This unique country of Zambia, once known as Northern Rhodesia, offers its visitors an authentic African flavor with adrenaline-pumping sports adventures, a variety of exciting cultural activities and an abundance of wildlife that reside in Zambia’s vast national parks.
Here you can enjoy the incredible Victoria Falls while sipping a cocktail after a busy day rafting down the rapids of the mighty Zambezi River. Or, if that’s too adventurous for your taste, take a houseboat cruise on Lake Kariba where you can watch wild elephants drink water on the riverbank, or try to catch the elusive tigerfish (aka African tetra). Whatever you do with your time in such a unique country, you will certainly leave with the desire to soon return to these exceptionally beautiful places again.
Currency: kwacha
The total area is 752.6 thousand square meters. km.
Capital: Lusaka is a modern and vibrant city in the south of the country, the crossroads of many important roads in this part of Africa. It is one of the fastest growing cities in South Africa with a population of approximately 1.7 million.
The population is about 16.5 million people. Zambia is one of the most urbanized countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with 44% of the country’s population concentrated in a few urban areas along major transport corridors, while rural areas are sparsely populated.
Language: Zambia has many indigenous languages and dialects (over 72), all of them from the Bantu group. The official language is English, which is also the main language for doing business and getting education.
Geography. The country is surrounded by Angola in the west, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west and north, Tanzania in the north_east, Malawi in the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia in the south.
The highest point in the country – Mwanda Peak (2150 m) – is located on the picturesque Nyika Plateau on the border with Malawi. In Zambia, you can see an annual animal migration in the Liuwa Plain that rivals that of the Serengeti Park in Tanzania. Here are extraordinary opportunities for outdoor activities: rafting on the foamy water of the Zambezi River; fishing, diving, water excursions, canoeing, observing the world of animals and birds.
The legendary David Livingstone was the first European to see the awe-inspiring mighty Victoria Falls. His memory is immortalized in the name of the nearby city – Livingston, and his heart remains here forever, it is buried in Zambia.
Cultural heritage of the country. After independence in 1964, special institutions were established to protect Zambia’s culture, especially its rural traditions, including the National Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, as well as several private museums and cultural villages. Undoubtedly, the Tonga Museum in Choma, the Nayuma Museum in Moneu and the Moto Museum in Mbala deserve attention, where a variety of folk crafts and modern art are actively supported. Beautiful basketry, paintings, wooden sculptures of all sizes, drums, masks, colorful fabrics and natural dye-dyed wall tapestries, metal sculptures and jewels…
But perhaps the most striking element of the diverse Zambian culture is its colorful traditional ceremonies and festivities. Traditional festivities in the country there are more than 20 massive ethnic ritual ceremonies, which reflect the multifaceted cultural heritage of Zambia.
Nswala/N’cwala. (February) This ceremony, essentially a religious thanksgiving to the Ngoni tribe, is held in the village of Mutenguleni in the east of the country. During the ceremony, the elder of the Mpezeni village tastes the first fresh product of the year, the celebration is accompanied by tribal dances and… lots of beer!
Kuomboka/Kuomboka (February/March) Magnificent ceremony of moving the residence of the local ruler to a new location in the western province. Once upon a time, a leader named Litunga built a residence for himself, which was soon flooded by a river that overflowed its banks due to rains. A hasty evacuation to the new capital began. Now this event is played annually with great fanfare. As soon as the flood begins, the royal barge, accompanied by a flotilla of canoes, sets off on a five-hour journey along the river to the new capital, where crowds of greeters greet the ruler with songs and dances.
Likumbilya Mize/Likumbi Lya Meze (July) The ceremony is held at Mize, the official palace of Chief Ndungu, about 7 km west of the Zambezi Boma. The people of the Luvale tribe gather to remember their traditions, showing all types of handicrafts and celebrating the holiday with traditional singing and dancing.
Umitomboko/Umitomboko (July) Celebration in the Luapula province of Zambia in a square near the Ng’ona River. Accompanied by traditional military dances.
Shimunenka/Shimunenqa (September/October). The traditional ceremony of the Ba-la tribe (Ba-lla), dedicated to the deified ancestors. Held on weekends during the full moon at Maala in the Kafue Lowland.
