Getting There

Ndole Bay Lodge is situated on the South Western shore of Lake Tanganyika in far Northern Zambia near the small town of Nsumbu and Kasaba Bay airstrip. Lying just outside Nsumbu National Park there is direct access to the road from either Mporokoso or Kaputa directly to Nsumbu township. High clearance vehicles are essential and 4x4 recommended in the wet season (Dec – April). From Mpulungu and Kasaba Bay, Ndole Bay is accessible by boat.
 

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GETTING THERE: LAND, AIR OR WATER

BY LAND

• SELF DRIVE TO NDOLE BAY LODGE VIA, KASAMA OR MANSA.

• SELF DRIVE TO MPULUNGU THEN BOAT TRANSFER

• COACH TO MPULUNGU THEN BOAT TRANSFER

         ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS FOR SELF DRIVE:

• MUTINONDO WILDERNESS

• SHIWA NGANDU

• KASANKA NP AND BANGWEULU

• NORTH LUANGWA NP

• NORTHERN WATERFALLS  (Lumangwe, Chishimba, Ntumbachusi, Kabweluma, Nkundalila, Mambalima, Kalambo).

BY AIR

• CHARTER FLIGHTS TO KASABA BAY AIRSTRIP

• PROFLIGHT SCHEDULED FLIGHT TO KASAMA THEN ROAD TO MPULUNGU THEN HIGH SPEED CATAMARAN (ARRIVE NDOLE BAY 1500HRS)

BY WATER FROM MPULUNGU

• HIGH SPEED TWIN ENGINE CATAMARAN

• 2 HOURS

• BUDGET AND ADVENTURE DHOW OPTIONS.

         ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS BY BOAT

• SPECTACULAR SCENERY

• OPTIONAL SCUBA DIVE OR SNORKEL ENROUTE AT CAPE CHAITIKA

  By Air

Proflight Zambia is now offering twice weekly flights (Mondays and Thursdays) from Lusaka and Ndola to Kasama. The Plane gets to Kasama at 10am on both days. From Kasama airport there are two options to get to Ndole Bay Lodge:

1.   We have agreements with local operators in Kasama to offer a return transfer service from Kasama Airport to Mpulungu where we will collect by boat. This option involves a boat transfer from Mpulungu to Ndole Bay (see below). This option will get you to Ndole Bay by 1500hrs and back to Kasama on the day of your departure in time for the flight back to Ndola/Lusaka.

2.   The Pro flight aircraft can also be chartered from Kasama on the same day you arrive there to Kasaba Bay airstrip where we will collect you by boat. This option gets you to Ndole Bay Lodge in time for a great lunch!

Please enquire if you would like further information on these options or contact proflight direct www.proflight-zambia.com

Private charters can also be arranged from any major airport in Zambia, please enquire if you would like more info on this and we can suggest a good company to contact. For larger groups (8-12) ZFD offers very good rates from Ndola International Airport direct to Ndole Bay.

The airstrip at Kasaba Bay is undergoing major upgrades during 2010 and will be operational as an International Airport by mid 2011. If you are in a private aircraft please ask us which landing strip to use, during major works aircraft are advised to land at nearby Nkamba strip.

Please check with us if any special flight deals are available, especially around public holidays.

  By Boat

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 into Kasaba Bay.

In Mpulungu, safe parking for vehicles
and any trailers is possible with prior arrangement. The trip across the lake from Mupulungu 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.

From Mpulungu it is also possible to get a place on board a transport boat bound for Nsumbu. Ask around the lakeside markets but it is possible you will have to wait for it to fill up. Without "booking" the whole boat, single fare should be no more than about K60 000 (eq. US$15). These boats are large wooden dhows pushed by an outboard motor and can be extrmemly colourful with all variety of people, goods and livestock. However they can take as much as 10 hours if there are any stops between Mpulungu and Nsumbu. From Nsumbu it is 10 minutes by boat or 1 hour walk to Ndole Bay Lodge, usually there are vehicles in Nsumbu that could be hired to drop you off at Ndole.

  By Road

Route 1
Lusaka/Copperbelt Kapri Mposhi Serenje Kasama
Mpulungu  Ndole Bay Lodge (by boat). (Kapiri –Mpulungu 866km).
The road is tarred all the way to Mpulungu. Excellent from Lusaka/Copperbelt to Kasama, the last section has some potholes so drive with care.

The complete network of dirt roads from Kaputa to Mporokoso, Kasama and Kawambwa has undergone extensive rebuilding in 2007 and although dirt are all in excellent condition

Route 2
Lusaka/Copperbelt Kapiri Mposhi Serenje Kasama
Mporokoso  Ndole/Nsumbu. (Kapiri –Ndole 1069km).
Tar road ends just outside Kasama on the Mporokoso side.

Route 3
Lusaka/Copperbelt Kapiri Mposhi Serenje Mansa
Nchelenge  Kaputa Nsumbu/Ndole. (Kapiri – Ndole 1160km).
Tar Road ends just after Nchelenge.

Route 4
Lusaka/Copperbelt Kapiri Mposhi Serenje Mansa Mwense
Kawambwa  Mporokoso Ndole/Nsumbu. (Kapiri – Ndole 1160km).

NOTE: Avoid taking the road from Mansa directly to Kawambwa as it is in poor condition. Go via Mwense and Mbereshi (on the way to Nchelenge).

Final road leg
The road from either Mporokoso or Kaputa to Nsumbu township runs through Mutundo gate (National Park Entrance), although fees are not payable here since it is a transit route. This road decends the escarpment with Nsumbu and the lake in view. A few kilometers after the descent and several kilometers before Nsumbu township there is a left hand turn (signposted to Ndole Bay Lodge and Mpende Fisheries). Take this left and continue for several Kilometers through villages. Continue straight passed the fisheries turnoff to the right and go passed the school. The road then continues descending through Ndole village and after a left curve the Lodge beach is visible. Follow the road round and into the lodge.

Waterfall Routes
Northern Zambia is an absolute water lovers delight, with a vast array of stunning waterfalls making an ideal overnight camp site. Of special interest is Lumangwe falls and Ntumbuchasi falls, the former often referred to as the Victoria Falls of the North. Both these waterfalls are on the road leg from Mbereshi turnoff to Mporokoso. Both are signposted and have friendly caretakers to provide information and firewood. There are some basic thatched roofs and drop toilets. Only in this remote part of zambia can you sleep as close to the falls as you want beside a fire and under the stars. Both acess roads are good and from Lumangwe falls it is possible to visit the little known Kabweluma falls by road. Another undiscovered paradise.

Click here to download and print a two page .doc with detailed directions for various road routes to the Lodge.

Car hire can be arranged through a local agent, please ask if you would like recommendations.

  By Rail

There are regular train services between Kapiri Mposhi and Kasama through to Dar Es Salam, Tanzania. From either Kasama railway station or Kapiri station, it is easy to get buses to Mpulungu or Lusaka/Copperbelt respectively.