Return to Zambia

Livingstone
Livingstone dates from when the Zambezi Gorge was first bridged in 1904 and has remained one of the area's main tourism areas ever since. A visit here would not be complete without a stop at the narrow-gauge Railway Museum, which is what the locals call the Zambezi Sawmills Locomotive Sheds National Monument. It is located quite close to Livingstone's train station. Here you will find a collection of old engines and rolling stock that, to everyone but a true rail buff, will probably look like a pile of junk. But still, pretty interesting. The National Museum has much more appeal for everyone and features a pretty good collection of archaeological and anthropological relics, including a copy of a Neanderthal skull estimated to be over 100,000 years old. There are also examples of ritual artifacts and Tonga crafts, a reconstructed African village, and a collection of David Livingstone items along with a display of Africa maps dating back to 1690. You may also want to take a peek at the collection of witchcraft paraphernalia. If you are interested, you will have to ask to see it. Livingstone is located about 180 miles  south-west of Lusaka, and is accessible from the capital by bus or train.

Lusaka
Lusaka is a sprawling city that actually has little appeal for travelers. But, as it is the capital,  you're likely to spend some time in it. Downtown is in the western part of the city; the government district lies a few blocks east. There are several galleries featuring local artists and among the best are the Henry Tayali Visual Arts Gallery at the Show grounds, the Mpala Gallery, and  the sculpture garden at the Garden House Hotel. Just north-west of the center is the Zintu Community Museum, which has exhibits of traditional arts and crafts. The one area you will want to visit would be the bustling open-air Kamwala Market, a few blocks south of the town center. The capital is in the southern part of the country about 60 miles from the Zimbabwe border and it is accessible by air, rail and bus.

Ngonye (Sioma) Falls
This falls, if located anywhere else in the world, would be the major attraction of the area. However, with Victoria Falls, it has to rank second. The best thing about the falls, apart from its beauty, is that is pretty much free of the tourist trappings of Victoria. Although Ngonye only falls a few feet, the broad expanse of the cascade makes for a magnificent sight. For the adventurous, there is plenty of good white-water rafting below the falls. Nearby is Sioma Ngwezi National Park, where you can spot elephants, especially at night. The falls is about 350 miles east of Lusaka and about 125 miles south of the town of Mongu. The bus from Mongu to the Namibian border can let you off a little less than a mile west of the falls.

Siavonga & Kariba Dam
Located at the northeastern end of Lake Kariba, Siavonga is, for most of the people of Zambia, the closest they get to the seashore. Visitors will enjoy the town as it is quiet and low-key and offers some nice views of the lake on one side and the Zambezi River gorge on the other. The lake is pretty well known for fishing and boating. North (about 25 miles) is the Chirundu Fossil Forest with trees that are over a million years old and lots of Stone Age artifacts. Siavonga is a wonderful place to take in the view of the lake but, be sure to view it from a distance as the crocodiles own the lake and do in about 30 people every year and seem to like tourists equally as well as locals. Siavonga is about 60 miles southeast of Lusaka and can be reach by bus daily.

South Luangwa National Park
For scenery and wildlife-spotting, South Luangwa is probably your best bet as it is the best national park in Zambia. Vegetation within the park ranges from dense woodland to open grassy plains with lots of oxbow lagoons and water holes. Be on the lookout for animals such as  lions, buffalo, zebra, and giraffes. You should also be able to spot an elephant or two as the park has one of Africa's largest elephant populations. You might also spot a leopard or two. There is also a lot of bird life within the park. Especially along the Luangwa River where you'll also be able to spot hippos and crocodiles. Day, night and walking safaris are available, as are horseback safaris and rides. Accommodation includes everything from rustic camp sites and  barebones hostels to comfortable chalets and full-service resorts. The park is located about 150 miles northeast of Lusaka and most visitors arrive by air at Mfuwe Airport, which is about ten miles southeast of the village of Mfuwe and the main gate of the park. You can also arrive by public transport. The park is closed during the rainy season of December to April. South Luangwa National Park

Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is one of the world's most spectacular falls with over a mile-wide series of falls of the Zambezi River as it drops over 300 feet into the steeply-walled gorge. The Zambian side of Victoria Falls, which is often forgotten, provides some of the best views of the falls and many consider this side to be much better than its better-known Zimbabwean counterpart. One of the main differences is that you can actually get quite close to the water by walking down a steep track to the base of the falls. From here you can follow walkways that are perched over the abyss. One of the best close-up would be at Knife Edge Point which is reached by crossing an exciting and hair-raising footbridge through the spray to a cliff-like island in the river. The bridge is safe so, as long as you are here, take the walk. You will be glad you did for if the water is low, and the wind favorable, you'll be treated to a magnificent view of the falls and the great gorge below the Zambezi Bridge. If you are even more adventurous, you can indulge in white-water rafting, abseiling, river-boating, jet-boating, bungee jumping and several airborne activities. There are plenty of opportunities for souvenirs as there are several curio stalls near the falls. Actually, there are some pretty good crafts available here and the sellers love to barter. You should also visit the nearby archaeological site and a small museum with exhibits about the dig that show how humans and their ancestors have inhabited this region for 2.5 million years. The falls are a little over 5 miles southwest of Livingstone. The best way to travel there is by bus or hired car. Victoria Falls