Mumbuluma Falls

Mumbuluma Falls is a series of two wide waterfalls falling some 5-10m each. When we were there, we drew lots of attention being the only mzungus (non-blacks) in the area as apparently this place must've been way off the tourist radar. The whole time we were photographing the falls, a big group of local kids were watching what we were doing the whole time. Some of the boys climbed to the top of the waterfall and tried to pose for us. I guess they definitely helped us show a sense of scale regarding this waterfall.

We remembered this waterfall because our waterfall safari in Northern Zambia had already run through complications. In this case, we spent lots of time getting stared at in Mansa as our safari vehicle had to have its transmission fixed. And after what seemed to be a two-hour delay, we drove another 90 minutes before we finally showed up at this waterfall (that included a few detours and our driver Chester spending lots of time asking for directions).

We paid and followed a local villager down a short but moderaly steep scramble to the bottom of both waterfalls. I had to do some rock hopping and getting my gore-tex boots a little wet to get directly frontal views of the falls. Once down here, we tried our best to take photos, soak in the scenery, but also tried to engage (or tried not to mind too much) getting stared at by over a dozen or so kids the whole time.

Directions: Since we were escorted out to Mumbuluma Falls, we can't really say anything too specific about how to get here since we didn't drive. However, based on our notes and what we could glean from looking out the window, we had apparently gone about 32km north of Mansa and then about 8.4km off the main road to get here.

As mentioned earlier, it took us about 90 minutes to go from Mansa to the falls.

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Direct view of the upper falls

Angled view of the lower falls

Terrible views of Musonda Falls (not too far from Mumbuluma Falls). The thing with this waterfall was that it was compromised by a hydroelectric scheme and we were unable to get a clean view of what's left thanks to that water diversion aqueduct running right in front of us.

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Fixated on the falls with a boy posing at the top of it

Fixated on the falls with a boy posing at the top of it

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TRIP REPORTS

• May 29, 2008

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