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Zambia is the quintessence of the most authentic, wild and unfiltered Africa. Far from the crowded tourist circuits, this land blessed by mythical flows offers an intimate communion with nature in its purest state. Here, the deafening roar of the Zambezi River rushes into the void at Victoria Falls, raising a mist visible for tens of kilometres, while legendary river valleys such as Luangwa are home to the highest density of leopards on the continent and keep alive the tradition of the walking safari, where each footprint on the land brings back the excitement of the primitive explorer. From the floodplains of Busanga to the forests where millions of bats darken the sky at dusk, Zambia dazzles with its biodiversity and captivates forever thanks to the sincere, peaceful and generous smile of its people.
Capital
Lusaka
Population
18.383.955
Langue
Inglés
Sites du patrimoine de l'UNESCO
0

Scores basés sur des données réelles de 0 à 100
In Livingstone, Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) displays a curtain of water more than 1.7 km wide falling more than 100 meters deep. During the season of low flow (August to December), the most intrepid can access Livingstone Island and immerse themselves in the 'Devil's Pool', a natural rock pool located exactly on the edge of the cliff, contemplating the free fall of the water just a few centimeters away.
Invented by celebrated conservationist Norman Carr in the 1950s, the South Luangwa National Park walking safari is the ultimate experience for wildlife lovers. Accompanied by an expert guide and an armed ranger ('scout'), you will walk in single file learning to read fresh footprints in the sand, interpret the alarm sounds of birds and approach elephants, Thornicroft's giraffes and herds of buffalo on foot.
Lower Zambezi National Park offers one of the most exciting water safaris in Africa. Gliding silently in a canoe with the current allows you to skirt river islands where elephants swim among water lilies, while hundreds of hippos puff in the backwaters and giant crocodiles sunbathe on the sandy shores.
Between late October and December, the small Kasanka National Park hosts the largest concentration of mammals on the planet: more than 10 million straw-colored fruit bats arrive from the Congo basin to feed on wild berries. Climbing platforms built in the treetops at dawn and dusk to see the sky completely covered by millions of winged silhouettes is a hypnotic natural spectacle.
The Bangweulu Wetlands ('where the water meets the sky') are a vast lake and swamp paradise. Sailing in small wooden boats through papyrus canals guided by local fishermen allows you to track the emblematic shoebill (*Balaeniceps rex*), a solitary bird with a prehistoric appearance and imposing gaze, in addition to spotting thousands of endemic black lechwe antelopes.
Celebrated at the end of the rainy season (March or April) by the Lozi people on the Barotseland Plain, the Kuomboka ('coming out of the waters') commemorates the transfer of the king ('Litunga') from the flooded palace of Lealui to the Limulunga plateau. The king sails on the colossal royal barge 'Nalikwanda', decorated with black and white stripes and topped by a replica elephant, propelled by more than 100 rowers to the beat of sacred war drums.
Zambian gastronomy is substantial, natural and deeply linked to the land and rivers. It revolves around Nshima (the sacred staple food), enriched with an immense variety of accompaniments ('ndiwo' or 'relishes') made with freshwater fish, wild green leaves cooked with peanut paste, roasted meats and seasonally harvested delicacies such as giant mushrooms and forest caterpillars.
In Zambia there is a saying: 'If you haven't eaten Nshima, you haven't eaten'. It is a consistent, hot dough made by cooking refined white corn flour ('mealie meal') with water until it achieves an elastic and soft texture. It is eaten with the right hand, molding small portions with the fingers to create a hollow base with which to collect sauces and stews.
Nshima is always accompanied by one or several 'ndiwo' (stews or accompaniments). Dense sauces made from ground raw peanuts and young green leaves (pumpkin, sweet potato or cassava) provide an essential nutritional and aromatic balance to the daily diet.
The quintessential Zambian lunch. Hot Nshima served with a hearty beef stew in tomato and onion sauce, accompanied by 'chibwabwa' (tender pumpkin leaves simmered with fresh peanut powder).
One of Zambia's most unique culinary creations. It is made from ground dried wild orchid tubers, mixed with crushed peanuts, hot chili and salt, cooked and pressed to a firm texture similar to a vegetable sausage, which is cut into slices and served hot or cold.
Very popular small silvery freshwater fish caught in Lake Kariba or Tanganyika. They are dried in the sun and then fried with onion, tomato and chilies until extremely crispy, consumed whole with Nshima.
Traditional and very comforting vegetable dish. Assorted green leaves (wild spinach, cassava leaves or pumpkin) simmered in a rich, thick sauce of ground peanuts, poached tomato and onion, providing an unmistakable creamy texture.
Fresh river fish (Zambezi River bream or tilapia) marinated with lemon, garlic, salt and paprika, roasted whole over charcoal embers until the skin is crispy and the meat juicy, served with tomato and onion sauce ('shito').

