Things to see and do Copperbelt

Lake Kashiba, with its crystal clear turquoise waters, is the most famous of a group of small lakes near Ndola, known as the "sunken lakes", which mysteriously means "sunken lakes". These little-known lakes offer a perfect vacation setting for swimming and wilderness camping. The lakes were formed by the erosion oflimestone several million years ago, as a result of a water current that literally collapsed part of the rocks, leaving a large lake surrounded by high rocks. These high rocks prevent wildlife from inhabiting the lake, so there is no risk of encountering crocodiles or hippos, and you can swim in peace and watch the fish in the crystal clear water. They are also perfect promontories to jump into the water after swinging on a liana. There are spots set up by the locals all around.

A mysterious depth. The lake is 800 meters wide and its depth is about 100 meters on the sides, while its depth in the center remains a mystery: the many divers and researchers who have tried have never managed to measure the bottom but it is estimated to be about 100 meters deep: nobody has ever been able to go down there for the moment.

Legends. This unknown depth of the abyss has fueled mystical beliefs surrounding the lake, including the presence of a monster called "Ichitapa" or "lsoka lkulu" or the myth that leaves and boats floating on the surface of the lake would be sucked to the bottom at night. A monster that captures the shadows of people standing next to the lake, paralyzing them until they fall into the water where they are devoured.

To get there. Lake Kashiba is about 330 km from Lusaka just past Luanshya, in the Mpongwe area, when you take the Great North Road towards the Copperbelt (about an hour's drive past Kapiri Mposhi). Turn left onto the road towards Mpongwe until the road becomes a track and continue for about 15 km. At the sign for Saint Anthony's mission, turn right. Continue to the right on a very bad road for about 500 m. Only accessible by 4x4 and in the dry season. The site has two sheltered areas, but no infrastructure has been built, so the site is reserved for wilderness camping. A camping fee is required.

This museum, one of the few in the region and even in the country, is a real treasure trove of precious stones. In addition to the samples of minerals extracted in the region that made its fortune, first and foremost copper, very beautiful precious and semi-precious stones are displayed here. You can learn a lot about gemology. In this museum you will find explanations on the mining industry and its history in Ndola, copper objects dating from the Stone Age, but also traditional crafts. Also worth seeing is a beautiful collection of butterflies.

This huge tree of the Afzenias species is an emblem of the city, near the center. A survivor from the colonial era, it has become a symbol of the slave trade, whose negotiations took place in the shade of its foliage in the 1880s. Indeed, Swahili slave traders, the most famous of whom were Chipembere, Mwalabu and Chiwala, came here to buy slaves. They traded prisoners captured especially during the war with the Mambundu from Angola. They were then deported to the Swahili coast of the Indian Ocean and sold to Arab slave traders who operated the human trade from the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, then under the rule of the Sultanate of Oman. They were then sent mainly to the Arabian Peninsula, and to a lesser extent to Indian Ocean colonies (Mauritius, etc.) until the 1900s, when British-protected Zambia abolished slavery. While the British sought early to intercept slave ships bound for the Americas as early as the 1850s, it was very difficult to control the opaque trade that took place deep in the Zambian bush, which was an advantage for decades for Swahili traders based in the region. In addition, the Arabs continued to illegally ship slaves even after the British took control of Zanzibar, as it was easy to send boats by night and with little fanfare.

This is one of the most spectacular sites in Zambia, about 80 km east of Kabwe. Where the two rivers Lunsemfwa and Mkushi meet, they have carved narrow gorges more than 300 m deep into the sedimentary rocks of the Karoo Age. The best viewpoint in the canyon is Bell Point (GPS: 14°38.500'S; 29°08.600'E). To get there, head south of town towards Chisama, then Mulungushi and Lunsemfwa. A good 4WD and a detailed map of the area are essential.

This 450-hectare bird sanctuary, managed by the Wildlife Society, is located in an area of miombo woodland, on the edge of a small lake, a typical Zambian landscape that can be discovered here to observe the more than 300 species of birds that have been recorded. It is possible to make a beautiful walk around the lake of 2 hours, but also to camp and rent boats. Be careful, there are crocodiles in the lake. Guides will take you to observe them, as well as the birds when the season arrives.

To visit the largest open pit mine in Africa (and the second largest in the world), you will need to obtain a permit from the mining office at the end of Fern Avenue (open on weekdays only). The crescent-shaped mine is 11 km long and covers nearly 30 ^km2. The deepest part of the pit goes down to 400 meters, a huge hole! Mining began in 1955 and nine successive pits were dug. Drilling continues thanks to more and more advanced techniques allowing to go deeper and deeper.

About 70 km northwest of Chingola, this chimpanzee sanctuary is the real highlight of the Copperbelt for the traveler who loves African beauty. An excellent reason to get lost in the farthest reaches of Zambia: to meet these apes that are so close to humans and have become so rare because of poaching.

History. Originally from Great Britain, David and Sheila Siddle settled in the late 1970s in Chimfunshi, a farm located at the source of the Kafue River, near the former Zaire. In 1983, the couple took in Pal, a chimpanzee that had escaped from the ravages of Zairean poachers. The animal was in a deplorable state, but through care and affection, David and Sheila were able to save him. This story marks the beginning of their commitment to primates. Five years later, they were caring for 19 chimpanzees, all of whom had escaped from the smuggling racket in the forests of Zaire. At that time, due to a lack of resources, the animals were kept in cages and regularly walked in the nearby forests. Soon, however, the Siddle's began to build their first enclosure, followed by two more in 1991 and 2003. Growing over the years, with the help of international donations, the orphanage is now in charge of a hundred chimpanzees, some of whom come from zoos around the world (note that these great apes are not among the animals naturally present in Zambia). The great success of the project consists in the reconstitution of the isolated residents in organized groups of 20 to 30 individuals, and the center boasts the birth of about fifteen babies. In addition to chimpanzees, the center takes care of all kinds of animals, furry or feathered, in need of assistance. In 1992, they rescued Billy, a female hippopotamus, who became the center's imposing mascot before losing her life in 2013. David Siddle, the founder of the sanctuary, died in 2006.

Today. Although Sheila remains very involved in the project, Chimfunshi is now run by their daughter, Sylvia Forbes, and her husband. The Forbes are more welcoming of tourists than the Siddles were, and visitors are now welcome. They can watch the chimpanzees' main meal. The project is home to nearly 130 chimpanzees in four enclosures, each measuring between 19 and 77 hectares. Rescued from amusement parks, trafficked wild animal keepers or rescued from poaching, they are heavily traumatized and injured. On site, in addition to the center, there is a village for the team and their families who work there (300 people, including about 150 children), a school, a dispensary and a nature conservation awareness center.

Visit. The best time to observe them is from 10:00 to 11:30 and from 13:30 to 15:00. The project also has a campground and three rustic self-catering cottages with one double room, one twin room and one dormitory each. A communal kitchen with a fridge and a barbecue area are available to travelers.

Important. To protect the chimpanzees, visitors must bring proof of vaccinations for the following diseases that are more than 15 days old: Hepatitis A and B, Meningitis A, C, Y and W135 (one vaccine), measles, polio, tetanus, yellow fever and flu.