A magnificent English country house in the heart of the African wilderness
The Shiwa Ng’andu Estate is one of Zambia’s most intriguing and unexpected destinations. Finding a grand English country house in the heart of the African wilderness is certainly unusual. Yet Sir Stewart Gore-Browne fell in love with this area, set among the granite hills that form the tail end of the Great Rift Valley. He purchased 10,000 hectares of land and, in 1920, began building the house of his dreams.
The place was so remote that transporting construction materials was almost impossible, and many of the bricks required for the project were made on site. With the help of local labour, Gore-Browne built a manor house in the classic style of an English country estate. Construction was only completed in 1950, partly because its owner continually added new rooms, courtyards and colonnades to the design.
The story of Shiwa Ng’andu is remarkable and closely intertwined with the history of the region. The lives of local communities changed significantly after its construction, as Gore-Browne and his wife also established schools and hospitals that remain in operation today. The estate also played an important role in the country’s history. The Gore-Browne family maintained close ties with Kenneth Kaunda, leader of the independence movement, and it is said that Zambia’s independence agreement was signed at Shiwa Ng’andu. The family’s extraordinary story later inspired author Christina Lamb’s bestselling novel The Africa House.
Today, in addition to the manor house overlooking the lake, Shiwa Ng’andu includes the Kapishya Hot Springs, a working farm and a private game reserve. Much of the estate is open to visitors. In recent years, Gore-Browne’s grandchildren and their spouses have restored parts of the property and opened it to the public. Entry is free for local residents, while visitors can stay in one of the five guest rooms available on the estate.
One final curiosity: in the local Bemba language, Shiwa Ng’andu means “the place of the royal crocodiles”.