Zambia -the real Africa

Although to many it may seam that Zambia is the 'New' safari destination, Zambia has long been recognised as 'the real Africa' by the seasoned safari traveller for many years and justly so. There are many well established and very professional safari operators who have had many years of experience in the 'High end' luxury safari business. Zambia is now becoming more recognised world wide as a destination having received a lot of very positive press as the National Economy has stabilised and is growing with fifteen years of democratic political rule. This has attracted new investors into the Safari business and there is a steady increase in destinations available to the safari traveller, which in turn is leading to positive growth of tourism and funding for conservation efforts.

Capital City: Lusaka
Main Towns: Livingstone, Ndola, Kitwe. Population: 9.2 million
Area: 752,610 sq.km
Independence: 24th October 1964
National Parks: 19
Currency: Kwacha
Politics: Free Democracy
Time: GMT+2hrs
Religions: Christian, Animist
Tribes: 74
Principal Languages: English, Bemba, Tonga, Nyanja other Bantu dialects

Zambia is home to world-class game reserves, lush floodplains, verdant woodlands and the world’s largest waterfall – the Victoria Falls – which Zambia shares with its neighbour Zimbabwe. A land of spellbinding natural scenery, Zambia covers 750 000 sq kms and sits on a plateau averaging 1300 metres above sea level.

The Victoria Falls is a primary tourism draw card to Zambia. The town of Livingstone is situated about 10 kms from the magnificent Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. The Livingstone Museum is the national museum of Zambia and traces the history of man in Zambia. The Victoria Falls Field Museum stands on an archaeological site and displays stone tools from some 2.5 million years ago. The Maramba Cultural Village and Mukuni Victoria Falls Craft Village both provide an interesting look at culture in Zambia and display arts, crafts and carvings, highlighting the rich culture to be found in Zambia.

Zambia offers a wide variety of adventure travel activities including kayaking, canoeing, micro lighting, river rafting and a wilderness walking vacation. The Victoria Falls in Zambia provides a haven for adventure travel enthusiasts. River rafting is a major attraction and river rafting specialists arrange a variety of river rafting options including half-day river rafting, full-day river rafting and varying degrees of river rafting, ranging from more sedate river rafting to totally extreme river rafting! The Lower Zambezi area of Zambia is popular for fishing, canoeing, river rafting and provides for an excellent walking vacation. A walking vacation in Zambia has becoming increasingly popular as a walking vacation allows one to truly savour the African wilderness on foot, letting the senses flow.

There are 19 national parks in Zambia! The most frequented parks in Zambia are the North and South Luangwa National Parks, the Lower Zambezi National Park and the Kafue National Park.

The Kafue National Park is one of the oldest wildlife reserves in Zambia and one of the largest in Africa. A profusion of wildlife including elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, buffalo, roan, sable and a wide variety of other antelope can be sighted regularly. Bird life is extensive and rich in variety. Most of the safari lodges in Kafue will tailor make an African safari, walking vacation or both.

The Luangwa Valley is named after the Luangwa River which flows from Tanzania into Zambia where it joins the Zambezi. The valley is home to the North and South Luangwa National Parks. With a combined area of 20 000 sq kms, the two parks encompass a raw wilderness of abundance and diversity. The valley is home to over 50 mammal species; predators are common; buffalo and elephants abundant and hippo choke the river in vast numbers. Over 400 bird species have been recorded. Walking safaris and an African walking vacation were pioneered in the Luangwa Valley, enabling the tourist to hike through the park on foot, guided by a local tracker. Nights are spent listening to the sounds of the wild whilst camping under the stars. The increasing popularity of a walking vacation in Luangwa has culminated in purpose-built walking vacation fly-camps being erected, and has also given rise to a number of walking vacation specialists who will tailor make a walking vacation ranging from two days to weeks.

While most tourists to Zambia only visit the Victoria Falls and surrounding areas, an exciting and interesting country lies beyond, waiting to be discovered.......by you !