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Ntumbachushi Falls seemed to be a waterfall in a transitional state when we saw it in May 2008. Based on what the local guide Joseph said to us, this waterfall widens into a very wide and singular behemoth during the Wet Season. When we saw it, the falls had already segmented into two similar-looking 15-20m waterfalls with similar mist-generating volume. And I guess as the Dry Season progresses, the falls would be even thinner and more approachable. I guess it's this transformative characteristic that makes this waterfall interesting.
We happened to see this waterfall when we luckily returned to Kawambwa while our safari vehicle was still stranded in the bush with a broken axle. So with the help of the local area guide Joseph, we rode a taxi together towards the turnoff for this waterfall. That was when we walked the remainder of the spur road to the car park and then explored this waterfall along very well-developed walkways. However, we did have to hitchhike to return to Kawambwa as Joseph remained at the waterfall to work.
Anyways, these walkways led to the first section of the falls (photographed above) as well as branched from the car park over a bridge and towards the rocky bottom of the second section of the falls (to the far right of the first falls). As we got closer to the second section, we had to be careful for the rocky surface was wet from waterfall spray thereby making the surface slippery. Also, there were thorny bush flanking the path, and one managed to prick me and draw blood.
Although we didn't do this, Joseph mentioned that there was also a trail that climbed up the escarpment (had to allow at least an hour for the round trip) towards a smaller upper waterfall as well as some rock paintings.
We were looking against the sun in mid- to late morning when we were viewing the second more open part of the falls. Therefore, I think the afternoon would've probably been the best time to see the falls.
Directions: From Kawambwa, drive west for the roughly 18km or so to an unsealed and well-signed turnoff to the left. The reddish dirt but well-graded road leads another 2km to the car park where several trails start.
I'm sure there are other ways of getting here from from other directions, but the approach from the east and north was how we did it given our rather adventurous circumstances.
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