Vast
lakes, rich
wetlands and breathtaking
African sunsets contribute to Zambia’s scenic splendor. A land blessed with 17
waterfalls including the spectacular
Victoria Falls, the country attracts
nature lovers and thrill seekers alike. The wild
Zambezi River is perfect for adrenaline rush activities such as
river rafting, canoeing safaris, river surfing and tiger fishing.
Zambia is the land of the legendary African walking
safari. Big game, abundant
birdlife and raw, pulsating wilderness are what visitors
can expect to find. The Zambian government has long recognized the economic importance of its
wildernesses and is acutely aware of
environmental concerns: almost one-third of the country is given over to
national parks and
game reserves.
First
colonized by the British South African Company in 1889, it was not until 1924, when the company ceded administrative control to the British Crown (whereupon it became the colony of Northern Rhodesia), that serious exploitation of the country’s main natural resource,
copper, began. Though this could have made Zambia one of the continent’s richest countries, it is one of the world’s poorest.
GeographyZambia is a vast plateau bordered by Angola to the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia to the southwest. The Zambezi River, together with Lake Kariba, forms the frontier with Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls, at the southern end of the manmade Lake Kariba, is one of the most spectacular sights in Africa (if not the world). In the east and northeast, the country rises to a plateau 1,200m (3,937ft) high, covered by deciduous savannah, small trees, grassy plains or marshland. The magnificent Luangwa and Kafue National Parks have some of the most prolific animal populations in Africa.
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