Caterpillars collected from trees during the rainy season, boiled and dried in the sun. They are sautéed with salt, garlic, onion and tomato to give them a crunchy texture and an earthy, concentrated flavor rich in protein.
Traditional non-alcoholic drink made from crushed roots of the munkoyo tree fermented with white corn porridge. It has a yellowish color, slightly sweet and sour flavor, and is offered as a symbol of hospitality during festivities.

Zambia's most celebrated national beer, named after the Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls. It is a clear, refreshing and smooth 'lager', ideal to enjoy at sunset in front of the African savanna.
Traditional commercial low-alcohol beer made from corn and fermented sorghum. Sold in distinctive cartons, it has a thick, smoothie-like consistency and must be shaken before drinking.
Natural and revitalizing drink prepared by dissolving the dry white pulp of the baobab pods in cold, strained and slightly sweetened water, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
Small fluffy and sweet Swahili heritage fritters made with rice flour, cane sugar, yeast and flavored with cardamom, fried in special molds until golden brown.
The everyday dessert par excellence is fresh seasonal fruit: juicy sweet mangoes in summer, ripe papayas, giant avocados and wild fruits of the forest such as 'masuku' (sweet wild fruit with a plum and caramel flavor).
Sweet fritters made of soft dough with condensed milk and flour, fried in hot oil and bathed in a syrup flavored with nutmeg and cinnamon, popular for snacks.
Local peanuts roasted over an open flame in a frying pan and covered with a crunchy crust of burnt cane sugar and a pinch of salt, a sweet snack ubiquitous in roadside stands.
Zambia is home to some of the most impressive river ecosystems and wildlife reserves on the African continent, combining monumental waterfalls, exclusive walking safaris and prehistoric wetlands.
Livingstone is the undisputed capital of adventure. In addition to Victoria Falls and Falls Bridge (where bungee jumping is practiced), Batoka Canyon offers world-class whitewater rafting, microlight or helicopter flights ('The Flight of Angels') and luxury sunset river cruises.
South Luangwa is one of Africa's best parks: lagoons formed by ancient river bends with massive concentrations of hippos, Crawshay's zebras and night safaris to spot leopards. Further north, North Luangwa offers an even more remote and wild experience with mobile camps to track lions and reintroduced black rhinos.
Located opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools Park, Lower Zambezi combines escarpment mountains with acacia forested floodplains. It is the perfect sanctuary to combine safaris in open 4x4 vehicles with motorboat navigation, canoeing and catch-and-release sport fishing for the combative tiger fish (*Hydrocynus vittatus*).
With more than 22,000 km², Kafue is the oldest and largest park in the country. In the north, the Busanga Plains dry out in winter, attracting large herds of roan and sable antelopes, cheetahs, wild dogs (African wild dogs) and prides of lions that climb trees to spy on their prey.
Bangweulu offers a pristine marsh ecosystem home to the shoebill and thousands of black lechwe antelopes. Nearby is Kasanka National Park, famous for its annual bat migration, and Kundalila Waterfall, which plunges 70 meters into a botanical amphitheater of wildflowers.
In the far north, Lake Tanganyika (the second deepest in the world) and Nsumbu National Park offer crystal-clear freshwater beaches free of crowds, sport fishing and snorkelling among multicolored cichlid fish. In the south, the immense Lake Kariba invites you to sail in houseboats surrounded by baobab forests.
Zambia has relaxed its entry requirements by waiving visa fees for many nationalities (including EU, UK and US citizens for short stays). If you plan to frequently cross into Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls from both sides or take a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana, apply for the 'KAZA UniVisa' ($50) upon arrival at the airport or land border.
There is a risk of malaria throughout the year in most of Zambia (especially in river valleys such as Luangwa and Zambezi). It is essential to take antimalarial prophylaxis prescribed by a doctor, use repellent with DEET at dawn and dusk, and sleep under a mosquito net. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you come from an endemic country.
It drives on the left side. The main paved roads linking Lusaka, Livingstone and Chipata are in good condition, but access roads within the national parks (South Luangwa, Kafue) are dirt or deep sand. To travel on your own ('self-drive'), a 4x4 vehicle with a gearbox, air compressor and shovel is essential; During the rainy season (December to April) many tracks are completely impassable.
The official currency is the Zambian Kwacha (ZMW). Prices in United States Dollars (USD, preferably issued after 2013) are commonly accepted and quoted at safari lodges and adventure activities in Livingstone. For tolls, local markets, small businesses and tips to guides and trackers, it is necessary to carry cash in Kwachas.
This guide is your passport to one of the last truly wild Edens on the African continent. Zambia will captivate you with the overwhelming power of its waterfalls, the serenity of the Zambezi River and the incomparable emotion of listening to the heartbeat of the savanna on foot. Plan your safaris in advance, respect the majesty of nature and prepare for a trip that will awaken all your senses. Mwaiseni ku Zambia (Welcome to Zambia)!
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