours).
From Mpika to Kasama: 214kms of tar road (3 hours).
Kasama to Mporokoso: 175kms of majority good tar road (2.5 hours).
From Mporokoso to Nsumbu = 175kms of gravel road in mixed conditions (3.5 hours). The first hour is poor condition then its newly graded gravel for 1 hour and 15mins, then another 1 hour and 15 on mixed condition gravel to reach Nsumbu. They are still working on the road so this should improve over the next few months.
Ensure to use a 4X4 vehicle with good tyres and keep a spare tyre accessible just in case.
Note: These times are dependent on your driving speeds, please add on if towing a trailer or driving slowly. Consult google maps for up to date information.
Just after the small town of Serenge turn left to go to Mansa. Serenge to Mansa = 365kms of mixed condition tar (3 hours). The worst section is over the Tuta bridge but the views are amazing.
Drive from Mansa towards the town of Luwingu and then onwards until you hit the left turn off 10kms before Kasama: 335kms of mostly good tar (4 hours). If you reach Kasama, you have gone too far.
From the left turn off before Kasama to Mporokoso = 175kms of mostly good tar (2.5 hours).
From Mporokoso to Nsumbu = 175kms of gravel road in mixed conditions (3 hours). Ensure to use a 4X4 vehicle with good tyres and keep a spare tyre accessible just in case.
Note: These times are dependent on your driving speeds, please add on if towing a trailer or driving slowly. Consult google maps for up to date information
The waterfalls of the North are a little known gem and well worth the visit! See the map for the waterfalls along each route to/from Ndole Bay Lodge.
Nutumbuchusi Falls is a smaller and very beautiful falls with a nice campsite nearby. Its 186kms from Mansa, turning left at Kawambwa (3 hours).
Lumungwe and Kabweluma Falls are side by side between Kawambwa and Mporokoso. They call Lumungwe Falls, "Little Victoria Falls" and it has a campsite right on the top of the falls. Kawambwa to Lumungwe Falls is 50kms of gravel taking about 1.5 hours. Kabweluma Falls has an almost 360-degree set of falls, both are well worth the visit. Recommended in dry season as the gravel road between Kawambwa and Mporokoso is not in a good state but passable in a high clearance 4X4 car.
Lumungwe Falls to Mporokoso is 93kms of rough gravel road, taking about 3 hours.
Chishimba Falls is located along the route between Kasama and Mporokoso, about 30 mins outside of Kasama.
Note: These times are dependent on your driving speeds, please add on if towing a trailer or driving slowly. Consult google maps for up to date information.
This route avoids all gravel roads and allows you to leave your vehicle in Mpulungu and get a return boat transfer to the lodge.
Enjoy the towering escarpment scenic views as you cruise along the southwestern shore of Lake Tanganyika, past Nsumbu National Park and into Nsumbu.
Drive up the Great North Road and turn left at Mpika.
From Mpika to Kasama: 214kms tar road (3 hours)
From Kasama to Mpulungu: 204kms tar road (3.5 hours)
Secure car parking is available at Pendulum fisheries or Samaras Fisheries at a small cost. Ask us for up to date information on parking on booking.
Our speedboat transfers will take around 2.5 hours to reach Ndole Bay Lodge, weather dependent.
A Powertools or Likilli bus can be caught to Mpulungu from your nearest town. The local ferries can be caught from the main ferry terminal, travelling only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The cost is around zmw 250 per way and takes around 6 hours to cross to Nsumbu Harbour.
Note: If you catch the ferry we must know in advance so we can collect you from Nsumbu Harbour, this is around 15 mins by boat away from the lodge or 25 mins by car.
The easiest and quickest way to Ndole Bay is definately by air. Arrive within a day and explore this world wonder without the long travel times.
Choose between a private charter to come directly in, or catch a proflight scheduled flight to Kasama then travel half a day to Ndole Bay.
Flights with Proflight travel from Lusaka on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, generally arriving at around 9:30am and departing back to Lusaka at 10am. Tickets start from around zmw 9000 per adult return (check their online booking site).
From Kasama to Mpulungu is 204kms tar road (3.5 hours), we can arrange for a luxury private minivan to collect you and bring you to Mpulungu Harbour ($515 return - can fit 6/7 passengers).
From Mpulungu to Ndole Bay: is about 80km by speedboat taking approx 2.5 hours to cross (weather dependant). Boat costs vary per boat size and passenger numbers (starting from $745 return)
You can get to Ndole Bay in one day this way, but on the way back, you will need to overnight in Kasama so as not to miss the 10am flight home.
You can also hire a private 4WD to bring you by road directly to Ndole Bay if you dont mind the drive. Its around 5.5 hours from Kasama and costs around $800 return.
Note: These times are dependent on your driving speeds, please add on if towing a trailer or driving slowly. Consult google maps for up to date information
Charter planes can be hired by third party operators to make your travel to Ndole Bay quick and easy.
Our recommended charter companies have Cessna 182- 4 seats (approx. $5000+ from Lusaka), Cessna 206 - 6 seats, Cessna 421 - 8seats (approx $8000+-) and Cessna Caravan - up to 10 seats with luggage (around $11,000+-). Flights are generally about 2.5 hours long. Prices differ per town of departure and how many nights stayed. It is best to try and full all seats to make it more economical per person.
You will need to book a transfer from Chisala strip to the lodge (20 mins by car and 20 mins by boat - cost varies with number of guests).
Please email us and we can assist you with contacts to book your flights with an appropraite operator.
Note: DNPW fees will apply to all guests using Chisala Strip as its locared inide the National Park.
Where to stay along the way. We are happy to help you plan your trip!
Muntinondo Wilderness - 154kms past Serenje.
Beautiful stop with a lodge and campsite. Amazing walks over a stunning landscape of inselburgs to climb and explore.
Northern Rock Hotel - Mpika
Good overnight stopover place with lots of rooms and a decent menu.
Kapiysha Hot Springs- 117kms from Mpika
From Mpika to Kapiysha Hot Springs lodge takes about 2 hours, dependant on which route you take. A steaming hot natural spring to refresh your body after a long days drive. Also home to the historical 'Africa House' for those who have read the book. Tours must be prebooked.
Chismba Falls Lodge - 40km out from Kasama
Best spot to overnight from Kasama to avoid the noise of the town. Good food and walking diatnce from the falls for a morning excursion.
Kasanka National Park - 91km from Serenje
A small national Park to visit along the waterfalls route. Travel in November to see the famous bat migration.
Shoebill Island & Bangwelu Swamps - 232km from Serenje
Set on a remote island in the swamps, this intimate four-tented camp offers insight into not only the home of the shoebill, and a vast array of bird life, but also the fishing camps home to fishermen and their families for nine months of the year.
