The falls are located approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi), northwest of the city of Kasama, in Kasama District, in Zambia's Northern Province, off of the Kasama–Mporokoso Road (Road D20).[3] The geographical coordinates of Chishimba Falls are: 10°06'30.0"S, 30°55'03.0"E (Latitude:-10.108333; Longitude:30.917500).[4]
The waterfall complex comprises three separate waterfalls spread over a distance of about 300 metres (984 ft) along the Luombe River, as it flows in a general north to south direction. The upper falls are called Mutumuna Falls. Here the river drops approximately 20 metres (66 ft). The middle falls are known as the Kayela Rapids, where the river ripples down about 10 metres (33 ft). The lower falls are the main Chishimba Fall, where the river drops another estimated 30 metres (98 ft). This is a total drop of about 60 metres (197 ft).[2][5]
A hydro-electric power plant, the 15 MW Chishimba Hydroelectric Power Station, that is owned and operated by ZESCO, is located at these falls. First commissioned in 1959, as a 0.9 MW installation, the power station was expanded to 6 MW in 1971. In the early 2020s the capacity of this mini-hydropower plant is under expansion to 15 megawatts.[6]
