Whilst renowned for its tiger fishing and birding, Kabula Lodge offers so much more, including walks in the surrounding un-spoilt indigenous forests, walks on the famous Kabula Island, canoeing and rafting on the river and easy access to the totally un-spoilt Sioma Ngwezi National Park.
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Ngonya (Sioma) Waterfalls
The famous and beautiful Ngonya (Sioma) Waterfalls of central Barotseland, Zambia which are situated within 60kms of Kabula, are rarely visited simply because of their remoteness. Fortunately their remoteness has resulted in them being totally free of the tourist trappings of their better known counterpart further downstream. David Livingstone was the first European to see these falls when he traveled northwards from Botswana and he marveled at their beauty. It was only later, after being informed by locals of a larger waterfall further south, that he ventured south along the east bank of the Zambezi. It was here that he, again as the first European to do so, saw the mighty Mosi-oa-Tunya or Victoria Falls.

These beautiful horseshoe shaped falls are mostly impressive because of the sheer volume of water that cascades over the staggered twenty metre drop.

The falls also mark the transition point of the Zambezi Rivers' flow from the Kalahari sand floodplain to the north, into the basalt dykes to the south. Another interesting aspect is that the river flows underneath the rock on either side of the falls. It is quite an experience to stand on the rock and feel and hear the massive underground flows.

Directly below the falls are a series of rapids that make for an exciting days white-water rafting and canoeing. Canoeing from the falls down to Kabula, is also an exciting and rewarding experience.

For the fit this can be done in one day and for those who would prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace and enjoying the breathtaking riverside scenery, an overnight camping stop is highly recommended.
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Sioma Ngwezi National Park
Within a few hours drive of Kabula Lodge, lies the Sioma Ngwezi National Park. This 5000sq km park, with few roads, no permanent facilities and no fences, provides the serious outdoor and 4x4 enthusiasts with a piece of un-spoilt and totally undeveloped Africa. The presence of growing numbers
of elephant, buffalo, eland, roan, lion and cheetah give visible evidence of its potential following the incorporation of the park within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. Camping on the edge of one of the pans in the centre of wild Barotseland is a truly spiritual experience. For the ardent bush lover, the pristine wilderness is the biggest attraction and the
rewards are great.

The Park and surrounding 35 000 sq km Game Management Area, with a diversity of game, form an important link in the migratory route of elephants from the bordering national parks of Botswana and Namibia, allowing them access to the Zambezi.
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Kabula Island
Situated off the mainland and just upstream of the lodge, is Kabula Island. This beautiful island, some 300 ha in extent, is covered in the most magnificent indigenous vegetation and provides ideal walks and some of the most rewarding birding in the area. Guided walks can be provided on request.

A sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi onboard the Kabula Barge is a magnificent experience which along with the sounds of the wild, which only Western-Zambia can provide, will leave you longing to return to this
wonderful land once more.
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Liuwa Plains National Park
Kabula is also a convenient stopping off place for the intrepid traveller on route to the Liuwa Plains National Park in the North where the second largest migration of wildebeest in Africa takes place. In November, with the onset of the rains, the massive herds of blue wildebeest arrive from Angola, traversing the plains in their thousands, very often mingling with zebra along the way or gathering around water holes and pans.

Other unusual antelope found include oribi, red lechwe, steinbuck, duiker, tsessebe and roan. The Jackal, serval, wildcat, wild dog as well as lion and hyena are the predators of the area. Many birds migrate here during the rains and massive flocks of birds can be seen as they migrate south. Some of the more notables are the White Bellied Bustards, Secretary birds, Red Billed and Hottentot Teals, Crowned and Wattled Cranes, Long Tailed Whydah, Sooty Chat, Yellow Throated Longclaw, large flocks of Black Winged Pratincoles around the pans, Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Marshall Eagle, Woodland Kingfisher, Pink Throated Longclaw.

The plains are dotted with woodlands which also make for excellent birding.
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Kuomboka Ceremony
Attend the Kuomboka Ceremony. The Kuomboka is a Luyana name literally meaning ‘to get out of water’. It is applied today to a traditional ceremony, which attracts more interest as a celebration of local culture each year than any other in Zambia. It is held when the annual inundation of the Bulozi flood plain of the Upper Zambezi River reaches such a height (up to 40 feet above normal) that the Lozi Litunga, or King, leads his people to higher ground. This is usually at the end of March or beginning of April. The date is liable to change each year and is kept secret by the Barotse Royal establishment until close to the day. To read more about this years' Ceremony click here
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Canoeing
Canoeing or rafting down the Zambezi is a wonderful experience and is highly recommended. A popular trip is to canoe from the Sioma Falls down to Kabula. For the fit this can be done in one day and for those who would prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace and enjoy the breathtaking riverside scenery, an overnight camping stop is an amazing experience.

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Birding
The area on and around Kabula Island abounds in bird life with more than 200 species recorded.

The large and formidable Pel's Fishing Owl, which is not intimidated by humans, is a regular visitor to the area, as are Fish Eagle, various species of Cormorants and other water birds, Herons, Schalow's Lourie, Honeyguides, Eagles and other birds of prey, Parrots, Hornbill, Dikkops, Plovers and numerous others, including:

   African Finfoot
   African Golden Oriole
   African Skimmer
   Black Coucal
   Bradfield's Hornbill
   Brown Firefinch
   Copper Sunbird
   Eastern Nicator
   Greater Painted Snipe
   Grey Headed Kingfisher
   Grey Headed Parrot
   Half Collared Kingfisher
   Lesser Jacana
   Lilac Breasted Roller
   Narina Trogon
   Olive Woodpecker
   Osprey
   Pel's Fishing Owl
   Pennant Winged Nightjar
   Rock Pratincole
   Rufous Bellied Heron
   Schalow's Turaco
   Swamp Nightjar
   Tree Pipit
   Western Banded Snake Eagle
   White Backed Night Heron
   White Browed Coucal
   White Crowned Lapwing

Visitors can also expect to be woken every morning by the flock of Ground Hornbills which have taken up residence on the outskirts of the lodge.