VISIT ZAMBIA - THE LAND OF THE 'BIG FIVE'

The name Zambia was derived from the 4th longest river flowing in Africa, the Zambezi River. However, the history of Zambia has a lot more of a backstory than just the name of the country. The history of the country dates back to prehistoric times, proven by archaeological excavations made in the Zambezi Valley and the Kalambo Falls. Ancient camping tools at the sites have been carbon-dated back to almost 36,000 years.

The earliest settlers of modern-day Zambia were the tribal people of Khoisan, Batwa and little later the Bantu. These tribes are believed to have originated from different parts of Africa and made their way to modern-day Zambia, over 150,000 years ago. The earliest colonial rule came to Zambia in 1851, in the form of David Livingstone. Over the years many kingdoms were formed and conquered within the borders of modern-day Zambia.

However, the majority of the land was later on taken by the British through means of invasion and spreading their colonial regime. 1895 was the year copper was discovered by Fredrick Russell Burnham, which made Zambia a major producer of copper as we know it today. 1964 was the year, Zambia gained independence from British colonial rule. Kenneth Kaunda became the first president of the independent nation called Zambia.

Zambia is a landlocked country at the crossroads of central, southern and East Africa, that shares its borders with several other countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo borders the country in the north, whereas Tanzania borders the country to the northeast. The country of Malawi and Mozambique border the country to the east and southeast respectively. In addition, Zimbabwe and Botswana border it to the south and Namibia to the southwest. And finally, we have Angola to the west of the country.

The Capital city of Zambia is Lusaka, which is also the city with the majority of the population. The major chunk of the population in Zambia is restricted to the economic hubs of the country. The Copperbelt province in the north of Zambia is another major centre of the population of Zambia after Lusaka to the south. The country of Zambia shares several lakes on its borders with the surrounding countries. The country also has a lake lying within the country called Lake Bangweulu.

In addition to lakes, several rivers flow through the country and are responsible for the lush green flats of Zambia. The flowing rivers are the lifeline to the wide variety of flora and fauna found in the country and support natural habitat.

Zambia is also home to one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the Victoria Falls. The name given to the falls by the locals is ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ that translates to “The smoke that thunders”. The country is also home to the infamous termite hills, which are termite colonies almost as big as a house. The country is also known for the migration of the Fruit bat, which is one of the largest mammal migrations in the world.

Zambia is home to 73 different African tribes that have their distinct traditions and cultures. The majority of these ethnic groups originated from an area, most commonly known today as Nigeria. The majority of the tribal settlers were part of the Bantu migration that took place a few hundred years ago. Each tribe has its festivals and events that to this day are celebrated by the descendants of the so-called tribes.

Traditional Zambian art usually consists of woodwork, pottery and basket weaving. These can be found in local Zambian markets and may be procured on a souvenir basis. In terms of music, drums are the most popular musical instrument used during Zambian festivals and events. However, there are other instruments like stringed bows, horns, flutes, bells, xylophones and many more that are used in tandem with traditional Zambian drums.

During the latter years of colonial rule, different kinds of theatre flourished in the country of Zambia. The dance drama was developed and used to narrate the story of the formation of a country called Zambia. Later in 1980, the theatre was promoted with the help of aid agencies to communicate various national schemes being run by the government in different tribal languages. To ensure maximum clarity of the vision that the government aims for Zambia.

Traditional food in Zambia consists of meat, maize and greens. The meal is a perfect balance of all the nutrients that a body would need to make it to the next meal. The food is more or less based around the other African nations, with a minor tweak in ingredients here and there. For example, in Malawi, they make a rice cake but with cassava flour. Whereas, in Zambia they make a similar kind of cake, but with maize flour. And each region also has a different name for these rice-like cakes.

Nshima (staple carbohydrate) | Root vegetables | Chikanda (Vegetarian meatloaf) | Ifisashi (pounded peanut and vegetables) | Kapenta (a small sardine-like fish fried in oil, tomato and onions) | Masuku (plum-like fruits) | Michopo (barbeque meat served with chillies, onion, tomatoes and potatoes) | Vitumbuwa (fried sweetened dough balls)

Munkoyo (Non-alcoholic drink, made from maize meal and the roots of the Munkoyo tree) | Mosi (Zambian lager beer) | Homemade Maize beer | Homemade Sorghum beer

Zambian hospitality like other nations of Africa remains unrivalled to this day. The country of Zambia has been under the influence of several African tribes over the years. And portrays the same hospitable nature today, as they used to portray all those years when people from outside Africa landed on the African soil. The tribal virtue of treating guests with honour has been passed down from generations and is kept alive by the descendants of every tribe.

