Tourists visiting Kalambo Waterfalls in Rukwa Region, Tanzania will enjoy watching the falls from bottom about 235 meters deep when the construction of a 900-meter-deep stairs will be completed within two years.
Joseph Bryson Chezue, Kalambo Nature Forest Reserve Chief Conservator says previously, it would not have been possible due to the lack of enabling infrastructures. Construction of the stairs which is done in a zigzag style will enable tourists to descend down to the falls and observe the waterfalls from below. The first phase of construction has been completed and covered 183 meters of stairs deep.
The construction of the second phase, which is 514 meters deep, is ongoing and has reached a depth of 700 meters. The remaining 200 meters will be completed in the final phase, which will be implemented within the next two years, making a total of 900 meters’ deep stair.
The stairs when completed will have three viewpoints. The first one is named as Dos Santos (in honour of TFS Commissioner) where tourists will only view 45 percent of the falls, the second one Mkeremi (in honour of the board chairman) where tourists will have an opportunity to see 75 percent of the falls and finally Kigwangala (in honour of former MNRT minister) where tourists will enjoy watching the whole 100 view of the falls.
There are plans to engage investors build a skyline cable car service to enable tourists who will need the service to go down and back as the distance of 900 meters by feet down and back will not be an easy task to some.
He said the falls are highest free waterfalls in Tanzania and East Africa with the height of 235m, adding the same are the second highest free waterfalls in Africa being led by the Tugela Waterfalls of South Africa with the height of 933m. Kalambo Water Falls is located inside the Kalambo Nature Forest Reserve with a size of 43,334 ha in southeast of Lake Tanganyika along Tanzania-Zambia border in Kalambo district in Rukwa Region Tanzania.
Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) was given the responsibility of managing and developing the area since 2018. Kalambo Nature Forest Reserve also plans to build Wangabo View Point within the reserve where visitors will have an opportunity to see waters coming from the falls entering Lake Tanganyika and see Mpungu town in the neighbouring Zambia country. Kalambo also borders other nearby attractions including Lake Tanganyika and its beaches. It should be remembered that Lake Tanganyika is the common border to four countries including Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia. The neighbouring parks include Lwafi Game Reserve and Katavi National Parks.
WanderTZ/Emmanuel Kwitema
