Kalambo Falls

Distance from Samfya - 521km

Destination District - Mbala

Route - Kasama via M3

The Kalambo Falls is a single-drop waterfall in Mbala, Zambia on the Kalambo River. It is also deemed one of the most important archaeological sites in Africa, with occupation spanning over 250,000 years. This should be on your list of things to do in Mbala.

Create your adventure with an exciting visit to Zambia’s highest waterfall standing at 221 meters, situated on the Kalambo River, where it derives its name from. The river flows along the border between Zambia and Tanzania.

The falls is Downstream from the massive Kalambo Gorge which runs for 5km before opening out into the Tanganyika Rift Valley. The gorge has a width of 1km and a depth of 300m.

The rugged abyss that is the Kalambo gorge, also serves as the nesting ground of the rare Marabou Stork, also known as the ‘Undertaker bird’ because of its menacing appearance from behind; large, dark cloak-like wings that drape its body, long thin white legs and a mass of white feathers that looks like hair.

Aside from the amazingly high water fall (and the extraordinary wildlife), another must see is the 'Kalambo falls site'. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Africa and was first excavated in 1953 by Desmond Clark who noticed signs of archaeological activity around a small basin lake near the falls. Primitive tools like wooden clubs and digging sticks believed to date back more than 250,000 years have been unearthed there as well as hearths that indicate the use of fire over 60,000 years ago. If you are in the area it is worth visiting the site which has been gazetted as a National Monument.