Zambia is a magical country with the natural beauty of the bush, the wildlife of the plains, the history of the country’s former colonial masters, and the hidden wonders of the Zambezi River. Zambia has the best of the best all in one place.
Located in East Africa, Zambia is another landlocked African country that boasts impressive wildlife and a border with Zimbabwe’s famous Victora Falls.
There are plenty of things to do when you arrive in Zambia.
It is also one of the best safari destinations on the continent. In addition, it takes pride in housing the Kafue National Park, which houses abundant wildlife.
You must visit Livingstone and explore its museums. Zambia’s other famous attractions are South Luangwa National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park, Lake Kashiba, Lake Kariba, Blue Lagoon National Park, and Lusaka.
Zambia is a safe country that welcomes its visitors with open arms. However, it sure is a developing country so, petty crimes like pickpocketing are prevalent. Therefore, make sure to be aware of your surrounding while traveling on its tourists spots.
Geography
Most parts of Zambia are thinly populated as the majority of the people are habituated in developed parts of the country, known as the Line of Rail. This Line of Rail connects the Copperbelt with the capital city, Lusaka.
Angola borders Zambia on the west whereas, the Zambezi river divides these countries to the south.
Another long border is with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mozambique borders the country to the southeast, Malawi to the east, and Tanzania to the northeast.
The highest elevation of the country is over 6,000 feet at Nyika Plateau on the Malawian border. It rises more than 7,000 feet towards the southwest.
The country also houses 2.5 billion years old rocks of the volcanoes and granites of the Bangweulu block.
Climate
Its altitude determines Zambia’s climate. The good news is, it is favorable for human settlement.
Luangwa valley and the southwest region have the highest temperatures whereas, the high plateaus of Nyika have an ideal temperature.
September and October have a hot and dry season. However, July is the coldest month in Zambia.
The precipitation levels are caused by the movement of the intertropical convergence zone (ICTZ). Thus, January gets the highest rainfall, whereas, by June, the weather is dry.
Precipitation exceeds 1,000 mm in the wettest regions, whereas; the driest regions only receive 800 mm of rainfall annually.
Best time to visit Zambia
You can travel to Zambia anytime between June and November. July is the coldest, and September and October are the hottest months.
If you visit the country during these hot months, you will have to go for game drives in the early mornings.
Visiting the country during these months will show you fantastic wildlife views.
If your motive to visit Zambia is to see Victoria Falls and do some birdwatching, visit the country in March.
Nature and Wildlife
Zambia has protected its wildlife in its various national parks and game reserves. These areas cover one-third of the country itself and have been one of the main attractions for tourists.
The country houses antelopes, giraffes, elephants, and more. Going on a jeep safari and walking safari is a must to explore Zambia’s wildlife.
The shores of Lake Tanganyika houses the rare aquatic antelope called sitatunga.
People
The majority of Zambians speak the Bantu language. The inhabitants of Zambia first settled in the country over 2,000 years ago.
Most people have migrated to the country from the upper Congo basin. Their influences can be seen in the cultural traditions in the northeast and northwest regions.
Due to immigration, there is a wide variety in language and culture.
The major ethnic group of Zambia is the Bemba group, followed by Nyanja and Tonga language groups.
Even though there are seven vernacular languages such as Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Luvale, Lunda, and Kaonde, English remains the official language. This language is used by the government and also for education, commerce, and law.
