With crystal clear waters and amazing underwater topography Tanganyika is an underwater paradise. Unlock the secrets of the Tanganyika Cichlids or glimpse the world's only fully aquatic cobra – Storm's water cobra (endemic).

Ndole Bay is the first recreational dive facility to operate in Zambia. Using the latest Aqualung equipment, Suunto dive computers and Bauer delivered air, your safety and comfort is ensured. The resident instructor is a fully qualified PADI professional, trained in Emergency First Response with extensive local diving knowledge. Coupled with experience in aquatic ecology (BSc, JCU) your experience is guaranteed to be a safe and educational one.

Ndole Bay seeks to provide an experience suited to your personal needs and tailored to your experience. We cater to new divers, divers wanting to simply 'go for a dive' through to continued education courses.

With a biologically unique habitat at your doorstep, and the topography of the Rift Valley all around, diving in Lake Tanganyika provides something new and exciting for everyone, from adventure seekers to the simply curious.

Please enquire whether there are any specials available if you intend on diving as we provide specific dive and accommodation packages.

All dive gear is available for hire.

 

To experience
it all
 join one of our
Adventure
Lake Safaris

 

Lake Tanganyika is extremely tropical and blessed with clear water. Visibility averages at around 15m although at some sites it rarely goes below 20m. Temperature is in the late 20's (C). The steep shorelines mean most dives take place close to the shore and are along steeply sloping bottoms, depth at some sites is only limited by recreational limits.

Rocky headlands, interspersed with beaches provide diverse habitats for a range of fish life. Sandy bottoms provide a playing field for the unique 'shell dwellers' of Tanganyika where the bottom is covered with empty shells half a meter deep as far as you can swim.

The isolated steep rocky coastline is the dwelling place of the famed nile perch. Excellent visibility, large underwater outcrops and vertical dropoffs make these sites the most spectacular and something to remember.

For the more adventurous there are some small wrecks scattered as well as a famous world war 1 wreck in the Southern tip of the lake.
Experience a unique night dive on Tanganyika in the Kapenta season. Ascend from your dive under the bright lights of a Kapenta fishing rig amid millions of tiny fish as they congregate at the light source.

An opportunity to learn more:
All diving or snorkelling activities can be upgraded to include a Tropical Fish Experience. Gain some insight to the fascinating world of Tanganyika's famous Cichlids with a qualified marine biologist and take a tour of a live fish export facility.

 

Discover Scuba Diving

A half day course designed to provide you with the necessary knowledge and basic skills to discover the underwater world. You will be closely accompanied by your instructor at all times. Nothing compares with the weightlessness of breathing underwater. Begins with a pool orientation session to get used to the equipment and then takes you on a shallow dive in the Lake. No dive experience is necessary, just watch the short video and complete a DSD brochure.

NOTE: We cannot take responsibility for a subsequent ADDICTION TO DIVING!!!

Open Water Course

This is your first step to becoming a real diver with the freedom to go diving whenever you please. The course usually consists of 4 days of training, mixing knowledge development, pool training and open water training. It results in a PADI Open Water Diver Certification. If time is a restriction we can accommodate you by only completing part of the course which can be deferred to a later date and place, or alternatively we can provide you with the knowledge development section for you to complete before your arrival at Ndole Bay.

Adventure Dives

A range of dives, that concentrates on honing particular skills. Each component can be earned towards the Adventure Diver Rating (3 adventure dives) or towards becoming an Advanced Open Water Diver (5 adventure dives). You Choose which skills you would like to improve on from the list provided.

Rescue and Above

With prior arrangement we can easily accommodate divers who would like to further their education and learn skills where other divers and divers in distress become a primary focus of training.

Feel free to contact us for any further information regarding dive training, equipment or dive sites.

With direct access to Nsumbu National Park, Ndole Bay offers game viewing boat trips, walks within the national park to isolated rainforests and hidden waterfalls. Game drives through Nkamba Bay valley can be arranged.

 

Elephant and buffalo are regularly seen from the lake while Lion and other cats are seen on occasion. There is a large number of other antelope and hippos as well as Africas biggest crocodiles. Individuals of over six meters have been recorded and are certainly a sight to remember. Much of the park is covered by combretum thicket, while the lake shore is littered with candelabra trees and strangler figs. There is also an isolated rainforest that is accessible by foot in the dry season. Being located in central Africa means that birding here is extremely rewarding, with migrants from both east and southern Africa present.

