Zambia

Once the Cinderella of Southern Africa, Zambia has put on its best clothes and has come to the international tourist party in a big way (thanks largely to neighbour Zimbabwe's decline as a tourist destination).

Before, Zambia was known primarily for its game parks; today, it has become one of the adventure centres of the world. Although Livingstone, its tourism capital, is some 11km from the actual falls, so many lodges and hotels have now sprung up within walking distance of one of the most beautiful and awesome natural wonders in the world that the Zambian side can outshine the little Zimbabwean town of Victoria Falls both in accommodation options and in activities. The whole Victoria Falls area, including the Zambian river bank, is now a designated World Heritage Site, so over-development will hopefully be kept firmly in check.

Zambia is widely acknowledged as one of the safest countries in the world to visit, and its peaceful people are renowned for their friendliness.

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Although Zambia's game parks are not as well-known as Kruger or the Serengeti, they are among some of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. South Luangwa, over 9 050km², boasts the most intact river system in Africa. It's in this park that the original walking safari started. You can view over 400 different birds and over 60 mammal species and, including large herds of elephant and buffalo, although the rhino has been poached to extinction.

The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its lagoons is among the densest in Africa. As you cross the river into the park, you'll see pods of up to 70 hippos in the water below, and it's claimed that there are at least 50 hippos per kilometre of the Luangwa River. Check out the zebras, which have different stripes to their southern and east African cousins.

Take time if you can to visit Zambia's other 17 magnificent waterfalls by going on a Cascade Tour, which often takes you into remote, undeveloped rural areas where you can get a glimpse of village life.

Zambia also has more water than any of its neighbours, with five huge lakes and lots of rivers where the fishing is spectacular. Another great wildlife destination is Kafue, one of Africa's biggest parks.

If you want to find out more about Zambia's history and culture, then Livingstone itself has 368 cultural sites, covering a wide range of interests from archaeological and historical sites to traditional sites such as the Mukuni Cultural Village – which is the genuine thing, not a tourist trap. A visit to the Livingstone Museum is fascinating. Goggle at a photograph of Queen Elizabeth II dancing with the first President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, and see KK's motorbike and lots of Livingstone memorabilia, including his medical instruments, one of his iconic caps, and a copy of the mangled armbone from the time when he was attacked by a lion. (He's reputed to have said, when asked what his thoughts were at the time, “I wondered which part of me he would eat first!”)

But if it's adventure activities you're after, then look no further than Livingstone and the banks of the Zambezi. Choose between kayaking or rafting, canoeing or bungee jumping, river surfing or jetboating, pitting your wits against the savage tiger fish, and taking to the air in a microlight, fixed-wing plane or a chopper. If you've a head for heights, go abseiling, rappelling or swinging. Go horse-riding, or stroll along any one of the four walks in the immediate vicinity of the Zambian border post.

In the dry season you can walk across the Eastern Cataract to Livingstone Island for a snack or sundowner, and for the very intrepid, you can even take a dip in the Armchair Falls, which are right on the very lip of the Falls – not for sissies! If you're a land animal take an elephant-back safari, or if you prefer one of the greatest adrenaline rushes possible, go whitewater rafting. There's a spectacular one-day trip, claimed to be the best in the world, with class 5 rapids dauntingly called The Ugly Sisters and Oblivion.

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Reviews

We glad to have met the Open Africa team at the ZITE in Lusaka. We enojoyed the Kuomboka Ceremony and we are back in Port Elizaberth. We lost our camera as we travelled through Namibia so we wont be able to send you our pictures. Thanks again to all the Mongu people and communities we visited. We are hopping to come back next year

ruani family & friends on 3rd of May, 2011 at 17:43.

Please as you market Zambia's tourism potential, think also of lake bangweulu and ifunge Penninsula that separates lake bangweulu and lake Chifunabuli in Samfya District,These are also natural wonders which tourists coming to Zambia can ejoy to see.Remember that Lake Bangweulu is the only big lake which is not shared with any country.

chalwe Arnold on 11th of September, 2009 at 16:30.

I am happy to have met you at the Zambia intern. Travel Show and I will do anything within my means to make Siavonga/Lake kariba one of your tours You're doing a great job

Herman Striedl on 1st of May, 2009 at 10:06.

Open Afrika, Zambia as "The Real Africa" goes beyond the mystifying experience that visitors have had of the Victoria Falls in Livingstone!!

Andrew Chilombo on 27th of November, 2008 at 16:07.

Iam so happy to have come accross open africa and i would like to see its success here in zambia

Teddy Masuwa on 24th of September, 2008 at 13:20.

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Routes

Livingstone - The gateway to Zambia

Livingstone is a historic colonial town and present provincial headquarters of Zambia’s Southern Province. Livingstone is rapidly becoming known as the “Adventure Center of Southern Africa”. Livingstone links well with other destinations on the Open Africa network including Kafue National, South and North Barotse Trails.

Munjili Wilderness Experience: 'Home of the Muchinga Walking Safari'

The Munjili Wilderness Experience is situated in northern Zambia and includes Mpika town, the Mutinondo Wilderness Area and Shiwa Ngandu. The route further extends to cover the major Mpika area from Kapishya Hot Springs in the north to the Nachikufu Caves near Lavushi Manda in the South.

North Barotse Trails

The route name is coined from the ancient Luyi kingdom of Barotseland. The Trails boasts of the remotest National Park in Zambia; the Liuwa Plains National Park and significant cultural, water and wildlife resources. The route spans the greater Western part of Zambia stretching from Senanga to the south, Mongu and Kalabo town to the North West. It includes Barotse flood plains and West Zambezi Game Management Area No. 1 to the west.

Nsobe Sitatunga Experience: "Bangweulu-Kasanka Eco-Tourism Route"

The Nsobe Sitatunga Experience is located in a section of the vast southern headwaters of the Congo River. Nsobe is the local name for the sitatunga, a shy antelope that inhabits the swampy papyrus reeds spread across the wetlands of this region. The route is located within a set of protected areas concentrated in swamps, flood plains and Miombo woodlands.

South Barotse Trails Route

South-western Zambia: This route roughly follows the Zambezi River. Visitors can call on the villages and their untouched rural surroundings and experience the charm of the gentle and friendly people of Zambia.

Untamed Kafue: 'Where the cheetah roams'

The Untamed Kafue tourism route is situated in the Kafue National park which is the largest park in Zambia and one of the most important ecosystems in Africa. The park covers a total area of 22 400km² accounting for about 35% of Zambia’s total national park area.