The Victoria Falls one of the world’s seven greatest natural wonders was discovered by Dr David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary doctor and renowned African explorer on November 16, 1855.  He named the falls after Queen Victoria as a tribute to the 19th century English monarch.

Long before Dr David Livingstone “discovered” the falls, the Kololo people living in the area in the 1800’s described it as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ meaning ‘the Smoke that Thunders’ and now it is also known as ‘the greatest curtain of falling water’.

This mighty waterfall was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1989 for being one of the most spectacular water cataracts in the world. It is a place of legend, romance and myth.

Most visitors agree that the Zambian side gives a far much better view of the Victoria Falls. What with the spectacular 1,701 metres span, the 1,200 metres is in Zambia.

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The Manketti tree is a large tree, 7 – 20 metres in height, the diameter up to 60 cm. It gets its leaves in mid to end October, flowers and begin to bear fruits end October towards beginning of November. The fruit ripens from February to April.

The Manketti has multiple uses most importantly it is major source of food for many of the rural communities.

Manketti fruits are used in the following ways:

• The fruit is edible and can be eaten fresh, dried or cooked and have a pleasant taste likened to that of plums. The fruit retains its flavour even when dry. The fruit is normally skinned after steaming in a pot with little water, then boiled in fresh water to separate the nuts. The fruit is used in making aromatic soups and sweet porridge, they can be dried and consumed as sweetmeats.
• The peel and flesh for production of hot liquor known as Ombike or Kashipembe
• The nut finely crushed and added to meat/vegetables to make a tasty soup or gravy.
• The kernel or nuts of the seeds are the most valuable parts of the fruit. The nuts yield a high quality yellow oil of which about 60% is used for food and cosmetics. The protein content of the nut is nearly 30%
• The shell of the nuts are used as fuel
• The roots are used as a remedy for stomach pains, the nuts tied around the ankles are said to relieve leg pains.
• The leaves are used as fodder for animals
• The inner bark is used in making string for nets.
• The whitish wood is soft, very light but not very durable, it is easy to work and is strong. Current uses are the making of masks, drums and temporary canoes.

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Most people are familiar with the great migration through the Serengeti and Masai Mara, but have you heard about the annual parrotfish run?

The parrotfish run takes place every year between June and August, just upstream from Victoria Falls where the river marks the border between Zambia from Zimbabwe. After the heavy rains millions of fish from the floodplains get pulled downstream by the main river current. Once they hit some smaller rapids, they’re easy catch for fisherman waiting with their hand woven fish baskets made of reeds and palm tree leaves to catch these fish.  Families set up camp along the riverbanks to take full advantage of this annual happening.  A significant fact is that the amount of fish caught provides enough sustenance to last the local villages an entire year.

Royal Chundu is the perfect spot to witness this exciting happening – let us tailor make the perfect itinerary for you so that you can enjoy the parrotfish run and a host of other exciting adventures that are unique to this part of Africa.

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The African fish eagle, one of the most recognisable birds in sub-Saharan Africa and its haunting cry is one of the most evocative sounds of the African bush.

Like many raptors, fish eagles are monogamous and are believed to mate for life. Pairs generally remain within sight of each other for most of the day, and are intensely territorial. The size of territories varies according to food availability, and they are fiercely defended all year round by both partners.

Its diet consists mostly of fish which it usually catches by making a shallow swooping dive with its feet thrown forward to seize them 15 – 30 cm below the surface. Their feet are specially adapted for this; in addition to the formidable talons they have small spikes on the underside which help to grip slippery fish. Fish eagles can lift fish up to about 2kg clear of the water and fly with them; they can fly with the fish weighing 2-3kg planing along the surface.  They also eat reptiles such as monitor lizards, terrapins and crocodile hatchlings and mammals including hyraxes, rodents and vervet monkeys.

Fish eagles are a regular sight at Royal Chundu and their calls fill the air throughout the day whilst our guests relax looking over the majestic Zambezi River giving one a true sense of being in the heart of Africa.

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