 

Notable wildlife seen in the Park:

Crocodile, Hippopotamus, Bushbuck, Warthog, Puku, Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope, Eland, Hartebeest, Buffalo, Zebra, Spotted Hyena, Side-Striped Jackal, Serval, Impala, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, Elephant, Lion (occasionally), Leopard (occasionally), Blue Duiker (rare), Sitatunga (rare).

 

Notable birdlife seen:

Flamingo, African Skimmer, Spoonbill, Whiskered Tern, Storks, Ducks, Herons, Grey-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, White-Winged Black Tern, Whiskered Tern, Fish Eagle, Palmnut Vulture
(occasionally), Pel's Fishing Owl (occasionally).

Download the Zambian bird checklist

Contact us if you would like further information on wildlife or birds. We have a comprehensive database on all species encountered in both Nsumbu NP and Tondwa GMA.

The opportunities for discovery on Tanganyika are endless. The following are our set tours although we can easily arrange custom tours to suit your interests.

Muzinga Falls Walk
A short walk within the National Park. After a short boat ride you are accompanied by a trained game scout. The walk takes you along a beach and then follows a small stream to a secluded and forested waterfall. You set the pace and stop along the way to watch any wildlife encountered. Puku antelope, warthog, bushbuck, monkeys, waterbuck and hippo are resident in the area with buffalo and elephant commonly encountered.

Kampasa Rainforest
An extended excursion into the heart of the National Park. This tour involves a 45 minute boat ride along the pristine shorelines of the park, spotting wildlife along the way. Disembark and take a 45 minute walk along the edge of Nkamba wetland with a dramatic escarpment on the other side. Emerge into a forested glade that is an ancient stand of isolated rainforest with religious significance to the local people. An anomaly in the surrounding woodland the area is rich in wildlife. Puku, bushbuck, hippo, buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, warthog and duiker are all commonly encountered. The wetland is also famed for its sitings of the rare sititunga antelope as well as Pels fishing owl.


Hotsprings
A visit to the hot springs involves a short boat ride to nearby Munshi village – a traditional fishing village located on a pebble beach in front of a fantastic mountain backdrop. From here it is a short walk to the hot springs under enormous mango trees. Boiling hot water gushes from the earth and feeds into a large marsh. There is a developmental geothermal electricity plant here that was started with Italian Aid twenty years ago. The walk back to the boat passes a work area where craftsmen build the signature wooden boats of Tanganyika that are reminiscent of Arab dhows.

Walks
Several established trails starting from the lodge offer walks of varying length and difficulty. Most involve a short climb from the lake towards the cultivation grounds of the local people. These walks are done with a knowledgeable local guide and provide breath taking views across the lake. Free of charge.

Sunset Paddles
Enjoy an evening paddle from the lodge in a traditional wooden boat. A local guide will paddle you around the bay as the sun goes down splashing the reflective surface of the water with crimson reds. The perfect end to a perfect day. Free of charge.


Night fisherman visit
On moonless nights the lake becomes a glittering jewel as local fishermen light paraffin lamps to attract Kapenta (sardine like fish) which are then captured with nets. A fascinating insight to the lives of the lake people.
GMA.
 

NEW: Overnight Beach Camping
Experience a star filled night on a pristine beach deep in the National Park. Dinner is cooked on an open fire to satiate your appetite after an afternoon game walk, and fall asleep to the symphony of an African night. The true feel of Africa.

The local people of the Ndole Bay area are from the Tabwa tribe. There are several sites of significance to these peoples which can be visited. The balancing stones of Nundo point are situated in the National Park and are the site of ceremonies involving sacrifice to the God Nundo.

This ceremony is extremely traditional, usually takes place in the first week of June and has hardly ever been observed by outsiders. The Nundo ceremony is performed to ask the Gods for a good fishing season for Kapenta and takes place before any people are allowed to set up temporary fishing camps on the nearby Chisanse beach.

 

Further East the lands are those of the Lungu people who are traditionally the people of the lake. Yendwe valley and mount Kapembwa (spirit of the lake) fall in their area. Kapembwa has religious significance to the local population.

Visits to Kapembwa village and mount Kapembwa can be arranged.

Ndole Bay Lodge is situated near Ndole village which has been at this site for almost 100 years. The Lodge enjoys a good relationship with the village and tours to observe this traditional way of Zambian life are easily arranged. The village school and Ndole Bay Lodge are working together to develop funding and awareness through our community shop. Locally produced artefacts, hammocks and donations are available through our shop.