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Wonders of Zambia

Victoria Falls in Zambian side
Victoria Falls in Zambian side. / Henning Supertramp, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  Highlights

The most amazing wonders of Zambia are:

  • Waterfalls. Zambia shares with Zimbabwe one of the greatest natural monuments of the world – Mosi-oa-Tunya or Victoria Falls. There are countless other impressive waterfalls in the country, such as Kalambo Falls, Lumangwe Falls and many others.
  • Prehistoric rock art. In the country have been found hundreds of sites with prehistoric paintings and engravings. This art shows people and animals, but often also – geometric symbols.

Map with the described wonders

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WorldViolet Top 25 wonders of Zambia

Geological wonders

Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)

Southern Province and also in Zimbabwe

World’s largest curtain of falling water, 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high waterfall. One of the most impressive natural sights in the world.

Part of the largest screen of falling water in the world - Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls)
Part of the largest screen of falling water in the world – Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) / Valentina Buj, / CC BY-SA 2.0
Kalambo Falls

Northern Province

221 – 235 m tall, single plunge waterfall. The second tallest uninterrupted fall in Africa. Important archaeological site – a site of human settlement since 300 000 BC, starting from Acheulian culture.

Kalambo Falls, Zambia
Kalambo Falls / , Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Ngonye Falls (N’Gonye)

Western Province

The second largest waterfall in Zambia – here Zambezi River forms an 8 – 20 m high and some 1.3 km wide waterfall.

Ngonye Falls
Ngonye Falls. / Anayawa Nyambe, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Lumangwe Falls

Northern Province

Some of the largest falls in Zambia, some 30 – 40 m tall and 160 m wide. Falls have formed on the Kalungwishi River. The force of falling water creates eternal mist and constant tremble of the earth.

Lumangwe Falls
Lumangwe Falls, dry season./ Robert Shula Mutale, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Kashiba

Copperbelt Province

Lake in a sinkhole. The lake is 220 by 160 m large, it is approximately 100 m deep. The water level is some 10 m below the rims of the sinkhole, water is lucid and deep blue. Numerous legends are linked to this lake, including a legend about the lake monster. There are other similar sinkholes in this region.

Kabwelume Falls

Northern Province

Some of the most beautiful falls in Zambia. Falls have formed on the Kalungwishi River. Waterfall has complex morphology where the lower step is made of numerous smaller steps. Sacred site.

Kabwelume Falls
Kabwelume Falls./ Robert Shula Mutale (?), Wikimedia Commons / public domain
Lunsemfwa Wonder Gorge

Central Province

The enormous canyon of Lunsemfwa River. This 20 km long canyon is up to 500 m deep and approximately 1 km wide at the top.

Lunsemfwa Wonder Gorge, Zambia
Lunsemfwa Wonder Gorge / , Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
Mapatizya Amethyst Mine

Southern Province

Here are found some of the most spectacular amethysts in the world. The find is very rich and amethysts here are virtually everywhere.

Chisimba Falls (Chishimba Falls)

Northern Province

Several consecutive falls on the Luombe River. Upper is Mutumuna Falls, 20 m high – this still serves as a site of offerings. Then follow Kayela Rapids and finally – the 30 m tall Chishimba Fall. A sacred place to the Bemba people.

Chishimba Falls
Chishimba Falls./ Sheenasitwala, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Mumbuluma Falls

Luapula Province

A set of two consecutive falls, some 5 and 10 m tall. A temple with eternal fire and priests is located near the falls.

The lower cascade of Mumbuluma Falls
The lower cascade of Mumbuluma Falls./ Isaacgerg, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Lupupa Falls

Northern Province

Magnificent, 90 m tall waterfall.

Kagem Emerald Mines

Copperbelt Province

Here and in the other Kafubu Emerald mines are mined some of the best emeralds in the world, in some aspects surpassing the famous Colombian emeralds. Zambian emeralds have a rich, deep green color, crystals have very high quality.

