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Zambia is a country dominated by wilderness and an amazing sense of space. Lush river valleys and floodplains offer excellent habitat for a huge range of wildlife species, as do the dense woodlands that cover much of the country. Still relatively unexplored by most visitors to Africa, Zambia conjures images of a bygone era, with vast areas of pristine wilderness still to be fully discovered. The roads are generally unsuitable for self-driving and distances between the countries highlights are huge. 

This vast country has 19 national parks, 6 major lakes, more than 20 different tribal groups, and rich animal life and was the home of game walking as an incomparable method of enjoying Africa’s flora and fauna. Zambia shares the incredible Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe and the numerous adrenalin activities of the Zambezi River can be enjoyed from both countries.

WHY VISIT ZAMBIA?

• The Victoria Falls 
• White water rafting on the Grade 5 Zambezi River 
• The South Luangwa National Park is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its ox-bow lagoons (danbo’s) is one of the most spectacular in Africa 
• Kafue National Park, the largest game reserve in Africa 
• Zambia has vast wetlands, rivers, swamps and lakes 
• Bird watchers paradise, Lochinvar National Park has over 400 known species of birds. The rare shoebill stork and the Taita Falcon may be seen in other parts of Zambia 
• Over one million fruit bats roost in the swamp forests of the Kasanka National Park 
• The highest uninterrupted waterfall in Africa – The Kalombo Falls (221m) 
• There are 28 different cultural ceremonies each year including the 300 year old Ku’omboka ceremony 
• Historically interesting sites including David Livingstone’s memorial 
• Shiwa Ng’andu – made famous by the book – The Africa House. Well worth a visit

ZAMBIA - Interesting Information

GEOGRAPHY:


TOTAL LAND AREA:
Total: 752,614.00 sq km

TERRAIN: 
Most of Zambia is moist savanna woodland, where broadleaf deciduous trees grow far enough apart to allow grasses and other plants to grow on the woodland floor. In the wetter north you'll see sprawling branches of stout baobab trees, some thousands of years old. Bushveld covers much of the drier south-west. 

FEATURES: 
The Zambezi River, together with Lake Kariba, forms the frontier with Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls, at the southern end of the man-made Lake Kariba, is one of the most spectacular sights in Africa (if not the world). In the east and north east the country rises to a plateau 1 200m (3 937ft) high, covered by deciduous savannah, small trees, grassy plains or marshland. 


ETHNIC GROUPS: 
More than 70 ethnic groups

RELIGIONS: 
Christian, Muslim, Hindu, indigenous beliefs

ECONOMY:

INDUSTRY:
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism.

AGRICULTURE: 
Coffee, Vanilla, Sugarcane, Cloves, Cocoa, Rice, Cassava (Tapioca), Beans, Bananas, Peanuts; Livestock Products

NATURAL RESOURCES:
Copper, Cobalt, Zinc, Lead, Coal, Emeralds, Gold, Silver, Uranium, Hydropower


GOVERNMENT:

Date of Independence: 24 October 1964 from the UK
(Prior to independence Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia)
President: Levy Mwanawasa 

GOVERNMENT TYPE: 
Republic. Ruling political party: Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD)

URBAN LIFE:
The principle urban centres, Lusaka, Livingstone and the towns on the Copper belt are where most of the people head when they make the decision to go and look for employment. Those who are unable to find employment, end up living in settlements called shanty towns dotted around cities and towns. But the "shanties" are filled with people who have made a fine art out of surviving with very little. Home industries spring up everywhere from tailors, cobblers, vegetable sellers, money exchangers, to "walking salesmen" selling anything from frying pans, electric plugs and batteries to fruit, vegetables and nuts. For many young people, the countryside may be more open and free but, due to lack of formal employment there, it is a monotonous place to live in compared with the action and energy of the big city. 

RURAL LIFE: 
Depending upon the tribe, some build their houses from mud and thatch, while others burn bricks and build square houses that they paint with individual patterns. Even though life is hard in these remote villages, the villagers are by no means unhappy. Pleasure is taken in simple things and problems are shared. Daily chores are done in groups and often become social occasions. Everyone contributes to weddings and funerals otherwise they would not be affordable. Rural lifestyles are also dictated by the surrounding natural resources. Those in areas near the lakes for example, tend to live a life of fishing. Others will be hunters, farmers and/or honey collectors, all depending on available natural resources.

ZAMBIA 

National Airline:  Zambian Airways
IATA Code:  Q3

Although an exciting travel destination, travelling in and around Zambia can be a daunting experience. The infrastructure is improving but the best way to visit Zambia is still to take an organised safari with an experienced operator.

How to get there: 

There are good international connections to Livingstone and Lusaka and frequent scheduled flights between these two major gateways.

Regional scheduled flights from Livingstone and Lusaka conveniently connects Zambia to its neighbours offering the opportunity to combine the SADC highlights for the full Southern African experience.

(Lusaka International Airport is approximately 30km from the city.)