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Zambia

✨ The land of thundering smokes

Zambia is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. Its capital, Lusaka, lies in the southern part of the country and is one of its main administrative and economic centers. Zambia covers about 752,600 square kilometres and shares borders with eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.

Much of the country consists of a broad plateau, crossed by valleys, rivers, and areas of woodland. The Zambezi is one of its most important rivers, while the Kafue and Luangwa are among its major tributaries. Zambia has a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, although conditions vary from one region to another. The country became independent from British rule on 24 October 1964, after having been known as Northern Rhodesia.

English is the official language, alongside many widely spoken local languages. Zambia is especially known for its copper resources, which have played a major role in its economy, together with agriculture, services, and tourism. The Zambezi forms part of Zambia's southern border and flows toward Victoria Falls, one of Africa's best-known natural landmarks, shared with Zimbabwe.

The falls are locally associated with the name Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning "The Smoke That Thunders". Zambia is also home to extensive wildlife areas, including several national parks where elephants, lions, hippos, and many other species can be found. Its combination of rivers, plateaus, wetlands, forests, and savannas gives the country a varied landscape.

💡 Did you know?

Do you know why Victoria Falls are called 'The Smoke that Thunders'? It's because when the water crashes down, it creates a huge cloud of droplets that rises over 400 meters high! From a distance, it looks like a forest is burning and smoke is escaping. The noise is so loud that it makes the ground vibrate under your feet. It is the largest curtain of falling water in the world!

Zambia is the country that invented the 'walking safari.' Instead of staying locked in a car, you set out to walk in the savannah with an armed guide and a specialist ranger. It's a magical feeling: you learn to recognize lion footprints on the sand, listen to the warning cry of birds, or smell the scent of nature. It's the most intense and courageous way to discover wildlife!

In the rivers of Zambia, a very famous tiny fish called 'Kapenta' is caught. Fishermen go out at night on their boats with large lamps to attract the fish to the surface. From a distance, they look like thousands of small stars floating on the dark water of Lake Kariba. Once dried in the sun, these small fish are delicious, and Zambian children love them because they make you very strong!