Category: Zambia

Crossroads Lodge – Solwezi

On By CheetahTravelsIn Zambia1 Comment

So this is one of those lodges I haven’t stayed at myself, but I have been there a few times to book rooms for my friends. It’s one of the more “upscale” lodges in Solwezi. It was wifi and a beautiful pool area. The hotel overlooks a colorful valley. The customer service is great, the only downside I’d say is that it is quite a ways outside of town, so if you’re planning on going back and forth a lot the taxi bills are going to add up. The cheapest room is 550kwa, then 750, and 800. I think there is some deluxe premium suite (or something equally as fancy) for more too.

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Kwahuwahi Lodge

On By CheetahTravelsIn lodge, Zambia3 Comments

Kwakuwahi Lodge is a beautiful higher end lodge in Mwinilunga located right on the river. It is a little bit of a walk from town, I would only walk it if you don’t have anything to carry and it is a nice day. The rooms are a bit pricy for the area, starting at 600kwa, but they have AC, comfortable beds, a view of the river, and televisions. The lodge is also a great place to go for a nice meal although their food options change daily depending on what is available, but I had the fish and chips and it was one of the best fish meals I had in Zambia. This could be a great romantic, get-away, lodge.

 

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Chobu Lodge

On By CheetahTravelsIn lodge, Zambia1 Comment

Chobu is another lodge in Solwezi that I haven’t stayed at myself but have had many friends stay there when coming to visit where I worked. It is a little off the main road and not as nice as Solwezi Lodge, but it is a good, cheap, safe, backpackers place. It is walking distance to town center. Rooms start at 150kwa and go up from there depending on whether you want AC, television, or different types of bed. The basic room has a shared bathroom but the 200kwa room is self-contained.

 

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Solwezi Lodge

On By CheetahTravelsIn Zambia1 Comment

So I personally have not stayed at Solwezi Lodge, but I have been there to book it a few times for friends. There is a free breakfast which I hear is really good, and the rooms are pretty decent. The front desk has very great, helpful, customer service. It is walking distance to Shoprite, and pretty easy to catch a cab on the walk towards Shoprite to go anywhere else. The room prices (as of August 2017) are below:

Double room – 350kwa

Twin room – 500kwa

Executive room – 600kwa

Executive Deluxe room – 1520kwa

 

Coming from the Copperbelt (the right of the map) into Solwezi, Solwezi Lodge will be on the left after you get up the hill after the bridge.

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Georgies Lodge

On By CheetahTravelsIn Zambia1 Comment

Georgies is an awesome lodge/restaurant for a getaway. It’s quiet, and along a different part of Mutanda Falls than what is normally seen. It has beautiful views, especially the sunsets. The restaurant/bar and deck area overlooks the falls. It had a nice variety of food that tasted great, and service was fast and friendly.  The whole grounds are filled with different colored roses so it smells heavenly. I didn’t use the pool but it looked clean, and the kids that were in it looked like they were having a blast. There was also a giant building in the back that looked like it could be used for weddings, or a big conference. They have kayaks that you could rent out, although if you’re staying the night it’s free, and we were told you could swim but it’s at your own risk. The water was pretty cold that day so we opted out. The rooms/chalets ranged from 500-750kwa. I stayed in a 550kwa chalet overlooking the falls with a porch, grill, hot shower, tea kettle and air conditioning. Georgie herself runs the place. She is an amazingly sweet, and dedicated woman. She even offered to pick us up and drop us off at the roadside before and after our stay which helped so much. We just needed to work around her schedule a bit which was no problem for us otherwise she offered to book us a taxi from town for 150kwa. We opted just to hitch hike to and from Georgies turnoff, which was pretty easy as it is a main road. It should not be that expensive. I stayed there one of my last weeks in Zambia and really wish I found out about Georgies sooner.

Georgies Bar and Grill Facebook Page

Georgies is the pink pin on the map. If you are coming from Solwezi you will go over the bridge, and straight at Mutanda. If you’re hitching you can either get dropped at Mutanda, or shortly past it is the turnoff to Georgies, I believe there is a sign.

Georgies

Northwest

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The lodges below are split up between Solwezi (the provincial capital) and Mwinilunga (the capital of the Lunda Region). Most of the places I’ve stayed at are for budget travelers, although I do have some information on more upscale places, I just haven’t stayed there myself. So choose a place below!

Mwinilunga:

Elido Lodge

Kwahuwahi Lodge

Solwezi:

Solwezi Lodge

Chobu Lodge

Georgies Lodge

Crossroads Lodge – Solwezi

Elido Lodge

On By CheetahTravelsIn Zambia1 Comment

Elido Lodge is located at the top of the hill right before you enter Mwinilunga (The yellow pin on the map below). All the rooms have a beautiful view of the countryside. I particularly like the triangular shaped chalets, but the apartment style ones are a bit bigger. The rooms go from 120-160kwa. The rooms are clean. I don’t recall there being mosquito nets in either room so bring bug spray. The showers worked both times I stayed there, but the hot water was hit or miss. I stayed there in July and August 2017 so things may have changed since then. I really liked how it was in walking distance to town, seemed pretty safe, and the staff was very helpful, although they did not speak much English.

 

Elido

Mukuni Curio Market

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This is the perfect place to get all the little gifts for people back home. It’s like a smaller version of Sunday Market in Lusaka. A lot of the work is the same, but I enjoy taking my time and going through looking for unique items specific to the artist. The people are very friendly, a little pushy, but just trying to make a living. It’s okay to bargain with them as the first price they give you will almost always be high. Don’t feel pressured to buy anything, just politely say you’re not interested in it and move on if someone is being pushy. All in all, there are some beautiful artworks here, it’s a cute, colorful, little market. You can’t miss it if you’re walking along the main road.

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** I regret to inform you that the featured image is not mine. I am using a photo from google images, If it is your image please tell me and I will credit you, or remove it if you wish

Mukuni Big 5 Safaris

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They have a variety of activities like watching cheetah’s run, and cheetah interactions, lion interactions, and elephant rides. They’ll pick you up from your lodge/hotel as the place is pretty out of the way. My first trip to Livingstone I did a cheetah interaction and my second trip I did an elephant ride. I’m a little conflicted, and want to research the place more. I’ve heard rumors that they don’t treat the animals very well. What I heard was just rumors, but I know there are a number of places like this across Africa that do animal interactions where they sedate the animals so that they will let tourists pet them. I didn’t know about this when I went the first time and did the cheetah interaction. It makes me feel a little uncomfortable inside. Like I said I’m not accusing this place of that, I don’t know enough about this specific organization. I just know that it is happening in other places like this one. I’d say if you’d like to go here, just do some of your own research, and make your own conclusions.

http://www.mukunibig5.com

Gorge Swing

On By CheetahTravelsIn Uncategorized, ZambiaLeave a comment

I didn’t do the gorge swing myself but two of my friends did and I went along to take photos. There are a number of companies that do swings, ziplines, and bungee jumping along the gorges. We arranged ours through the hostel we were staying at (Fawlty Towers). We were picked up from our lodge and brought to the gorge. My two friends decided to go tandum. If you’re willing to do this or bungee jumping I have SO much respect for you it looks terrifying. They were instructed on all the technical details, strapped in, and fell backwards off the cliff. It was so cool to watch! You get to see beautiful views over the gorge. They swung back and forth about five times and then were lowered into the jungle below where someone was waiting for them, and then they hiked back up to the top, it took about 30 minutes. They absolutely loved it! I think I’ll take their word for it. If you’re a thrill seeker you should definitely put this on your list.

https://zambeziecoadventures.com