Kiubo Falls

The Lufira drops over a broad rock shelf at Kiubo in a wide curtain rather than a single plunge, with rapids above and below it and pools among the rocks. It sits on the edge of the Kundelungu area and is the waterfall people from Lubumbashi actually reach, with a lodge on the bank and camping ground beside it. The setting is miombo woodland and rock, and the volume is impressive at the end of the rains when the river is high.

What you actually see

• The falls - a wide curtain over a rock shelf, with rapids running above and below.
• The pools - rock basins along the river, some of them swimmable at low water.
• The riverside lodge - the one accommodation on the bank, with camping alongside.
• The woodland - miombo forest running back from the river on both sides.

When to go

April to June, just after the rains, has the strongest flow. The dry season from July reduces it but makes the roads easier and the pools safer. The wet season from November makes access difficult.

Honest expectations

The drive from Lubumbashi is long and the last stretch is rough. Facilities amount to the lodge and a campsite, both basic. Swimming is only sensible at low water and local advice on where should be followed.

Nearby

Kundelungu National Park is east, and Lubumbashi is several hours south.