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| Zambia |
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| Language | Currency | Time | Geography | Climate | Health | Transport | Tips | Holidays | Top 10 Attractions in Zambia |
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| General |
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The Republic of Zambia with its 752, 614 km² and about 12 million inhabitants is a landlocked country situated in Southern Africa.
Zambia is a developing country. Its capital is Lusaka and the other important cities are Kitwe, Ndola, Livingstone and Kabwe.
Zambia is divided into nine provinces, each of which divided into several districts.
Provinces: Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North- Western, Southern and Western. |
| Language |
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English (official) and local languages and dialects, such as Bemba, Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale, Tonga and Nyanja. |
| Currency |
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| Kwacha (ZMK). 100 ngwee equal 1 Kwacha |
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| Time |
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GMT/UTC + 2 |
| Geography |
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To the north Zambia borders with Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the north- east Tanzania, to the east Malawi, to the south it borders with Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia and to the west with Angola.
Zambia consists mostly of plateau savannas with some hills and mountains.
Northern part of Zambia is rather flat with broad plains.
In the western part there is the Barotse Floodplain on the Zambezi that floods in the rainy season (November to April). Zambezi River has one of Africa’s best-known natural wonders and one of the world’s most impressive waterfalls, the Victoria Falls.
Eastern plateaus of Zambia reach around 1,800 m, stretch from Zambezi to the Lake Tanganyika and have been categorised as the Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands ecoregion. Hills and mountains can be found in the eastern Zambia where Zambia’s highest point Kongera (2,187 m) can be found.
Lake Tanganyika belongs to the Congo basin. It is connected with the Kalambo River that has Africa’s second highest uninterrupted waterfall, the Kalambo Falls. |
| Climate |
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The climate in Zambia is tropical, mostly dry, with two main seasons: rainy season (November to April) and dry season (May to November) which is subdivided into cool and dry season (May to August) and hot and dry season (September to November).
Average temperature over most of the year is above 20°C. |
| Health |
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Government hospitals and clinics are often short of supplies. Private medical clinics in major cities can provide reasonable care in many cases; however basic medical care outside of major cities can be difficult.
It is advisable to carry basic and prescribed medications during the visit in Zambia.
It is advisable to take precautions against Diphteria, Hepatitis A, Malaria, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid and yellow fever as well.
Malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are major health problems in Zambia. |
| Transport |
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There are several domestic airlines in Zambia that provide flights to over 100 airports, aerodromes and airstrips in the country. Lusaka International is the principal airport. State-owned Zambia Airways is the national airline.
It is also possible to travel around the county by water. Local ferries operate on all waterways.
There are three main rail lines, from Livingstone to Lusaka, from Lusaka to the Copperbelt, and from Kapiri Mposhi to the Northern border with Tanzania. The rail lines are often paralleled by highways.
Although the roads in Zambia are often in poor condition, there is a good road network in the country.
The cheapest way to travel in Zambia is by bus; however busses can become very crowded. |
| Tips for the tourist |
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All foreigners visiting Zambia need visas, but for most nationalities tourist visas are available at major borders, airports and sea ports. It is required to have a proof of yellow fever vaccination. |
| Tanzania public holidays |
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| Date |
Name |
| January 1 |
New Year's Day |
| March 10 |
Youth Day |
| April 2 |
Good Friday- movable |
| April 5 |
Easter Monday- movable |
| May 1 |
Labour Day |
| May 25 |
African Freedom Day |
| July 5 |
Heroes´Day |
| July 6 |
Unity Day |
| August 2 |
Farmers´Day |
| September 3 |
Levy Mwanawasa Day |
| October 24 |
Independence Day |
| December 25 |
Christmas Day |
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| The top 10 tourist attractions in Tanzania: |
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| 1. |
Victoria Falls |
| 2. |
Lake Kariba |
| 3. |
Lake Tanganyika |
| 4. |
Shiwa Ngandu |
| 5. |
Livingstone Memorial |
| 6. |
Lower Zambezi National Park |
| 7. |
South Luangwa National Park |
| 8. |
The Kafue National Park |
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Lusaka |
| 10. |
Lake Mweru |
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| References: |
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2359.htm
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Zambia |
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