• Zambia is one of the places to offer guided walking safari tours in the South of Luangwa.
• Cruise through the river highway of the country, while canoeing on the Zambezi River.
• Feel the splash of fresh cool water, whilst experiencing the might of Victoria Falls.
• Take game drives along the Luangwa River.
• Experience the magic of a cruise on the Zambezi River and witness the picturesque landscape in the dim evening light.
• Try river white water river rafting at the Victoria Falls.
• Get your adrenaline pumping with bungee jumping on the Victoria bridge, overlooking the Victoria Falls.
• Witness the scale and width of the Victoria Falls, from a microlight or a helicopter
• Take night drives in the national parks.
• Take a dive in the devil’s pool, which is on the edge of the mouth of a waterfall

Located on the plateau of Central Africa, Zambia lies at an altitude of 1000 meters to 1600 meters above sea level. The average altitude however is 1200 meters, which promises a moderate climate. The country lies in the tropical wet and dry region with minor strips of semi-arid conditions. The seasons are mainly divided into the rainy season, the cool dry and the hot dry season. This ensures that the average temperature rises slightly above 20℃ and the altitude offers a pleasant subtropical climate. This makes the month between June and November the best time to visit the country of Zambia.

• Visit the country’s National Parks and experience the wide variety of wildlife.
• Experience the might and the beauty of Victoria Falls.
• Go for a guided safaris with some of the best safari guides that Africa has to offer
• Enjoy a cruise in the Zambezi River, overlooking the sun setting on the massive Zambian horizon
• Enjoy extreme adventure sports at the victoria falls, like rafting, bungee jumping, microlight gliding and many more.
• Witness the lip-smacking Zambian cuisine at some popular eateries or your safari resort.

• Wooden handicrafts
• Hand-carved wooden pieces of art
• Handwoven baskets
• Local fresh produce

This is one marvel of nature that one cannot miss if they were to travel to Zambia. Victoria Falls is one of the most beautiful and impressive feats of nature that is on display for the human eyes. The falls are at a height of 355 feet, which may not be the highest but it's the sheer length that is breath taking. Victoria Falls is by far the longest sheet of a waterfall in the world. The fall is so wide that the mist rising from the falling water creates a mist visible from almost 35 km away

Best Time to Visit: November to April
Entry Price: N/A

The city was named after the missionary and explorer David Livingstone, in the year 1950. It is also the closest city to Victoria Falls and the Livingstone Museum is a must-visit. The Livingstone Museum is both the largest and the oldest in the country. With its proximity to Victoria Falls, over the years the city has emerged as a place of attraction for adventure-seeking tourists and travellers.

Best Time to Visit: November to April
Entry Price: $ 5

The home to some of the highest concentration of wildlife in all of Africa. The park descends from mountainous slopes down into the Luangwa river valley. The river is home to crocodiles and hippos. In addition, the park is also home to herds of wildebeest's, giraffes and elephants. The dry season is the best time to visit the park as the chances of spotting lions and leopards in their natural habitat increases many folds.

Best Time to Visit: November to April
Entry Price: $ 20

• Lower Zambezi National Park
• Shiwa Ngandu Manor House
• Kafue National Park
• Lake Kashiba
• Lake Kariba
• Blue Lagoon National Park
• Lusaka

Most Popular Regions and Cities to Visit in Zambia

The capital city of Zambia is popular in East Africa. Because the location is a plateau the climate in Lusaka is pleasant all year round, which also enhances the beauty of the city. The city may not seem like much at first, but is a perfect destination for tourist looking to explore traditional African culture. The city offers an array of activities for travellers from visiting markets and historical sites to visiting incredible places of worship.

