Zambia: The Real Africa
Zambia,
officially the Republic of Zambia, is a huge country in the African continent.
It has a very unusual shape, like that of a butterfly. It is surrounded by
countries like Democratic Republic of the Congo in the north, Malawi in the
east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe in the south and Angolo in the west. It became
independent from the occupation of United Kingdom on October 24, 1964. It was
then when the country was renamed as Zambia, after the Zambezi River which
flows through the west of the country. Zambia is known for its rich wildlife
and landscape and is promoted under the name of ‘The Real Africa’. It is the
house of the famous Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the
world, besides a plethora of other natural water sources. It is one of the
world’s fastest economically reformed countries, as named by the World Bank.
Victoria Falls:
Victoria
Falls situated at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is an awe-inspiring sight
that would not let you take your eyes off its beauty. Originating from the
popular Zambezi River, it is well known as the ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. The
extent of its grandeur can be imagined from the fact that nearly five hundred
million cubic metres of water flows per minute, from a height of over hundred
metres into a steeply walled gorge. Besides, there are two other spectacular
sites across the main falls, the Falls Bridge and the Lookout Tree.
How
to get there?
The
best way to get to Zambia for international tourists is through Lusaka, which
remains well connected to places like Dubai, London, Johannesburg, Cairo and
Nairobi. International bus routes exist too, from countries like Zimbabwe,
Malawi and Tanzania. International ferry services are also available as Zambia
is located near water sources. Although most of the reserves are truly remote,
Lusaka remains well connected to them. You can also take a safari and have a
perfect Zambia safari experience.
National Parks:
Zambia
houses multiple national parks within its boundaries. Zambia has around 20
national parks and 34 game management areas, covering more than 30% of the
country’s land. It has some of the most beautiful sites with the wide range of
wildlife, natural waters and vast open lands. Some of the most famous game
parks are the majestic South Luangwa, the Kafue and the Lower Zambezi, which
have a whole range of wildlife from the giant elephants to the tiny tsetse
flies. The safari experience in Zambia is a must, owing to the diversity of
wildlife and the well-trained guides. It has made its name as a very promising safari
destination in the recent times. There are different kinds of safari activities
available canoeing safari or mobile walking safari.
Adventure
Hub:
All the
adventure loving people would definitely love Zambia, as it is emerging to be
Africa’s adventure and extreme sports capital. There is a pool of adrenaline
spiking activities, mostly centred around the Victoria Falls. Abseiling, bungee
jumping, elephant trails, horse trails, flight over the falls, gorge swing,
kayaking, lion walks, walk with cheetahs, river boarding, river rafting are
some of the activities to choose from. The flight over the Victoria Falls is
known as the ‘Flight of Angels’ and is truly once in a lifetime experience with
awe striking views. You can try these adventure sports and make your trip
to Zambia an unforgettable experience.
Culture
and Traditions:
Zambia
has a very rich cultural diversity and is home to more than 70 ethnically
diverse groups. It is amongst one of the friendliest nations on the globe and
has a mix of people from all cultures and traditions. The Zambian culture and
people are greatly influenced by the west. However, there are several festivals
and ceremonies to celebrate the generation long customs, rituals and manifest
social life. Some of the most important festivals are Kuomboka and Kathanga,
Mutomboko, Ncwala and Lwiindi and Shimunenga. It is the time when the entire
land is filled with colours and music. The Zambian music, like in most other
countries is based on drums.
Leisure Holidays:As
much as people love Zambia for the adventures, they love it for its peace and
serene surroundings. It offersplenty of options to spend your days leisurely.
You can go for house boating in the beautiful lake Kariba and enjoy the
tranquillity and serenity of calm water. You can also enjoy the luxurious
cruises, available above the Victoria Falls and enjoy the beauty of Zambia. It
also offers you the sight of beautiful sunsets and numerous nice pictures. You
can also go fishing since most of the Zambian lakes and rivers offer excellent
fishing opportunities. There are numerous great sites for tiger and fly fishing
in Zambia
The
Urban Zambia:
Unlike
most of Africa, Zambia is an urbanized country with over 44% population living
in cities and towns, the highest in Africa. The capital city Lusaka, is one of
the fastest growing cities in the whole of Africa. The government has made
significant efforts in developing tourism activities which has contributed to
the development process. People in the cities are modernizing and have
well adopted the cosmopolitan culture and commodities.
Source: http://planetden.com