By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

LAKE Chila Lodge has invested more than K500,000 in setting up another lodge in Mpulungu District of Northern Province on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Lake Chila Lodge director Geoffrey Chella said the Great Lakes Lodge was opened on Monday and would contribute to the growth of the Northern Tourism circuit.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Chella said the Great Lakes Lodge would add value to the Northern Tourism circuit through the creation of bed space and employment opportunities for the local people.
“We have opened the Great Lakes Lodge with a good view of Lake Tanganyika and we will be offering boat cruise, international and traditional cuisine to our guests. This will add value to the Northern Tourism circuit,” Mr Chella said.
He said with the coming of Pro flight into Mbala, it was expected that the number of tourism arrivals would increase.
“Proflight will be flying into Mbala by June this year which is good news because this will make the movement of tourists much easy and  will unlock the tourism potential of the Northern Tourism circuit,” Mr Chella said.
The flight from Lusaka to Mbala will enable travellers to easily access Kasama, as well as tourist destinations on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Mbala is a strategic location on the southern edge of Lake Tanganyika, close to the fishing port of Mpulungu and the border with Tanzania.
He was keen to develop another lodge at Kalambo falls at the cost of K300, 000, following the signing of the 25 years concessional agreement with the Zambia National Heritage Conservation Commission but the project was being delayed due to poor road network.
Kalambo Falls is the second highest uninterrupted waterfalls in Africa and 12th in the world.
Kalambo waterfall is situated in Mbala District and besides it natural beauty, it is also a very important archaeological site.
Mr Chella is currently running Lake Chila Lodge in Mbala District.