Why travel in Zambia
The landlocked country of Zambia gets its name from the prominent Zambezi River that runs through it, and for many, this is the main reason to visit Zambia. The country’s small population is mainly concentrated in the capital of Lusaka or around the rich copper belt. In the south, Zambia borders all of South Africa’s northern neighbors, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Namibia. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is on the northern border and Tanzania is on the north-eastern border, while Malawi borders on its eastern side and Angola on its western border.
The area was peacefully visited, it seems, sporadically by British explorers during the 18th and 19th centuries without much effort to colonize the area. In the late 19th century, by peaceful agreement with local chiefs, the area became the British protectorate known as Northern Rhodesia. For most of the colonial period, the region was never ruled by more than 400 ex-patriot British administrators. This is a small number compared to some of the British colonies of this time and could not have been achieved without the cooperation of local rulers and citizens. In 1964, the country gained independence, became part of the common wealth of nations, and took the name of Zambia.
Despite being recognized by the World Bank as the most progressive developing economy in the world, 68% of the population still lives below the recognized poverty line. Historically, the economy had been based on copper mining until production fell in the 1970s and the world price of copper plummeted. Today, Zambia has a lot to gain from the tourism industry. Being in the sub-Saharan section of Africa means it has the same abundance of wildlife and game reserve that has made Botswana, South Africa and Namibia favorites with foreign travelers.
Kafue National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Zambia, at 22,400 square kilometres, it is the second largest national park in the world and is almost the size of Wales. Wildlife here is abundant and the Big 5 are in residence. Packs of up to twenty lions have been seen in the park, drawn to the huge herd of antelope that graze in the area, as well as wild bees and zebras. Incorporated into the park is the Busahnga Plains, a vast expanse of wetlands that has never been marred by human development.
Another major source of tourism revenue is the Zambezi River and the available fishing. Fishing in the Zambezi River is some of the best in the world, and the world famous tiger fish, tigerfish, are found here in abundance, attracting big game anglers from around the world. The Tiger Fish is known as a fierce fighter and any self-respecting angler wants to try and catch one. The reputation they have earned stems from their incredible speed and sharp teeth. Some anglers claim that they are one of the fastest, if not the fastest, freshwater fish in the world. They can grow up to 30 pounds, although anything between 15 and 20 pounds is considered a decent trophy.