If it weren’t for the high humidity, scorching heat and clear blue skies, you could almost make yourself believe you were somewhere in the English countryside on an unusually hot summer’s day.

Built in the 1920s, Shiwa Ngandu (or Shiwa house) is an English-styled manor house located in Zambia within the heart of the African bush.

The grandiose and eccentric looking manner house was the lifelong project of the equally eccentric and full of life character that was Sir George Gore-Brownie. After nearly going towards a state of no repair in the late 1990s, it was thankfully restored to its former glory. Today, some of the relatives of its original occupant live and work on the manor that acts as a farm.

The manor itself acts as a mini-guesthouse. Its four en-suite guestrooms are equipped with many of the occupant’s original furniture while its paintings and photographs decorate the walls give off strong reminders of times gone by. Visitors are encouraged to contribute and participate in the community.

Guided and or unguided tours are also available as well as a safari ride around the property’s surrounding area. For the avid bird watcher, around 380 bird species have been recorded here. There are also at least 24 mammal species which can be observed such as the puku, kudu, zebra and wildebeest.

Regarding its creator, Sir George was, among many things, a proud military man who fell in love with the country, which was back then known as Northern Rhodesia.

Located some 12 kilometres from the nearest railway, Shiwa appears out of nowhere in the middle of nowhere, as if it were sprouted from the ground. So, what compelled this English man to build such a grandiose English-styles house so far from his home and so cut off from the rest of civilisation?

The creation of Shiwa House stems all the way back from Sir George’s childhood, who wished the emulate the estate owned by his  Aunt, Dame Ethel Locke King, at Weybridge in England. However, despite a wealthy upbringing, Sir George was unable to afford such an estate in Britain. Buying land in the British colonies of Africa was a far more cost-effective method and it also gave Sir George a real chance to see the world.

In April of 1914, after a long search, Sir George and his Bemba servants came across Lake Shiwa Ngandu (for which the manor is named after). The eccentric and proud English knew he had found the area he was looking for. However, the outbreak of WWI that same year delayed proceedings and construction finally began in 1920.

The fact that he had no prior knowledge of building houses did not deter Sir George who oversaw its design and construction (all he had was a construction manual from the army).

A few years later, thanks to many hours of hard work from the Bemba people, the foundations of a substantial house had been erected.  Although, the many additions that came later meant that building did not completely stop until 1950.

As well as being a remnant of Zambia’s British colonial past - at the same time - it also serves as a reminder towards the nation’s eventual for its creator was in fact an avid advocate for the independence of Northern Rhodesia (later named Zambia after independence).

Need a hand with your financial planning? Then contact deVere Zambia today for expert and impartial advice!