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Zambia’s rich cultural mosaic - 73 different languages are spoken across the country - manifests itself in the warm hospitality of its people. Add to that its vast natural beauty, not forgetting the Victoria Falls - one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, and the country can be a traveller’s paradise.
Uncovered gems – such as the myriad of hidden waterfalls dotted across the landscape – can be found with some perseverance, while the emerging range of entertainment in the country’s cities boasts up-market shopping malls and enticing eateries.
From rolling hills to sparkling fat sapphire lakes and sprawling national parks, Zambia’s terrain is as diverse as the people that inhabit it. With something for every traveller, whether the more
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well heeled looking for a relaxing resort or an independent traveller looking for some adventure, Zambia is sure to provide some absorbing and exciting experiences.
The Land
Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa and part of the Central African Plateau. The terrain is largely deciduous woodland, with areas of tropical grass and wetland, varied by isolated ridges rising to more than 2000 meters. At an altitude of between 1,000 and 1,300 meters above sea level, temperatures and humidity are pleasant in most places throughout the year.
To the east and south, Zambia is sliced by the deep Great Rift Valley, the gigantic fault in the earth’s surface that runs down much of eastern Africa. The Zambezi valley runs along the country’s southern border with Zimbabwe, while to the east, the 700km long Luangwa valley is flanked by the steep and spectacular Muchinga flood plain and the Kafue Flats. It is here on the rolling grass plains of the Kafue Flats that Africa’s second largest wildebeest migration takes place.
Zambia’s most famous waterfall is the Victoria Falls or Mosi-o-Tunya, ‘The smoke that thunders.’ It is the largest waterfall in the world, where the Zambezi plunges down the long zig-zagging Batoka Gorge. Several other rivers and waterways flow across the country: the mighty Zambezi, Kafue and Luangwa; and in the north the Chambeshi and Luapula. Northern Zambia also boasts the second deepest lake in the world - Lake Tanganyika, awash with colourful cichlid fish.
Climate
The climate of Zambia is tropical modified by elevation. In the Köppen climate classification, most of the country is classified as humid subtropical or tropical wet and dry, with small stretches of semi-arid steppe in the southwest and along the Zambezi valley.
There are two main seasons, the rainy season (November to April) corresponding with summer, and the dry season (May/June to October/November), corresponding with winter. The dry season is subdivided into the cool dry season (May/June to August), and the hot dry season (September to October/November). The modifying influence of altitude gives the country pleasant subtropical weather rather than tropical conditions during the cool season of May to August.
However, average monthly temperatures remain above 20 °C (68 °F) over most of the country for eight or more months of the year.
History
Zambia has been inhabited for thousands of years by hunter-gatherers, gradually leading to a multi-ethnic country. After visits by European explorers starting in the 18th century, Zambia became the British Colony of Northern Rhodesia towards the end of the nineteenth century. This was achieved through concessions and agreements between local paramount chiefs and representatives of the British Empire. For most of the colonial period, the country was governed by an administration appointed from London with the advice of the British South Africa Company.
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On 24 October 1964, the country declared independence from the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Kenneth Kaunda became the first head of state. The new name of Zambia was derived from the Zambezi River (Zambezi may mean “God’s river” which flows through the western region of the country. Zambia was governed by Kenneth Kaunda of the socialist United National Independence Party (UNIP) from 1964 until 1991. From 1972 to 1991 Zambia was a oneparty state with UNIP the sole legal political party. From 1991 to 2002, Zambia was governed by President Frederick Chiluba of the social-democratic Movement for Multi- Party Democracy during which the country saw a rise in social-economic growth and increased decentralisation of government.
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Levy Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He presided over the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited with having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption, and increased standards of living from the levels left by Frederick T.J. Chiluba.
The People
The Zambian government officially recognises 73 different tribes or ethnic groups, all of which speak Bantu languages. Each of these tribes has its own cultural identity, including language and social systems, and its own traditional ceremonies. Although Zambians are proud of their tribal origins, there is seldom tension between different groups and intermarriages between tribes are common.
The larger tribes include the Bemba, whose traditional homeland is in the north around the town of Kasama. Originally from what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, many migrated to the Copperbelt, where Bemba is now the main language. The Tonga people come from the south, including the Zambezi Valley, and the Chewa people, who comprise about one third of the country’s 1.5 million Nyanja speakers, are found in Eastern province, around the town of Chipata.
Other Nyanja speakers comprise the Ngonis to the east, descended from the Zulus who migrated here in the early nineteenth century, and the Nsenga close to the town of Petauke along the lower Luangwa River. From the west come the Lozi, who form their own identity in a part of Zambia known as Barotseland, where life revolves around the waters of the vast Zambezi flood plain.
Religion
Zambia is a Christian nation, although the right to religious freedom is guaranteed under the constitution. Religion plays a central part in the lives of most Zambians and church attendance is high. There are many Christian denominations including the Anglican, Baptist, Evangelical, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist.
There are also Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh communities based almost exclusively in the urban areas and even smaller communities of Bahais and Buddhists. Most traditional religions, stronger in rural areas, are animist. They attach a lot of importance to ancestors and revolve around the belief in natural objects possessing life and the consciousness of a supreme being.
Government
Zambia has a British-style parliamentary democracy. Government consists of the president and the 158-seat national assembly. Elections are held every five years and the presidency is limited to two five-year terms in office. There are also traditional chiefs and their headmen, who still command a great deal of respect but hold little decisionmaking power except when it comes to land distribution.
Economy
The now privatised copper mining industry is Zambia’s main source of income bringing in about 65 per cent of foreign exchange earnings in exports. Other substantial minerals include cobalt – a by product of copper mining – coal, zinc, lead, gold, silver, limestone, uranium and manganese. Emeralds, amethysts, garnets, tourmalines and other semi-precious stones are also mined.
Zambia’s domestic economy is based on agriculture. Maize is the staple food and other food crops include cassava, wheat, millet, vegetables, sugarcane, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, fruits, sorghum and soya beans. The commercial farming sector is growing, and now accounts for close to half of agricultural output – much of it bound for export. Flowers, vegetables such as baby corn and mangetout, tobacco, coffee, sugar cane, cotton and tea are all export crops.