Visit For: Lake Kariba, Lusaka National Museum, Kalimba reptile park, Lusaka National Park, Chaminuka Game Reserve, The Lilayi Elephant Nursery, Cathedral of The Holy Cross of Lusaka

Named in the loving memory of David Livingstone, the city came into existence after constant efforts by the Scottish missionary. David Livingstone focussed on things like commerce, civilization and Christianity. Mr Livingstone aimed to restructure the city's structure to enhance and encourage trade and traffic to the region. He also given the credit for the discovery of Victoria Falls.

Visit For: Victoria falls, Livingstone Museum, Kayaking, canoeing, The explorer club, markets, boat tours and water sports, Railway Museum

• Ndola
• Kitwe
• Chingola
• Kabwe
• Solwezi
• Chipata
• Kasama
• Kafue

The ceremony of Shimunenga is a traditional celebration of the Ba-lla people of Maala in the Namwala district. The celebration takes places over 2 days. On the first day, people gather at the shrine of Shimunenega and chant traditional songs and prayers. This is followed by a cultural march past from ladies and girls, adorning the traditional attire. On the following day, the tribe's cattle are taken to the river for a traditional display, followed by the crossing of the river by the custodian cattle of the shrine first. This followed by praises for the ancestral spirits and a celebration march to the village with occasional stops for consumption of traditional beer.

Location : Namwala, Zambia
Date : weekend of the full moon in September or October

The festival is held on the 4th of February every year to mark the incursion of the Ngoni tribe in Zambia in 1835. The celebration witnesses dance, music and feasts on a grand scale. The festival marks the arrival, by offering the Head Chief of the entire Ngoni tribe a tribute of the first produce from the harvest. A total of 12 chiefs of the Ngoni tribe from different parts of Africa travel to Mutenglueni, with their best dancers and musicians to take part in the festivities.

Location : Mutenglueni, Zambia
Date : 24th February

The festival of Lwiindi is an annual celebration for the people of the Tonga tribe in Southern Zambia. The celebration takes place in Gonde, which lies in the vicinity of the place of the chief of Monze. The dates for the festival usually are aligned with the country's heroes and unity holidays in July. The celebration is all about asking for blessings from the ancestral chiefs of the tonga tribe, namely Mayaba and Nchete Ilya Mabwe. Celebrations generally include the sacrifice of cattle or poultry and the brewing of beer by the elders of tonga.

Location : Monze, Zambia
Date : First weekend of July

• Kufukwila ceremony
• Kuomboka festival
• Livingstone festival
• Music Colour festival
• Road to AMCW festival

All travellers must have a valid passport to enter Zambia. The passport needs to be valid for six months beyond the date of return. The passport must have at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

The below-mentioned passport holders from 44 countries do not need a visa to enter Zambia for up to 90 days for personal fervours. And up to 30 days, if it is for business:

• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Cyprus
• Dominica
• Eswatini
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Montenegro
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Romania
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Zimbabwe

The following list of 94 countries can apply for e-visa and are also eligible for visa on arrival for up to 90 days as a tourist and 30 days in case of business:

• United Arab Emirates
• European Union European Union citizens (except Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, Romania)
• Albania
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Belarus
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Canada
• Cape Verde
• Chile
• Colombia
• Comoros
• Congo
• DR Congo
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Djibouti
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Eritrea
• El Salvador
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Israel
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Laos
• Liechtenstein
• Madagascar
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Russia
• Rwanda
• San Marino
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• South Korea
• Saint Lucia
• Suriname
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay
• Western Sahara
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

Zambia is well connected across its 4 major airports and several of its domestic ones. Several flights services operate within the country. Some of them are:

• Mahogany Air
• Proflight Zambia
• Royal Zambian Airlines

The road network in Zambia is not at the same level as the other developing countries of the continent. But, it is not that bad either. The government has been in constant contact with private investors to help them invest in rehabilitating and reviving the road infrastructure across the country. A new project known as ‘Link Zambia 8000' will be the break that Zambia needs towards a better road network. For the tourist, the cities have several reputable taxi services to offer.

Zambia as a country is well connected with its neighbours through an extensive railway network. Zambia in many areas shares the railway network with its neighbours for the safe and proper transit of passengers and goods. However, the network is still in need of major modifications to be able to live up to its complete potential. If in Zambia, reconfirm the schedule of your train before reaching the station.

