Zambia Info
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 Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 5:04 am Post subject: ZAMBIA TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN ZAMBIA |
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ZAMBIA TOURISM GUIDE
LUSAKA
This sprawling chaotic city has a certain African charm, though the tourist passing may see little worth stopping for. The city has grown too fast and is the product of a country battling to find its way in a ‘new’ world.
Lusaka didn’t exist until 1930 and was then just a sleepy agricultural centre. It became the capital in 1935 but serious growth didn’t occur until the 1960’s. The size of the city has tripled since then, and Lusaka is bursting at the seams.
The truly fascinating thing about Lusaka is its energy. Well over 60% of its population is unemployed, but despite this fact there are surprisingly few beggars and the market holders are polite and will not try to force you to buy their products. The city has been receiving a face-lift over recent years. New shops, fast food outlets and even a multimillion-dollar shopping mall are being built.
Lusaka has a pleasant climate. The summers are warm and sunny, spotted here and there with thundershowers and the winters are mild with stacks of sunshine.
Attractions in the capital include nightclubs, restaurants, cinemas, the Kabwata Cultural Village (devoted to the preservation of indigenous arts and crafts and displays of traditional dancing), the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the Munda Wanga Botanical Gardens and Zoo and the Lusaka National Museum (opening hours: daily 0900-1630).
NATIONAL PARKS
The Zambian government has long recognised 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. Tourism is mostly concentrated in eight of the 19 parks – Kafue, Kasanka, Lochinvar, Lower Zambezi, Luangwa, Mosi-oa-Tunya, Sioma Ngwezi and Sumbu (described below) – the remainder, as yet, having fewer facilities. The Zambia National Tourist Board also recommends the following national parks: Blue Lagoon, Nyika and Isangano.
All the main national parks are accessible by car and plane. National parks require an entry permit bought from the main gate during opening hours. For further detailed information about safaris contact the Zambia National Tourist Board.
Note: Most tourist organisations are controlled by tour operators and prices of tours need to be fixed well in advance.
Kafue National Park
Situated in the centre of the southern half of the country, Kafue encompasses a huge area (22,500 sq km/8687 sq miles) and is the second largest National Park in the world. Noted for its beauty, the park is bisected by the Kafue River, which attracts hundreds of species of birds and offers good game fishing. Eight-day walking and driving tours are available. The principal attraction is the prolific wildlife. Accommodation is provided throughout the year at Mukambi Lodge (no guided safaris during the rainy season, November to April), and the Musungwa Lodges, and at New Kalala Camp (full catering) and others. There are also several seasonal non-catered camps.
South Luangwa National Park
Regarded as one of the most exciting game reserves in the world, the Luangwa Valley is home to a huge variety of animals: among many others, elephants, hippo, lions, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, monkeys and wild dogs. Blossoming trees and exotic flowers set the scene. The main rainy season runs from November/December to May. There are lodges at Chichele, Kapani, Mfuwe (all year) and Tundwe (dry season), and catered camps at Chibembe, Kaingo Camp, Tena Tena (dry season) and Chinzombo (all year). There are also several seasonal non-catered camps. Facilities in the park include luxury double rooms in chalets, private baths and toilets, full three-course meals, bar facilities and swimming pools.
Lochinvar National Park
Exceptional diversity of birdlife (over 420 recorded species). The park is situated on the southern edge of the Kafue Flats, a wide floodplain of the Kafu river, famous for its large herds of lechwe, an antelope unique to the Kafue Flats. There is one lodge, open throughout the year.
Sumbu National Park
The sandy shorelines of Lake Tanganyika provide the setting for three all-year beach resorts: at Kasaba, Ndole and Nkamba bays. There is also a small non-catered camp at Ndole Bay. Activities include swimming, sunbathing, boat rides and freshwater big-game fishing for the Goliath tigerfish (up to 35kg), giant catfish and the Nile perch (both up to 50kg and more). It is possible to arrange visits into the surrounding bush to watch game. Kasaba Lodge boasts an afternoon tea service, a bar and beach barbecues. Nkamba Bay Lodge offers exactly the same facilities as Kasaba but facilities are housed in rondavels. The park’s spectacular sunsets are not to be missed.
Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
Located on the southernmost edge of Zambia bordering Zimbabwe, the astonishing Victoria Falls are the mightiest cataracts in the world – the 2.5km- (1.5 mile-) wide Zambezi River drops 100m (330ft) into a narrow chasm at a rate of 550 million liters every minute. The spray can be seen 30km (20 miles) away. Knife Edge Bridge is the best place to view the eastern cataract, the main falls and the boiling pot (where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge). Victoria Falls Bridge is a railway bridge, from one side there is a view down the gorge, from the other there is a view through the falls. The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park nearby is small by Zambian standards but is home to most of Zambia’s more common wild animals. Also nearby is Livingstone, ‘Tourist Capital of Zambia’, with several luxury hotels, a casino, and the Livingstone Museum, housing Livingstone memorabilia and anthropological exhibits. The Railway Museum is also situated in Livingstone.
Kasanka National Park
This is one of Zambia’s smallest parks, with an area of 450 sq km (280 miles). It encompasses eight lakes and four rivers, the largest being the beautiful Luwombwa. Kasanka is an attractive and diverse park with forest and swamps, home to specialised mammals and birds. Animals include elephant, hippo, reedbuck, waterbuck, hyena, warthog, baboon, jackal, leopard and the rare blue monkey, which can be found in the forests that flank Kasanka’s rivers.
Lower Zambezi National Park
This lies along the Zambezi River, 100 km (62 miles) downstream of the Victoria Falls. It has abundant wildlife, including elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra, lion and leopard together with a great variety of birds. Game drives and walks will often reveal big cats and, on occasion, the cheetah. Canoe safaris, fishing for tiger fish, bottle-nose fish or bream and birdwatching activities are available.
North Luangwa National Park
This is one of Africa’s most spectacular surviving wilderness areas. It covers 4636 sq km (1790 sq miles) of primarily woodland park with numerous small rivers, including the beautiful Mwaleshi which all play an important role. The park is particularly noted for its huge herds of buffalo. Walking safaris here will also reveal elephants, leopards, wildcat, hyena, puku, impala, zebra, baboon and velvet monkey. Over 350 bird species are found here, including the crested leorie, crowned crane, carmine bee-eater and giant eagle owl.
COPPERBELT
Ndola
Situated 320km (137miles) from the capital, Ndola is an important commercial centre and the gateway to the mineral producing region of Zambia. In the town there is the Copperbelt Museum. Outside are two sunken lakes, Lake Chilengwa and Lake Kashiba, the latter is especially good for birdwatching. Near the border with Zaire is the Dag Hammerskjold Memorial site marking the spot where the UN Secretary General was killed in a plane crash during the Katanga Crisis in Zaire in 1961. Visitors should be cautious due to its proximity with Zaire.
Kitwe
As the second largest city in Zambia, Kitwe owes a lot of its importance to copper; however, it has now become a location for a number of industries. There is a now a large shopping area as well as a theater and a cinema. Visitors can see the Mindolo Dam which is 7km (4.5 miles) away and the Makwera Falls and Lake are 9km (5.5miles) from the city. Visitors can take a tour down a number of mines that are in the area.
Chembe Bird Sanctuary is 30km (19miles) from Kitwe. It is thick woodland around a lake. Visitors can walk or drive around the lake. In Luanshya you will see the oldest copper mine in Zambia. |
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