🏛️ Shiwa Ng'andu
Zambia
About This Sacred Site
Shiwa Ng'andu ('Lake of the Royal Crocodile') is a remote estate in northern Zambia centered on a grand English-style manor house built by Sir Stewart Gore-Browne in the 1920s. The lake and surrounding landscape are sacred to the Bemba people, who regard the crocodile as a totem animal with spiritual significance. The estate exists at the intersection of colonial and indigenous spiritual traditions, and the natural hot springs nearby have been used for healing and purification by local communities for generations.
Key Facts
- •The name means 'Lake of the Royal Crocodile' in the Bemba language
- •Built by Sir Stewart Gore-Browne, who is buried alongside Bemba chiefs
- •The lake and surrounding area are sacred to the Bemba people
- •Natural hot springs nearby have been used for traditional healing
- •Gore-Browne became a champion of African rights and was honored by the Bemba
Location
Coordinates: -11.1833, 31.7500
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