The country is well known for its huge
protected wilderness areas - South Luangwa National Park is home to
arguably the most diverse range of game in Africa Birds are found in rich
profusion, and Lochinvar National Park is believed to contain the widest
variety of bird species in the world. Zambia has many lakes and is traversed by
numerous rivers, providing the opportunity for canoeing, rafting or fishing in
unspoilt wilderness areas. Zambia is the source of two great African rivers,
the Zaire and the Zambezi, the latter running through two outstanding tourist
attractions, Lake Kariba and the
Victoria Falls. Known locally as
Mosi-Oa-Tunya, the “Smoke that Thunders”, the Falls are a majestic sight from
the Zambian side.
The country was originally inhabited by the San, whose
ancient rock art is still being discovered in various parts of Zambia. The San
were invaded by the Bantu tribes from the north and an era of tribal warfare and
slave trading followed. Imperialist Cecil John Rhodes followed the missionaries
into the country and in 1911 the country became the British colony of Northern
Rhodesia, with the town Livingstone as its capital. In 1953, the Federation of
Rhodesia and Nyasaland was formed (now Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi). The
federation collapsed after 10 years, paving the way for Zambian independence, as
a Commonwealth Republic under Dr. Kenneth Kaunda in October, 1964. In 1972,
Zambia was declared a one-party state, but the country reverted to multi-party
politics in 1990. Zambia's elevation on a plateau gives it a moderate climate,
despite the fact that it is within tropical latitudes. There are three seasons,
a warm and wet season from December to April, a cool and dry season from May to
August and a hot and dry season from September to November. Only during the wet
season is there noticeable humidity, and only in the river valleys of the
Luangwa and Zambezi does it become very hot, mainly in the month of October.
South Luangwa National Park offers some of the best game-viewing in
Africa. It covers a vast area of 9 050 km˛, and is bordered by the Muchinga escarpment to the west and the Luangwa River to the east. The Luangwa
Valley forms part of the Great Rift Valley. The scenery is dramatic. The
valley floor nestles some 800m below the surrounding plateau and the Luangwa
River carves its way through the centre of the valley. The waters of the
Luangwa and its tributaries account for the profusion of wildlife, which can be
seen either on open vehicles or on guided walks. The Valley is the sanctuary of
large elephant populations, lion, leopard and a wide variety of antelope
species. Thornicroft's giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest are both unique to the
valley, and the Luangwa is home to greater numbers of Nile crocodile than any
other river. The park has over 400 bird species.
North Luangwa National Park
is less well known than its southern counterpart. North Luangwa covers a remote
area of 4 636 km˛ and offers a unique experience for those seeking a true,
off-the-beaten-track experience. Walking safaris are a speciality. The park
lies to the west of the Luangwa River, upstream of the South Luangwa National
Park, and separated by a narrow corridor. The jewel of the park is the Mwaleshi
River, which runs down the escarpment in a series of waterfalls. Primarily a
woodland area, the park has huge buffalo herds, and is home to several large
antelope species, including oribi and eland.
Kafue National Park covers
22 500 km˛, the size of Wales. Kafue is one of the world's largest
national parks. The Kafue River and its tributaries contribute a diverse
landscape, and elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion and a variety of large antelope
can be seen. Much of the park consists of woodland, which opens out at
intervals into wide, grassy areas known as “dambos”, which are grazed by sable,
hartebeest, wildebeest, buffalo and zebra. The northern section is dominated by
a vast, rolling floodplain fed by the Lufupa river system, which recedes in the
dry season, stranding large herds of hippo in the shallow pools.
Lochinvar
National Park is divided into three distinct zones, the northern floodplain,
the central grassland and the southern woodland. On the floodplain,
water-loving lechwe antelope graze in there thousands. There are more than
30 000 lechwe in Lochinvar. The central grassland, scattered with termite
mounds and grassy plains, is grazed by buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and oribi. The
woodland to the south are inhabited by kudu, bushbuck, baboon, vervet monkey and
bushpig. Despite its small size, covering just 410 km˛, Lochinvar is one
of Africa's most diverse bird sanctuaries, sheltering an estimated 428 species,
including a number of extremely rare birds.
Lower Zambezi National Park was for
many years a forgotten wilderness, but now the 4 902 km˛ park welcomes
visitors from around the world. Situated along the northern bank of the Zambezi
River, downstream from the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi is the focal point
for the abundant wildlife. Canoeing safaris are a popular way of exploring the
Lower Zambezi.
Lusaka, the capital, has a population of more than 1,5 million. Places of
interest include Munda Wanga, which houses over 300 plant varieties, the
National Assembly Building, the Anglican Cathedral, House No. 394 in Chilenje
from where President Kaunda directed his struggle for Zambia's independence in
the early 1960s, the Luburma market and the Kabwata Cultural Village.
Ndola,
the commercial centre 320 km north of Lusaka, is near the copper belt, the
mineral-producing region.
Places of interest include the Monkey Fountain Zoo,
the Dag Hammarskjoeld Memorial, the Slave Tree and the Copplerbelt Museum.
Livingstone, 5 km north of the Victoria Falls, is the tourist capital of Zambia.
The Maramba Cultural Village was established to preserve the crafts of the
country. The Livingston Museum has four galleries open to the public. The
Field Museum displays forms of life around the Falls from more than 50 000 years
ago. The Steam Railway Museum exhibits steam locomotives dating back to 1892.
The Victoria Falls, situated a few kilometres from
Livingstone, are considered to
be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Here the Zambezi River falls headlong
over a 1 000 m wide expanse into a chasm 100 m below. The Knife Edge
footbridge, spanning a narrow ridge of rock between the mainland and an island,
provides an excellent viewpoint.
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