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Shiwang'andu
ℹ️Practical info — Shiwang'andu
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Schedule your visit to the Manor House (Shiwa House) on weekdays, as it is often closed for public tours on Sundays.
- A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended, as the 30km access road from the main road can be very rough.
- Book your stay or tour in advance, as the estate is a popular but exclusive destination in Northern Zambia.
- Visit the Kapishya Hot Springs in the early morning or evening to enjoy the natural heat away from the midday sun.
- Pack warm layers for the nights, as temperatures in the Northern Province highlands can drop surprisingly low.
🍽 Food
Try the Arabica coffee grown on the estate, served fresh and often available to buy in bags.
Sample the home-made bacon, butter, and honey produced directly on the Shiwa farm.
Grilled bream or tilapia, often caught the same day from the nearby lake on the estate.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
The estate is famous for its citrus and eucalyptus oils, which you can buy at the local curio shop.
An animated local hub near the estate where you can find fresh produce and seasonal fruits.
Pick up a bag of the excellent highland coffee as a unique souvenir from your visit.
A wonderfully relaxing natural pool with sulfur-free thermal water surrounded by palm trees.
The quiet edges of the lake offer fantastic birdwatching and complete tranquility.
Walk through the estate's woodlands, especially beautiful in September when the leaves turn burgundy.
Water temperature…
Shiwang'andu is a historically and architecturally unique location in the Muchinga Province of Zambia, renowned for the 'Shiwa Ng'andu' estate. At the heart of the settlement is a grand Tudor-style English manor house, built in the 1920s by Sir Stewart Gore-Browne. Geographically, the area is situated in an easy on the eye hilly landscape on the shores of Lake Shiwa, from which it derives its name, meaning 'Lake of the Royal Crocodiles.' In addition to the impressive manor, the region is famous for the Kapishya Hot Springs, natural thermal pools set within lush, tropical vegetation. The economy of the settlement is closely tied to tourism and the agricultural operations of the estate, which remains a working farm to this day. Shiwang'andu stands as a symbol of Zambia's colonial history and the vision of a man who sought to create a piece of Europe in the heart of Africa while maintaining a deep connection with the local community.
- Location: Zambia
- Nearby: Mpika (70 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Aug–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
| Rain mm | 281 | 219 | 183 | 59 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 106 | 245 |
Geography
Facts
- The Shiwa Ng'andu manor was constructed between 1920 and 1950.
- The name translates from the local language as 'Lake of the Royal Crocodiles'.
- The Kapishya Hot Springs are located just a few kilometers from the house.
- Sir Stewart Gore-Browne was a notable ally of Zambia's independence movement.
- The estate covers an expansive area of over 10,000 hectares of land.
- The site remains one of Zambia's most iconic historical tourism destinations.
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