REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

GENERAL INFORMATION
VIDEO COMPILATION
PHOTO GALLERY

GENERAL INFORMATION

Zambia is a country of vast landscapes, powerful rivers, remarkable wildlife and rich cultural traditions. Landlocked in the heart of Southern Africa, it shares borders with eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. Covering approximately 752,600 square kilometres, Zambia is a country of high plateaus, river valleys, wetlands, forests and open grasslands.

Zambia population of just over 20 million people represent a substantial increase from the 13 million people in 2010. Zambia’s capital and largest city is Lusaka, a rapidly growing centre of government, commerce and culture. English is the official language, while numerous Zambian languages are spoken throughout the country. Zambia is home to 73 tribes and a remarkable variety of cultural traditions, ceremonies, music and crafts.

For most people, Zambia is best known for Victoria Falls, Yet the country extends far beyond these famous attractions. From the remote floodplains of the west to the wildlife-rich valleys of the east and the enormous wilderness areas of the north, Zambia offers a sense of space and adventure that is increasingly difficult to find elsewhere.

Water is one of Zambia’s defining features. The Zambezi River is the country’s most famous waterway, but Zambia also contains major lakes, wetlands and numerous waterfalls. Its protected areas are equally impressive. Around 30 percent of Zambia’s land is reserved for wildlife, with 20 national parks and 36 game management areas.

Southern Zambia

Southern Zambia is where most international visitors begin their journey, particularly around Livingstone and Victoria Falls. Livingstone is the gateway to Mosi-oa-Tunya, traditionally translated as “The Smoke That Thunders.” Victoria Falls is one of the world’s great natural spectacles, where the Zambezi River plunges dramatically into a deep gorge before continuing through the surrounding landscape.

The Livingstone area offers far more than sightseeing at the Falls. here you can experience boat trips on the Zambezi, wildlife encounters, and river activities.

Further North is Lake Kariba creating an enormous aquatic landscape, with sunsets, wildlife and bush camping along the lake.

Southern Zambia also includes large portions of Kafue National Park, one of Africa’s great wilderness areas. Kafue National Park, is where golden grasslands stretch beyond the horizon and wildlife moves silently through the wilderness. Its enormous size means that overlanders can travel off road, bush camp and where wildlife encounters can feel wonderfully unpredictable. Lochinvar National Park, with its wetlands and birdlife, adds another dimension to the region.

But protecting this incredible place takes courage.

We spend time with the anti-poaching squad as they patrolled through the bush, tracking signs of danger and protecting elephants, lions, and other wildlife. Every distant sound felt important, every footprint told a story, and every patrol carried a purpose.In Kafue, adventure is not just about discovering the wild—it is about meeting the brave people who risk everything to keep it alive.

Overlanders who want relatively accessible tourism infrastructure, Southern Zambia is an ideal introduction to the country.

Eastern Zambia

Eastern Zambia is perhaps best known for the extraordinary South Luangwa National Park. Set around the Luangwa River and its seasonal lagoons and floodplains, the park has earned an international reputation for wildlife, and walking safaris. South Luangwa can offer encounters with elephants, hippos, crocodiles, lions, leopards and numerous antelope species.

Beyond South Luangwa is the more remote North Luangwa National Park. It receives far fewer overlanders and is particularly appealing to overlanders who want wilderness without the crowds. The region has a raw and isolated character, with extensive bush, river systems and limited development.

Eastern Zambia is also culturally important. The area is associated with the Ngoni people and the annual Nc’wala ceremony, a major traditional celebration that reflects the country’s living cultural heritage.

The eastern region therefore combines some of Zambia’s finest wildlife experiences with strong cultural traditions and increasingly adventurous opportunities for overlanders willing to explore beyond the established tourist routes.

Western Zambia

Western Zambia is a world apart. Vast, sparsely populated and dominated by waterways and floodplains, it is one of the country’s most distinctive regions. Mongu is the provincial capital and an important gateway to the enormous Barotse Floodplain, associated with the Lozi people.

