Lake Ishiba Ng'andu

Lake Ishiba Ng'andu is a picturesque lake very close to the watershed between the Luangwa and Chambeshi River basins in the Northern Province of Zambia, and just on the Chambeshi side. Its name in the Bemba language means 'lake of the royal crocodile'. Though small by central African standards, being about 5 km long and up to 1.5 km wide, it is widely known locally and, more recently, internationally.

Firstly it is important to the Bemba people as the country in which, in the late 17th Century, Chitimukulu of the Ng'andu (crocodile) Clan came across a dead crocodile, and taking this as an omen, settled his people after their wanderings from the Lunda Kingdom 1,000 km to the east.

Secondly it has been made internationally famous for being the inspiration for the nearby Shiwa Ngandu estate built by Stewart Gore-Browne, who used a variant spelling of the name.

The lake was visited by the missionary explorer David Livingstone whose dog was taken by a crocodile there. The area supported large populations of game animals until the middle of the 20th century.

The Kapishya hot springs 20 km away have chalets and a campsite.

References

• Christina Lamb: "The Africa House". Viking, London 1999