Emeralds from Kagem Mines, Zambia
Emeralds from Kagem Mines / , / CC BY-SA 3.0
Kundabwika Falls

Northern Province

Two closely located, impressive falls on Kalungwishi River. The largest waterfall is 25 m high, up to 70 m wide. This is a sacred place for local people. Nearby are found prehistoric cliff paintings.

Nyambwezi Falls

North-Western Province

Some 20 m high waterfall with a single plunge. At the waterfall, there is a rock shelter with petroglyphs and remnants of a Late Stone Age settlement.

Ndubaluba Falls

Northern Province

Natural waterslide of Musamfushi River.

Ntumbachushi Falls

Luapula Province

Group of falls on Ngona River. Main falls are twin falls, each 10 m wide and some 30 m high. For more than 2 km upstream from these falls are many more falls and waterfalls that form a beautiful landscape with relict stands of tropical rainforest.

Tangwa Falls

Luapula Province

Group of impressive rapids on Luapula River – here the river has carved numerous arches, and potholes. Stream has left giant boulders, some balancing.

Biological wonders

Kabwe Big Tree

Central Province

Giant Ficus sp. tree in the center of Kabwe. Traditional meeting place of people.

Archaeological wonders

Kifubwa Stream Rock Engravings

North-Western Province

Late Stone Age shelters and engravings along the Kifubwa Gorge, created around 4500 – 4000 BC.

Mwela Rock Paintings, Lwimbo Rock Paintings, and other rock painting sites

Northern Province

There are more than 1000 sites with Late Stone Age – early Iron Age rock paintings on the cliffs to the east of Kasama town. Petroglyphs are stylized, some seem to be related to the fertility cult, and some are showing animals, and hunting scenes. Interesting is a scene in Sumina Lion Cave that shows how a soul from the lion enters a man.

Nachikufu Cave

Northern Province

An enormous cave with diverse prehistoric rock paintings. There are naturalistic paintings showing animals and humans, sometimes hunting animals. Later drawings show geometric patterns – grids.

Kalemba Rock Art

Eastern Province

This rock shelter has been used by people since 35 000 BC up to the 17th century AD. It is adorned with two groups of prehistoric paintings, showing people and animals.

Architecture wonders

Victoria Falls Bridge

Southern Province

Steel parabolic arch bridge near Victoria Falls. The longest span is 156.5 m, and the bridge was constructed in 1905.

Victoria Falls Bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Bridge / , Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Lealui Royal palace and village

Western Province

The residence of Lealui kings. Here in 1878 – 1902 were built buildings forming a royal quarter. Lealui is located in Zambezi floodplains with a distinct cultural landscape with multiple channels linking villages of a round form, located on low mounds. Local people continue to live according to the beliefs of their ancestors.

Shiwa Ngandu country house

Northern Province

An imposing English-style country house with surrounding gardens. The estate was built by eccentric English aristocrat Stewart Gordon-Browne in the 1920 – 1950s. There was constructed whole utopian village with schools, shops, a post office, and other infrastructure.

WorldYellow Recommended books

Zambia (Bradt Travel Guides)


For some 20 years, Bradt’s Zambia has been widely acknowledged as the best guidebook on the market, with superior coverage in almost every field. In this new sixth edition, background information – history, culture, and natural history – remains as comprehensive as ever, while practical guidance, including in-depth reviews of lodges, hotels, and campsites, is now stronger than ever for Victoria Falls and Zambia’s top national parks and wildlife areas.

Zambia Wildlife, Victoria fall


With its abundance of wildlife and unspoiled natural landscape of lakes and rivers, forests, plains, and wetlands, this is a destination where tourists can experience Africa’s last true wilderness. Zambia is being promoted as an ideal location for outdoor adventure holidays with everything from game drives and walking safaris pioneered in Zambia to canoeing, fishing, micro-lighting, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing.


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