Source of the Zambezi River

The Zambezi Source is located in Ikelenge District, one of the seven districts in the North-Western Province of Zambia. It lies 53 kilometres northwest of Mwinilunga in the Mukangala area and covers a total area of about 36.8 hectares. It was declared a National Monument under Statutory Instrument No. 162 of 1983, and sits within the Zambezi Source National Forest No. P.80, which was itself declared a National Forest under Statutory Instrument No. 106 of 1984 — giving the site double protection. The core area's swamp/riparian forest reaches about three storeys (24m) high, with a dense canopy and continuous shrub layer of 2–3 metres, and receives a mean annual rainfall of 1,372mm based on a 35-year record. The project site is accessible by air through Solwezi national airport and an airstrip in Mwinilunga district. By road, it is reached via the Lusaka – Ndola – Chingola – Solwezi – Mwinilunga – Ikelenge route to the source of the Zambezi, and by rail to Chingola followed by road through Solwezi, Mwinilunga and Ikelenge. Key attractions include the Mpola Waterfalls, roughly 200 metres long with its highest cascade — known as Mwepwe — at about 4 metres, offering a scenic setting for camping and educational tourism; the Lwakela Waterfalls, about 25km north of Mwinilunga on the Lwakela River, a tributary of the West Lunga River, with a flow of roughly 5 cubic metres per second and a 7m head; and the Nyambwezi Waterfalls, Sachibondu Dam and Mpola ya Samuwika Rapids. Nearby, Kalene Hill marks the Zambezi River's source at an elevation of about 1,460m, with the land falling steeply away to the west toward the river's headwaters. The area also hosts cultural traditions such as the Likumbi Lyamize ceremony, the Kahoshang'a Heritage Site, and wildlife including fish eagles and strong birdwatching opportunities. Visitor accommodation is available at Nchila Wildlife Reserve and Lodge.