| Zambia is Africa's best kept secret. It is the sleeping | | | | Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Nowhere |
| giant of African safari. It's also the friendly people and | | | | else do countries converge on one point in a manner |
| the peace the country safeguards and continues to | | | | such as this. |
| enjoy. That's what makes the country a haven of | | | | Down stream of the waterfall the Zambezi collects |
| peace for refuges from civil strive. ...And Zambia is | | | | into a lake at Kariba Dam. Down stream it is joined |
| the hub of African travel. | | | | firstly by the Kafue, Zambia's second largest river |
| Zambia is located in south central Africa with eight | | | | and secondly by the Luangwa River at a confluence |
| neighbouring countries. There are 19 national parks | | | | where three countries meet: Mozambique, Zambia |
| and 34 game management areas. Thus a whopping | | | | and Zimbabwe. ...And before its mouth at the Indian |
| 30 percent of the country's 752,614 sq kms . The | | | | Ocean the Zambezi River forms the second and |
| country has the largest water resources in southern | | | | larger lake at Cobara-Basa Dam in Mozambique. |
| Africa. There are large empty tracts of land in pristine | | | | The Beautiful Victoria Falls |
| state and a large wildlife estate. Zambia's unique | | | | Now the Victoria Falls is something worth talking |
| natural resources include minerals such as copper, | | | | about. Its awesome, beautiful and a world heritage |
| precious stones and lumber; both native hard wood | | | | site. The Toka-Leya people of Chief Mukuni who |
| and soft exotic pinewood timber. | | | | have always lived there have built many shrines for |
| The National Parks | | | | their deities and ceremonies. Because of the |
| Of the 19 national parks South Luangwa is Zambia's | | | | continuous thunder from the largest curtain of falling |
| premier game reserve. The South Luangwa National | | | | water and the accompanying mist that plumes from |
| Park has probably the largest variety and | | | | the bottom of the gorge they have called the |
| concentration of game in Africa and perhaps in the | | | | waterfall "Mosi-Oa-Tunya" meaning the "smoke that |
| world. Experts in wildlife safari consider the 9,990 sq | | | | thunders". But I like the other name. "Shungu wa |
| kms park has some of the finest viewing areas. It is | | | | Mutitima". |
| rated one of the top game reserves in the world | | | | Little wonder Dr David Lingstone the famous Scottish |
| with a unique profusion of wildlife. Some animals are | | | | missionary doctor and explorer could not resist to |
| rare and only found in the park. An example is the | | | | write in his dairy, "...scenes so lovely must have been |
| Thornicraft giraffe. | | | | gazed upon by angels in their flight." Because the |
| Another game reserve is the Kafue National Park. | | | | beauty is awesome. Dr Livingstone was the first |
| The sprawling 22,400 sq kms is the second largest | | | | European to see the waterfall on November 16, 1855. |
| national park in the world and is about the size of | | | | He named it after Queen Victoria. |
| Wales in Britain and twice the size of Yellowstone | | | | At the bottom of the falls are red Kalahari sands. |
| National Park in the USA. The park is located in the | | | | Opposite the waterfall it rains 24 hours a day 7 days |
| central-western Zambia and boasts excellent game | | | | a week (24/7). This mist rain nurtures a small |
| viewing, bird watching and fishing. | | | | rainforest. And two rain bows too. One is seen during |
| The park has two unique wetlands. The Busanga | | | | the day and the second occurs at night on a full |
| Floodplain in the northern sector is special. The | | | | moon. These are the popular solar and lunar rainbows |
| emerald green Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers | | | | of Victoria Falls ...but then that's another story! |
| crisscross it. Here are found multi-species of animals | | | | Adventure Centre and the Safaris |
| and birds. The Busanga plain is an antelope country. | | | | After the Victoria Falls the Zambezi River passes |
| The endemic lechwe fill its plains. The park's southern | | | | through nine gorges it has cut down 122 metres |
| limit also breaks into another wetland the Nanzhila | | | | deep. The nine gorges are in fact former waterfalls |
| Plains. The plains are next to Zambia's newest lake at | | | | at different stages of the development and migration |
| the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam. | | | | of the falls up stream. This migration covers the past |
| Copper and Gemstone Reserves | | | | 150 million years! |
| Apart from the fauna and flora estate the country | | | | Now the gorges are a spectacular sight. They also |
| holds 6 percent of the worlds copper reserves. In | | | | form part of the area where adrenaline pumping |
| addition Zambia is the leading producer of precious | | | | adventures take place - whitewater rafting over 22 |
| and semi-precious gemstones including the rare | | | | rapids, bungi jumping through 122 metres, gorge |
| beauty, the green emerald. Amethyst, garnet, | | | | swinging, abseiling, river boarding, jet boating, etc. It |
| tourmaline, citrine and their verities are also found in | | | | is for this reason that Livingstone town near the |
| Zambia. Most of the finished and semi-finished | | | | Victoria Falls is now recognized as the Southern |
| gemstone products are exported worldwide. | | | | Africa Adventure Centre. |
| Tracts of Land and the Wilderness | | | | If you have a daredevil spirit take to the air in a |
| The population to land ratio is one of the lowest in | | | | microlight flight. Fly over the Victoria Falls, watch |
| Africa. At less than 15 people per sq km it is one of | | | | animals in the nearby Mosi-Oa-Tunya National |
