Ngonye Falls, Sioma Ngwezi National Park, Zambia
Also known as Sioma Falls because these Falls are near the village of Sioma. These beautiful Falls mark the transition point of the Zambezi Rivers' flow from Kalahari sand floodplain to basalt dyke -- the latter eventually contributing to the magnificent gorges of the Victoria Falls.
The horseshoe-shaped Ngonye Falls are mostly impressive because of the sheer volume of water that cascades over the staggered, twenty meter drop. An interesting aspect is that the river flows underneath the rock on either side of the falls. It is quite remarkable to stand upon them, feeling and hearing the underground flow.
The best option is to spend the night at the nearby Matumwa Lodge, owned and managed by 1995 South African Rugby World Cup team player, Gavin Johnson, and his wife Penny. There are also a couple of simple camps at Senanga which also offer guided trips to the Falls.
Alternatively, get to the village of Sioma and ask for a guide to take you to the Falls. It is best viewed by walking about two kilometres downstream of Sioma. There is usually a dugout canoe that will ferry you across the Zambezi - this in itself is an adventure - then a further two kilometre walk back upstream will take you to the Falls' best vantage point. There's also a spot called The Jacuzzi where you can safely swim in amongst the swirling waters.
The Falls provide great photo opportunities at any time of the year, but the optimum time is around June or July. Rafting is best from February to May after the rains. Wildlife is best viewed from July to November, when water is scarce and the animals are forced to come to the water holes or down to the river to drink.
Ngonye / Sioma Falls, Zambezi River, Zambia
The Zambezi is renowned for its majestic Victoria Falls, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, but its other waterfalls are not so well-publicised. The Ngonye Falls are situated above-stream from the Victoria near a small Zambian town of Sioma (hence their other name, Sioma Falls), They are comprised of dozens of streams rushing across basalt rocks (and sometimes piercing right through them). The complexity of the geological structure of the place is truly mind-boggling until you see an aerial picture.
We visited this amazing place in January 2017 and were absolutely stunned by its sheer scale and wild beauty. Our special thanks go to Leonie and Piet from Kabula Lodge who gave us directions and shared their know-hows which allowed us to see the falls from all the vantage points (and fed us the most delicious lamb potje when we came back to the camp, tired, a bit sunburned but absolutely blissfully happy)!
У всех, кто когда-либо интересовался Африкой, Замбези ассоциируется в первую очередь с великолепным водопадом Виктория, признанным одним из 7 природных чудес света. Но мало кому известно, что на своем пути река проходит и через другие препятствия. Водопад Нгонье находится недалеко от замбийского городка Сиома (отсюда его другое, одноименное название), выше по течению от Виктории. Он состоит из десятков потоков, несущихся по базальтовым плитам (а иногда промывающих себе дорогу и прямо внутри камня). Сложность геологической структуры этого места не поддается описанию, цельная картина складывается только благодаря коптеру.
Мы посетили Нгонье в январе 2017 и были просто ошеломлены масштабом и дикой красотой этого места. Наша особая благодарность Питу и Леони, владельцам отеля Кабула, которые не только поделились с нами всеми секретными местами (нам удалось посмотреть на водопад со всех возможных сторон), но и накормили нас потрясающим бурским пойки из бараньей шеи, который до сих пор снится нам в кулинарно-ориентированных снах ))
Ngonye / Sioma Falls, Zambezi River, Zambia
The Zambezi is renowned for its majestic Victoria Falls, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, but its other waterfalls are not so well-publicised. The Ngonye Falls are situated above-stream from the Victoria near a small Zambian town of Sioma (hence their other name, Sioma Falls), They are comprised of dozens of streams rushing across basalt rocks (and sometimes piercing right through them). The complexity of the geological structure of the place is truly mind-boggling until you see an aerial picture.
We visited this amazing place in January 2017 and were absolutely stunned by its sheer scale and wild beauty. Our special thanks go to Leonie and Piet from Kabula Lodge who gave us directions and shared their know-hows which allowed us to see the falls from all the vantage points (and fed us the most delicious lamb potje when we came back to the camp, tired, a bit sunburned but absolutely blissfully happy)!
У всех, кто когда-либо интересовался Африкой, Замбези ассоциируется в первую очередь с великолепным водопадом Виктория, признанным одним из 7 природных чудес света. Но мало кому известно, что на своем пути река проходит и через другие препятствия. Водопад Нгонье находится недалеко от замбийского городка Сиома (отсюда его другое, одноименное название), выше по течению от Виктории. Он состоит из десятков потоков, несущихся по базальтовым плитам (а иногда промывающих себе дорогу и прямо внутри камня). Сложность геологической структуры этого места не поддается описанию, цельная картина складывается только благодаря коптеру.
Мы посетили Нгонье в январе 2017 и были просто ошеломлены масштабом и дикой красотой этого места. Наша особая благодарность Питу и Леони, владельцам отеля Кабула, которые не только поделились с нами всеми секретными местами (нам удалось посмотреть на водопад со всех возможных сторон), но и накормили нас потрясающим бурским пойки из бараньей шеи, который до сих пор снится нам в кулинарно-ориентированных снах ))
Sioma/Ngonye Falls on the Zambezi River, Zambia - April 2019
A short video showing fish ecology in the smaller rapids at the Sioma/Ngonye Falls of the Zambezi River, Zambia.
The annual floodwaters that typically inundate the falls in March-April have not arrived in 2019. This gave us access to the smaller rapids found in the area.
In the fast flowing waters we found plenty Opsaridium zambezense, Hydrocynus vittatus, Micralestes acutidens, Labeo cylindricus, Labeo lunatus, Enteromius unitaniatus, Enteromius poechii and Brycinus lateralis.
Some interesting aquatic vegetation was also found in the rapids.
NGONYE FALLS
Ngonye falls on the Zambezi river in Sioma Zambia.
Ngonye or Sioma Falls
Western Zambia
Ngonye Falls Zambezi from Aliboat
Sioma sikuka falls
Mr matin's service
The Ngonye Falls - Rothmann Reader's Adventure
Our February 2013 issue reader's adventure sees the Rothmann family travel over 7000 km along the Zambezi river into Zambia. Watch here as they are taken to the beautiful Ngonye Falls.
Get your hands on our February issue to read the five page story about their adventure.
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Regards,
The LW team
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