MANOIR DE SHIWA NGANDU

Non-residents of the posh Shiwa Ngandu Mansion Hotel can enjoy this incredible setting by the day and the activities on site. One must first book a tour of the mansion (lower floor only) to learn all about its history and the beautiful gardens filled with bougainvillea, frangipani and jacaranda trees. Then head to the Kapishya hot springs in the same area for a relaxing swim.

History. It all began in 1914, when Stewart Gore-Brown, a young British officer who had fallen in love with Africa, bought 10,000 hectares of land around Lake Ishiba Ngandu ("the lake of the royal crocodile" in the local language). When World War I broke out, Gore-Brown returned to England, but six years later, as a retired lieutenant colonel, he began building his home. He used local materials, hired and trained workers, and built cottages, a school, a chapel, a hospital, a post office and, later, an airstrip. The mansion was completed in 1932. All the furniture, paintings and dishes were brought from England by boat and then pulled by ox carts over the dirt tracks. Gore-Brown's wife Llorna, who had studied anthropology, did much to integrate the couple into the local communities. At the same time, Gore-Brown, who was very active in politics, was involved in the creation of an independent Zambia. He died in 1967, at the age of 84. His eldest daughter and her husband, Major Harvey, took over the management of the farm and opened Shiwa Safaris, which was for a long time the only company to take tourists into the North Luangwa National Park. The Harvey couple was murdered in their home in Lusaka in 1992. Today, Charlie Harvey, one of their four children, and his wife Jo, own the estate. They have turned their grandfather's anachronistic home into a dynamic property, moving their own farm of about 1,500 animals. They provide employment for many families and Shiwa Ng'andu plays a central role in the development of local agriculture, providing the resources and expertise that farmers need to diversify their production.

Getting there. Shiwa Ngandu's property is well signposted 90 km north of Mpika. Located 13 km from the main road, the manor is accessible year round to all types of vehicles. A unique place on the continent!