Kabwelume Falls

Kabwelume Falls (I've also seen it spelled Kabweluma Falls) is perhaps the most spectacular waterfall on the Kalungwishi River. Well, at least this and

The access road beyond the Lumangwe Falls turnoff (near the gate into the reserve) was terribly rough and rugged. In fact, I think this contributed mightily to the rear axle snapping on our safari vehicle. That was because the drive train suffered through ruts deep enough to make the car tilt seemingly 45 degrees. Plus, the wheels were probably tilted in opposite directions putting lots of strain on the rear axle.

Anyways, once we made it to the signed trailhead, we had to walk another 300m to the falls. On the way, there was a stream crossing that could easily wet the feet without gore-tex, and only then, we still required a fair bit of rock and log hopping just to even get across. Once past the crossing, we then made a descent on a slippery, muddy and grass-fringed path down to a misty plateau right in front of the falls.

Julie and I only went so far, but our local guides Chanda and Joseph had no trouble making it even closer to the falls.

Kabwelume Falls had a rather unique shape as there were four or five different wide segments of the falls tumbling in parallel. The one of the far right was wide and fell in two steps (and is said to have been run by some daring kayakers). To its left was a more direct waterfall. The furthest left segments were cascades tumbling along a rugged slope. All segments converged at the base of the falls. Thus, all that water crashing down in one place easily produced the mist that made it difficult to get as close as we wanted to take photos or shoot movies.

Our local guide (named Chanda) told us that this waterfall was one end of a snake spirit (the other end being Lumangwe Falls) that prevented this falls from being seen by the outside world. Such a calamity could've been by camera film not developing or a camera getting destroyed somehow. Our calamity happened to be a disabled safari vehicle (so maybe there was something to this legend after all), but as you can see from this web page, we did manage to show the outside world what this waterfall was like.

But just as we were getting over the euphoria of having finally earned our view of this waterfall, Chanda then mentioned that the falls was given the authorization for hydroelectric development. We really hope that doesn't destroy this wonderful waterfall!

Directions: The access to this waterfall was about 5km beyond the turnoff for Lumangwe Falls on a real killer 4wd road. See the Lumangwe Falls page for how we got here in the first place.

[Back to top]

Joseph being a trooper and guiding Chester through the really rugged 4wd track

Finally made it to the signposted trailhead

Everyone on the trail to the waterfall

Chester beckoning us to cross over the stream

Looking to the far right side of the falls

Chanda (after coming back up to leave his jacket behind) and Joseph making the descent closer to Kabwelume Falls

As much of Kabwelume Falls that I can capture without stitching

Looking to the far left side of the falls

About to approach a real deep rut

The rear axle finally gave out after all it went through today

[Back to top]


Left to right sweep of the very wide and unique waterfall deep in the remote Lusenga National Park

View Larger Map

TRIP REPORTS

• May 30, 2008

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Lumangwe Falls

Have You Been To This Waterfall?

Share your experience!

Click here to see visitor comments for this waterfall

Click here to see visitor comments for other waterfalls that we've visited in this region

Click here to go to the Comments Main Page