Ndole Bay Lodge is a lodge on a private beach on the southwestern shore of Lake Tanganyika, just outside Nsumbu National Park in Zambia’s far north. It is owner-run, and one of very few places in Zambia where diving, snorkelling and game viewing sit in the same trip.
Best for
Travellers with a week to spend who want clear freshwater and a wild, little-visited park, and who are interested in a place where the conservation work is real rather than decorative. Not for anyone on a short trip, and not for a Big Five itinerary: wildlife densities are modest and lion sightings rare.
Location
The lodge sits on the bay a short distance north of the park boundary near the town of Nsumbu. Nsumbu National Park covers around 2,000 square kilometres with 80 to 100 kilometres of lake shore, mixing escarpment, rocky headlands, sandy bays and river valleys. The park is reached as an excursion rather than stepped into from the lodge.
Rooms and style at Ndole Bay Lodge
Ten chalets in five categories: two beachfront deluxe queen chalets, a two-bedroom beachfront suite, three standard garden doubles, two standard garden family chalets and two single chalets. All are en-suite. One garden room is the wheelchair-accessible unit, near the car park.
Facilities at Ndole Bay Lodge
Swimming pool and paddling pool, gym, dining room, cocktail bar, massage and a private beach. Solar lighting and solar fans throughout, with no air conditioning. Mosquito nets in all rooms. Wifi is partial: present in the two-bedroom suite and absent in the single chalets.
Trade-offs and what to know
No game drives. The lodge states that all game viewing here is by boat, on foot, or both, because of the nature and access of the park.
The journey is two days of driving each way from Lusaka, or a charter. That is indefensible for a two- or three-night stay.
No air conditioning, which matters in October.
Wet-season road access is the real constraint, and the campsite floods outside roughly October to early January.
Getting there and getting around
By road from Lusaka this is realistically two days: about 13 hours to Kasama, two and a half more to Mporokoso, then a final 175 km of gravel. High-clearance 4×4 is specified for the wet season. No scheduled flights serve the lodge; the nearest commercial airport is Kasama, and charters land at Chisala airstrip inside the park. By water, a speedboat from Mpulungu takes about two and a half hours and the government ferry about six.
Explore the area
Compare other places to stay at Nsumbu and Lake Tanganyika, browse accommodation across the Northern Lakes and Waterfalls, read our Northern Lakes & Waterfalls guide, or start from where to stay in Zambia.
Before you book
Full board and half board are both offered, and self-catering is possible in the single chalets. Use of kayaks and snorkelling equipment is included, as is laundry, and snorkelling from the shore is free. Scuba diving, powered boat trips, fishing charters and massage are extra, and Nsumbu park entry fees are separate for any activity entering the park. The lodge is explicit that you should not set out without a confirmed booking. Best wildlife viewing is July to October.
Current rates and availability
We do not publish fixed rates for Ndole Bay Lodge, because pricing and availability change with dates and demand. Use the Check Availability button on this page to see the current options offered by the independent booking provider. Zambia Travel Guide does not set prices, hold inventory or take payment.