Several flights operate between UAE and Lusaka, Zambia. A few honorary mentions are Emirates & Ethiopian airlines.

Zambia is a landlocked country, but may still be accessed through its neighbouring countries. Several cruise options operate between UAE and Africa. And one could always plan out a custom-made travelling itinerary with the help of an online travel agency.

The distance from Dubai to Zambia is approximately 9800 Km and a road trip would require a lot of patience and perseverance. As once you touch Egypt and subsequently Africa, many stretches may prove to be very challenging. So, a flight to Zambia would be a safer bet any day.

• Be careful when paying via credit cards at lodges, for they might charge a high commission rate.
• Tipping in Zambia is about $5 - $10 per head if travelling in a group.
• Pack light and lose clothing.
• Travel with an ample supply of medications if you are on any.

• Be aware of travel advisory before travelling.
• Drunken driving is strictly prohibited.
• Follow precautions if you are travelling during the Covid pandemic. Be aware of UAE travel health advisory.
• Avoid travelling after dark, as the road conditions are not that great.
• Avoid walking alone at night.

• Be prepared with the CDC-recommended packing health kit to prevent illness and injuries.
• Eat and drink safely and follow hygiene protocols.
• Stay safe outdoors and be on alert for changing weather conditions.
• Carry along with a bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Carry medical and health evacuation insurance.
• CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations before travelling to Zambia - MMR, Chickenpox, Diphtheria, Flu, Polio, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Rabies, Hepatitis B.

• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Travel Documents
• Light Clothing
• Electronics
• Hats
• Poncho
• Rain Jacket
• Stationery
• Footwear
• Swimsuit
• Dressy Outfit
• Sanitiser, Medical Kit
• Reusable Water Bottle

There are no particular dress codes for Zambia, but women need to be dress appropriately at all times. Women wearing revealing clothes implies that the woman is of an ill repute.

The country is popular for its wildlife, indigenous cultures and geological phenomena not found easily in Africa. However, the tourism sector is quite limited to only certain parts of the country. Due to internal instability between the government and rebels.

Malawi is one of the best laid back vacation destinations that one can book for themselves. The country is known for its beaches and the warm and smiling hospitality of the Malawi people. Malawi is also home to 11 national parks and wildlife reserves which are perfect for activities like hiking, bird watching and mountain biking.

There are several reasons to have Zimbabwe on your bucket list, but one of the most important reasons is the Mana pools. Which also a UNESCO approved heritage site. Zimbabwe is a pocket-friendly country with many niches and activities to choose from. The country is known for its diverse wildlife and equally diverse and skilled guides.

Another country ravaged by civil war with petty crimes still at large. Angola's tourist destinations are much safer than the rest of the country. The country greets its visitors with a myriad of diverse landscapes ranging from white sandy beaches to green hills, from sandy deserts to beautiful waterfalls. The country of Angola has it all and is also popular for its unique cuisine that offers mouth-watering delicacies.

• Zambia Home to some of the biggest termite hills in the world.
• Zambia is a completely landlocked country.
• Zambia has a different name for Victoria Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya.
• Victoria Falls is at a height double that of Niagara Falls.
• Zambia is the main exporter of Copper in Africa.
• It is home to the big five (lions, rhinoceros, leopard, elephant and African buffalo).
• There are massive man-made lakes that help sustain life in the country.
• Zambia was named after the Zambezi River.

CALLING CODE: +260

Emergency hotline: 999

Police & Ambulance: 991

Fire Brigade: 993

National Operator: 100

Zambian currency is the Zambian kwacha and the currency code is ZMW. The Zambian currency symbol is K / ZK. Zambian kwacha is broken up into 100 ngwees.

Symbol: K / ZK

Code: ZMW

1 UAE Dirham = 6.15 ZMW (UAE Dirham to Zambian kwacha)

1 INR = 0.30 ZMW (Indian rupee to Zambian kwacha)

1 PHP = 0.46 ZMW (Phillipino Peso to Zambian kwacha)

Zambian kwacha banknote denominations: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 kwacha

Zambian kwacha coin denominations: 1, 5, 10, 50 ngwee

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