Kaleya Smallholders Sugar Estates

The Kaleya Smallholders Sugar Estates near Mazabuka represent a pioneering model for integrating small-scale farmers into Zambia's large-scale agribusiness. Launched in 1981, the project was designed to empower rural households by providing them with the land and resources to grow sugarcane, a crop previously dominated by commercial estates. Today, over 160 smallholder families manage approximately 4,000 hectares of irrigated land under a cooperative-style agreement. The harvested cane is sold directly to the nearby Nakambala Sugar Mill, operated by Zambia Sugar, ensuring a reliable market and income for the growers. The Kaleya Smallholders Company Limited (KASCOL) oversees the operation, providing technical expertise, mechanical services, and administrative support. This scheme has significantly improved the quality of life in the region and is frequently cited as a blueprint for agricultural development in Africa. The estates utilize water from the Kafue River, allowing for intensive cultivation regardless of seasonal rainfall patterns.

Nearby cities

Livingstone

Livingstone is a historic colonial city and tourism center for the Victoria Falls.

Mazabuka

Mazabuka is known as the 'Sweetest Town' in Zambia due to its massive sugar cane plantations.

Choma

Choma serves as the provincial capital of the Southern Province and an agricultural center.

Monze

Monze is a significant agricultural town in the Southern Province, named after a local chief.

Kalomo

Kalomo was the first administrative center of Northern Rhodesia before the capital was moved to Livingstone.

Siavonga

Siavonga is a town on the northern shore of Lake Kariba, known as a popular tourist destination.

Maamba

Maamba is a coal-mining town in the Southern Province, home to Zambia's largest coal mine.

Sinazongwe

Sinazongwe is a town on the northern shore of Lake Kariba in the Southern Province, mainly focused on fishing.

Blue Lagoon National Park

A small, water-rich paradise in the Kafue Flats, famous for its incredible birdlife and swamp-dwelling antelopes.

Lake Kariba

The world's largest man-made lake, a paradise for anglers, houseboat vacationers, and sunset lovers.

History & landmarks

Lochinvar National Park

A birdwatcher's paradise on the Kafue Flats, famous for thousands of waterbirds and the unique Kafue lechwe antelope.

Kariba Dam Wall

A massive engineering structure between Zambia and Zimbabwe that controls the flow of the Zambezi River.

Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport

The international airport in Livingstone that serves as a gateway to the famous Victoria Falls.

Royal Livingstone Hotel

A luxurious five-star hotel on the banks of the Zambezi, just steps away from the Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls Power Station

A historic hydroelectric power station at the falls that generates electricity for the region.

Nature

Ngonye Falls

Powerful falls on the Zambezi River in western Zambia, noted for their width and scenic beauty.

More places

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Nakambala Sugar Estate Factory

Zambia's largest sugar factory, surrounded by extensive sugarcane plantations.

Munali Nickel Mine

One of the few mines in Zambia specializing in the extraction of nickel.

Kafue Flats

A vast, seasonally flooded alluvial plain.

Sebanzi Hill Iron Age Site

An archaeological site on the edge of the Kafue Flats that shows continuous occupation for centuries.

Kafue Escarpment

The edge that separates the Kafue Valley from the central plateau.

Kabwe Lowlands

Lower lying areas south of the plateau.

Kariba North Bank Power Station

The hydroelectric power station on the Zambian side of the massive Kariba Dam.

Kabwe Plateau

A central plateau where Lusaka lies.