Beyond Ourselves: Zambia For Tourists

Trying to get accurate and up to date figures on the various sectors of the Zambian economy is very difficult if not impossible. The Mining industry, mainly copper, has been Zambia’s biggest source of income for many years but due to various worldwide factors the money raised from this sector is decreasing. Tourism meanwhile is growing. As many of you may have seen there has been quite a lot of information in the European and US press regarding Zambia’s potential. At the moment Zambia mainly relies on just two main advertising routes, the Mighty Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and Safaris and wildlife.

Many people would combine both attractions visiting Victoria Falls first. These majestic Falls on the Zambezi River need little introduction. You can visit them all times of year and get a very different feel from an almost dry rock face and cliffs in the dry season to a raging torrent and dense spray all around in the wet season.

Victoria Falls in the dry season

Looking from above Victoria Falls over a very dry Zambezi River at sunset

The Falls with all the spray

Victoria Falls in full flow

Although Livingstone has a small wildlife park, the two major parks are some distance away. Kafue National Park is a huge wildlife area the size of Wales and South Luangwa National Park is smaller but is more suitable for tourists. Both are at least one and a half days drive away from Livingstone. Roads in Zambia are often of poor quality so many people will prefer to fly, but of course that means higher costs. Both parks have all of the “traditional” African animals such as Lion, Leopard and Elephant along with many other animals, birds and reptiles.