The Zambian calendar of traditional ceremonies is as rich as the ceremonies themselves. Travel westwards from Lusaka to a town called Mongu and you will experience one of the country’s best known ceremony “The Kuomboka”.
The name Kuomboka translates to “get out of the water” and the traditional festival of the Lozi people of Western of Zambia. It involves the King who is called the ‘Litunga’ and his wife moving from their summer home in Lealui to Limulunga. They travel in two separate barges with the King’s being the larger of the two. His barge, which is called ‘Nalikwanda’ features a model elephant on the top and is rowed by specially chosen members of the tribe. His subjects and visitors line the shores of the Zambezi river clad in their Siziba and Musinsi (Lozi traditional attire) to welcome their leader after his six hour journey. To attend the Kuomboka, fly into Mongu via Proflight then self- drive to the harbor to catch a boat to Lealui.
Tip: If you book a stay at the King Lewanika Lodge during the time of Kuomboka (April), you might catch a sight of the royal barge as it travels down the Zambezi.