| the lowest in the world. The sparse population has | | | | Park...and get really close to the cascading water of |
| left a large portion of Zambia unspoiled and in its | | | | the world's largest curtain of falling water. But if you |
| natural state. | | | | would rather like mundane pastime then you might |
| You get to see teeming wildlife in pristine wilderness. | | | | want to enjoy the "Flight of Angels". Hire a helicopter |
| The wildlife is completely 'wild and untamed.' Some of | | | | or indeed a rigid wing airplane. Even this choice will be |
| the animals have had little or no contact with humans. | | | | your life's memorable experience. |
| So the national parks present wildlife in its natural | | | | Where to Stay |
| habitat, the very same way nature has always | | | | The banks of the Zambezi River are dotted with |
| wanted it to be. | | | | many lodges and camping sites. A visit to the |
| The Rivers and Lakes of Zambia | | | | Zambezi Waterfront might be what you want. More |
| Zambia's major rivers, lakes and wetlands are | | | | interesting though is the theme designs of most |
| considered to hold the largest component of water | | | | lodges. They have a strong African architectural style. |
| resources in Southern Africa. There are four major | | | | The Sun International resort is the latest inclusion and |
| rivers. The Zambezi Rivercovers the largest part of | | | | is built closest to the Victoria Falls. The resort is a |
| Zambia from northwest through southern to | | | | combo of two hotels: one, the Zambezi Sun is a |
| southeastern. The Kafue.>Luangwa nearly cuts off | | | | three star hotel only minutes from the Victoria Falls |
| the eastern part of the country. But the Chambeshi | | | | and the other the Royal Livingstone is a five star |
| that discharge into Lake Bangweulu in north-central | | | | royal opulence. |
| Zambia has suffered name changes along its course. | | | | The red walls of the Zambezi Sun depict decorative |
| After leaving Bangweulu it changes its name to | | | | symbols of prehistoric times. The colour of these |
| Luapula River. It becomes the Congo River on leaving | | | | African drawings is similar to the Kalahari sands found |
| Lake Mweru and entering the Democratic Republic of | | | | at the bottom of the falls. But the luxury of the |
| Congo. | | | | Royal Livingstone is all very different. The ever |
| In the south is Lake Kariba on the Zambezi. It was | | | | present butlers and staff wear uniforms reminiscent |
| the largest man-made lake until the Aswan and the | | | | of the dress of Dr Livingstone at the time he |
| Cobara Bassa were dammed. Lake Kariba is the | | | | discovered the waterfalls one and half centuries ago. |
| latest destination for safari investment besides the | | | | He named the waterfalls in honour of Victoria, then |
| Victoria Falls. Another is Lake Bangweulu surrounded | | | | queen of England. |
| by white sand beaches and by the tenth largest | | | | Next to the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park is another |
| wetland in Africa. The wetland is the home of the | | | | new hotel. Chrismar Hotel has just been completed |
| endemic lechwe antelopes and the rare shoebill stork. | | | | near the 60 sq km national game park. It's as if the |
| The third is Lake Mweru on the border with | | | | hotels and lodges are 'popping' up everyday! |
| Democratic Republic of Congo. And Lake Tanganyika | | | | In Lusaka the capital city of Zambia you'll find other |
| Africa's deepest lake has its southern tip extending | | | | exciting hotels and lodges; the 5 star Taj Pamodzi, |
| into northern Zambia. | | | | the 5 star Hotel Intercontinental, Holiday Inn and |
| The Wild Zambezi River | | | | other fine hotels. |
| One river that deserves mentioning is the Zambezi | | | | The private game lodges are all within fifty kms. |
| River after which the country is named. From its | | | | Popular ones are the Lilayi Lodge, the Protea Safari |
| source near Kaleni Hills in the northwestern corner of | | | | Lodge, and Chaminuka..>How to Get to Zambia |
| the country the Zambezi cuts a lying down "S" shape | | | | The choice is wide. You can choose to arrive by air |
| as it flows through its course a total of 3,450 kms | | | | and land at any of the four international airports that |
| before discharging into the Indian Ocean. Its entrance | | | | have full custom and immigration facilities. Mfuwe |
| at the ocean is dramatic for it ends in many river | | | | International Airport is on the boundary with the |
| channels called a delta. | | | | Zambian premier game reserve, the South Laungwa |
| The Zambezi passes through changing landscapes and | | | | National Park. Another is at Ndola on the Copperbelt |
| environment. From the rapids in the notrhwest | | | | of Zambia. And yet another is the Lusaka |
| through the wide river and the site of the "Likumbi | | | | International Airport 22 kms from the capital city of |
| Lya Mize" ceremony of the Luvale people. It then | | | | Zambia. But Livingstone International Airport is special. |
| passes through the Zambezi floodplain where the | | | | Only 8 kms from the Victoria Falls whose first |
| Ku-omboka ceremony of the Lozi people takes place. | | | | sighting you get from the air on approach to landing. |
| Later the river traverses a hilly area and becomes | | | | And then you may choose to arrive by road from |
| wide and tranquil. Suddenly the river breaks into the | | | | any of the eight neighbouring countries but mainly |
| world's most spectacular waterfall. This is the mystic | | | | from Bostwana, Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania and |
| and awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. | | | | Zimbabwe. |
| Before the waterfall the Zambezi passes through a | | | | Get on a plane or car and come to Zambia ...And |
| point near Kazungula where four countries meet; | | | | you'll leave without ever forgetting Zambia safari! |