Zambia, What an Amazing Country!

Enestle Zimba 

When you travel abroad, especially far away from home you want to have peace of mind. The same applies if you’re on an African safari. If your desire is to meet friendly, warm people then travel to Africa’s peace haven, Zambia. In Zambia you’ll find that which you most desire, the warm African welcome.

Peace, stability and friendliness describe Zambia. It is a country incredibly endowed with natural resources, the heritage of a natural safari country. Just imagine these amazing sites:

1. The Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, is considered the world’s largest curtain of falling water. It measures 1701 metres wide and plunges down to 111 metres. The torrent of water plunging over a steep cliff creates a deafening roar and sends up billows of spray that can be seen 30km (19 mi) away. Thus the local people have called it Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “the smoke that thunders.”

2. The wild untamed Zambezi River. From its source at Kalene Hills to its mouth at the Indian Ocean the Zambezi measures a whopping 3,540 kilometres. And 2,572km is in Zambia.

The river passes through changing sceneries. The wild exciting Barote Flood Plain the site of the colourful Kuomboka ceremony by the Lozi people, the violent torrent at the Victoria Falls and the 122m deep Batoka Gorge the river cuts, the serene Lake Kariba behind the hydroelectric dam. And this lake has a great history. Finally the wide Lower Zambezi surrounded by wild game.

3. Add to your travel itinerary the Nchanga Open Pit one of the largest open cast mines in the world but the largest in Africa. Operations started in 1957 and today it measures 4,700m long, 2,400m wide and bottoms up at 335m. Zambia’s major economic activity has remained copper mining.

4. Visit the 19 national parks and 34 game management areas. All these constitute 30 percent of the 752614square km of Zambia. The management areas buffer the game parks and the parks are strategically located throughout the country.

5. The unbelievable yet fascinating wildlife in pristine wilderness. The Zambian national parks are considered to have the largest concentration of game in the world. The variety of animal species is wide with over 202 mammals that include the Big Five: lion, giraffe, leopard, rhino and elephant.

Annually there is a wildebeest migration in the Liuwa Park. Take a look and see the endemic red and black lechwe antelopes in the Kafue Fats at Lochinvar, as well as the Busanga and Bangweulu Plains. Birding is popular in al game parks but Lochinvar is Zambia’s prime birds sanctuary. Meet the crested cranes, saddle-bill storks, egrets, wood ibis, vultures and the rare shoebill stork.

6. Travel to Livingstone town near the majestic, awe-inspiring Victoria Falls now accepted as the southern African Adventure Centre. Here you can choose any adventures of your choice: White water river-rafting, bungi jumping, river boarding, skiing, fishing, abseiling, 4x4 off high way driving, elephant back safari, river safari, micro-light and helicopter flights over the Victoria Falls.

Livingstone is a town of three museums; one is Zambia’s prime museum, another is a railway museum and then there is the Victoria Falls field museum. Take a detour and visit a tribal village. Choose your accommodation from the many theme-designed hotels and lodges.

7. the Zambian weather is mild and pleasant despite the country being in the tropics. The high altitude at between 1200m and 1500m above sea level ensures that. There are three distinct seasons; the cool and dry season between April and August, the dry and warm between September and November and the warmer and wet season between December and March. However, the most popular time to visit is during the cool and dry winter season between April and August. These are cool crisp days and cool nights!

Zambia is beckoning you! The pristine wilderness, the profusion of wildlife including birds, the exquisite sunsets, the changing landscapes and natural habitat and the warm Zambian welcome of its friendly people. All these make your travel to Zambia a pleasant destination in African travel. It’s a safari visit you’ll treasure forever.

…And you’ll never forget to exclaim "what indeed an amazing country".