Zambia – country information

Country name	Zambia
Official name	Republic of Zambia
Capital	Lusaka
Continent	Africa
Area	752,618 km2
Population	14,580,290 (2013)
Foundation of a state	24/10/1964
The highest mountains	Nyika massif 2164 m
Longest rivers	Zambezi 2660 km (inland 1600 km)
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Lusaka (Capital) 1,250,000, Ndola 510,000, Kitwe 410,000
Official language	English
Ethnicity/National Composition	Bemba groups 37%, Maravi (Naja) 18%, Tonga 15%, Northwest tribes 10%, Barotze 8%, Mambwe 4.5%, Tumbuka 4.5%, others 3%
Religious affiliation	Protestant 35%, Roman Catholic 26%, African Christian 8%, Other Christian 2%, Traditional African Faith 29%
Currency	1 Zambian kwacha (K) = 100 ngwee
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$1,683 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	40.03 years (2006)

Zambia – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
Angola	Luanda	1,246,700 km2	20,609,294
Botswana	Gaborone	581,730 km2	2,024,904
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Kinshasa	2,344,860 km2	67,514,000
Malawi	Lilongwe	118,484 km2	16,363,000
Mozambique	Maputo	801,590 km2	23,700,715
Namibia	Windhoek	824,292 km2	2,113,077
Tanzania	At home	945,087 km2	44,928,923
Zimbabwe	Harare	390,757 km2	12,973,808

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Zambia is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. To the north it borders Zaire, whose province of Katanga runs deep into it and almost divides it in two. It borders Angola and Namibia to the west and southwest, Mozambique and Malawi to the east, and Tanzania to the northeast.

Without access to the sea. Common borders in the north – with Congo, in the northeast – with Tanzania, in the east – with Malawi, in the south – with Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, in the west – with Angola. The capital is Lusaka.

The climate is tropical. Lions, rhinos, antelopes live.

For some, the name Zambia may seem completely unfamiliar or evoke vague associations with the African savannas. But the great East African Rift Valley, splitting the earth from the south of Zambia to the headwaters of the Nile in Egypt, is now known as one of the cradles of mankind. It turns out that the territory of the current country was inhabited by our ancestors for countless years.

Resorts and attractions of Zambia

It is for the danger that extreme lovers go to Zambia and the locals have long adapted to the mores of brave travelers. Having done away with agriculture and fishing, the natives began to engage in the tourism business associated with extreme sports.

This is abseiling ( Abseil ) and its variety Rap Run – descent into a 50-meter gorge upside down.
Flying Fox, when you are attached to a sagging cable stretched over the gorge, and then released into free flight and you fly 50 m in 3.5 seconds, and then start swinging on the cable over the middle of the gorge.
Bungi Jumping ) – 111-meter jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge. Both single jumps and tandem jumps are offered.
Challenge yourself and, having overcome the barrier of horror, jump down from the bridge, behind which waterfalls rumble, and under which the mighty Zambezi boils.

Zambian safari – an escape to a unique virgin area. Half of the country is preserved in national parks and reserves, where wild rivers, roaring waterfalls and fat herds of wild animals define the untouched landscape.

Country data

Location: South Africa

Time zone: CET + 1 (during summer time: CET)

Total area: 752,618 km²

Land area: 743,398 km²

Water area: 9,220 km²

Length of the state border: 5,664 km

Bordering countries:
Angola: 1,110 km
Botswana: 0.1 km
Congo, Democratic Rep.: 1,930 km
Malawi: 837 km
Mozambique: 419 km
Namibia: 233 km
Zimbabwe: 797 km
Tanzania: 338 km

Coastline: 0 km

Capital: Lusaka

Provinces: 10
Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Telephone code: 00 260 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: 2,301 m

Population

Population: approx. 14.6 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 2.9% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 19

Life expectancy: 50 (male), 53 (female)

Official language: English

Religions:

• 75% Protestants
• 20% Roman Catholic
• 5% other

Climate

Zambia has a tropical climate with a total of three different seasons:

November – April:

• Rainy season with partly strong thunderstorms
• quick change between rain and sunshine
• it is very hot, with daytime temperatures of 25 – 40 ° C

May – August:

• there is little rain
• Daily temperatures of 15 – 25 ° C
• Night temperatures around 3 – 12 ° C

September October:

• it rains very rarely
• it’s hot, with daytime temperatures of 25 – 32 ° C

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Kwacha (ZMW)

Classification: 1 Kwacha = 100 Ngwee

ATMs: only available in larger banks. Often only accept the VISA card.

International credit cards: Accepted in large hotels and shops.

Regulations: National and foreign currencies can be introduced indefinitely. The export is limited to the declared amount.

A declaration is required for the equivalent value of US $ 5,000 or more. It is advisable to have smaller amounts declared.

All currency exchanges must be entered in a declaration form by the relevant bank, which must be kept until departure.

Payment in US dollars is also very often expected. You should therefore carry as many small dollar bills as possible with you.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 450 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

All other objects of value must be declared upon entry.

The export of wild animals or parts of their bodies is prohibited. This also applies to tusks, horns, bones, etc. Even if these come from animals that have already died.

Travel advice

As armed attacks continue to occur, you should avoid the border region with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The border area to Angola is also very unsafe and should not be visited if possible.

There are unmarked mine fields in the border regions with Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique.

In all parts of the country there are repeated blackouts. Disturbances in the travel process and activities must therefore always be expected.

Behavioral advice

Thefts, armed robberies and car break-ins are the order of the day in the capital and in many large metropolitan areas.

Occasionally there is also what is known as car jacking. You should therefore keep all windows and doors locked during every journey and also lock them from the inside.

Since many roads are in an extremely poor condition, it is advisable not to drive overland after dark.

Tap water should be boiled well before use.

Economy

The mining and export of copper and copper products bring over 80% of the urgently needed foreign currency into the country.

Although precious metals (e.g. gold and silver) and ores are also mined, large parts of the industry are focused on copper.

In agriculture, products are mainly grown for personal use.

Tourism still plays a subordinate role.

Industries: Chemical industry, copper mining and processing, food production, light industry, textile production

Natural resources: iron ores, gold, cobalt, coal, copper, silver, uranium, hydropower, zinc

Land use:

• Usable land: 7%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 40%
• Forests: 39%
• other: 14%

Plants

Tree species are particularly diverse in Zambia. The regions that have a high annual rainfall are very dense and well preserved.

There are many different types of grass and bushes in the vast savannahs.

Animals

In the many national parks of the country, the entire African fauna can spread undisturbed. The bird world with over 600 different animal species is just as diverse as the abundance of fish in the rivers and lakes of Zambia.

In addition to monkeys, buffalos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, rhinos, jackals and zebras, many smaller animals are at home in the forests and savannahs.

Since the animals live almost without exception in the wild, Zambia is a popular travel destination for those interested in nature.