The annual flooding of the Zambezi transforms the landscape, creating an immense wetland that supports communities, wildlife and birdlife.

Western Zambia is also home to Liuwa Plain National Park, an extraordinary and remote wilderness famous for its expansive grasslands and wildlife migrations, another opportunity to experience Zambia’s wild and relatively undeveloped side.Sioma Ngwezi National Park, closer to the Zambezi River and the Namibian border,

For Overlanders looking for remote Africa, Western Zambia is particularly rewarding. Roads can be challenging, distances are substantial and infrastructure is more limited than around the touristy areas around Livingstone or South Luangwa. But these challenges are part of the appeal. The reward is a landscape of enormous skies, seasonal waters, traditional villages and wilderness that can feel almost untouched.

Northern Zambia

Northern Zambia is one of the country’s great frontiers. The region receives considerably fewer international visitors than Victoria Falls or South Luangwa.

Lake Tanganyika dominates the far north, creating a spectacular freshwater environment along Zambia’s border with Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lake is renowned for its clear water, fishing and aquatic biodiversity, while the surrounding region offers a very different experience from the dry savannah landscapes associated with southern Zambia.

Getting to Chimfunshi is part of the adventure. tucked away in the remote forests of northern Zambia, is one of the world’s most remarkable chimpanzee sanctuaries. Its remote setting, far from Zambia’s better-known tourist routes, gives the sanctuary a real sense of wilderness. For Overlanders travelling through northern Zambia, a visit to Chimfunshi offers an unforgettable encounter with chimpanzees.

Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, Home to more than 150 rescued chimpanzees, it provides a safe and natural environment where these intelligent and social animals can live away from the threats they once faced.

Visiting Chimfunshi is a wonderfully peaceful experience. Rather than being a place where you can touch or feed the animals, it offers the chance to observe chimpanzees living together in large, forested areas. Being allowed to camp and be able to watch their personalities, relationships and playful behaviour make bush camping in the orphange incredibly rewarding.

Kasanka National Park is another northern highlight and is particularly famous for its annual fruit bat migration, when huge numbers of bats gather in the forest. The surrounding wetlands and forests also provide excellent opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife observation.

Further north, the Luapula region and its waterfalls add to the area’s attraction. The northern and north-western parts of the country contain numerous waterfalls and some exceptionally remote scenery.

Northern Zambia is ideal for adventurous overlanders who are prepared to travel longer distances in exchange for solitude, unusual wildlife and landscapes that remain largely outside the mainstream safari circuit.

Remote Zambia: The Country Beyond the Famous Attractions

One of Zambia’s greatest strengths is its remoteness. While Victoria Falls and South Luangwa are internationally recognised destinations, much of the country remains quiet and lightly visited. The North Luangwa wilderness, Liuwa Plain, Bangweulu Wetlands, West Lunga National Park, the Barotse Floodplain and remote parts of Kafue all demonstrate how much there is to discover away from the main tourist routes.

Travelling through these areas requires patience. Distances can be long, roads can become difficult during the rainy season and some destinations have limited accommodation and services. However, the absence of crowds is precisely what makes them special. A remote Zambian safari can feel less like visiting a conventional tourist attraction and more like entering a functioning wilderness.

A Country of Wildlife, Water and Wilderness

Zambia’s appeal lies in the variety of experiences it offers. As a overlander you can stand beside one of the world’s greatest waterfalls in the morning, paddle quietly along the Zambezi in the afternoon and sit around a remote campfire beneath a sky filled with stars at night watching wildlife roaming around your bushcamp

The country is home to an impressive range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, hippos and numerous antelope species. Birdlife is equally important, with Zambia recording around 860 bird species. Its rivers, lakes and wetlands make it especially attractive to birdwatchers and anglers as well as traditional safari travellers.