Things to do in Zambia

The very fact that it has remained so unspoiled and untouched makes Zambia a wonderful holiday destination. Here visitors enjoy a variety of natural attractions including waterfalls, rivers and lakes in magnificent surroundings, plus a variety of wildlife in two protected wilderness areas.

Zambia is a huge country, 750,000 square kilometers in size. Although land-locked, it has many lakes and rivers with beaches, offering a variety of water sports. It is also the birthplace of two great rivers, the Zambezi and the Zaire, providing opportunities for canoeing, rafting and fishing.

Livingstone is the stepping-stone to the Victoria Falls. The town offers a zoological park, the Livingstone Museum and the Maramba Cultural Village. Often described as “the Real Africa,” Zambia offers an incredible wildlife experience.

The Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular plunges: the two kilometers wide (1.2 miles) Zambezi River drops over 100 meters (330 feet) into a steeply walled gorge. The Zambian side of Victoria Falls is sometimes forgotten, but it provides an entirely separate experience to its better-known Zimbabwean counterpart. Featuring different views, you can sidle right up to the falling water by walking down a steep track to the base of the falls and following spindly walkways perched over the abyss. One of the best spots for a close-up is at Knife Edge Point, reached by crossing a hair-raising (but safe) footbridge through swirling clouds of spray to a cliff-girt island in the river. If the water is low and the wind favorable, guests will be treated to a magnificent view of the falls and the yawning abyss below the Zambezi Bridge. Other breakneck ways of taking in the scene include flying over the area, parachuting, white water rafting and making the world’s longest bungee-jump – 111 meters (364 feet) – from the Victoria Falls Bridge.

Souvenir hunters can raid the line of curio stalls near the falls, where there is an excellent selection of crafts and the sellers are keen to barter. Nearby are an archaeological site and a small museum with exhibits on the dig showing that humans and their ancestors have inhabited this region for 2.5 million years.