10 cool facts about Zambia

written by Intrepid Travel September 25, 2018

Zambia is big, it’s bold and full of incredible wildlife.

One third of the country is made up of national parks. It’s home to the co-shared Victoria Falls (bordering Zimbabwe) and holds everything that there is to love about raw and untamed Africa.

Here are 10 cool facts about Zambia.

1. The termite hills are the size of a house

Termite hills in Zambia can grow as big as a small house. With room for a pony.

2. Zambia is a completely landlocked country

Zambia is surrounded by seven countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

RELATED: WHY ZAMBIA MIGHT BE AFRICA’S MOST UNDERRATED SAFARI DESTINATION

3. The traditional name for Victoria Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya

Mosi-oa-tunya means the ‘Smoke that Thunders’ and, as you can imagine, Victoria Falls truly lives up to its name.

Image by Ignatius Tan / Shutterstock

4. Victoria Falls is double the height of Niagara Falls

Victoria Falls is 108 metres in height. It’s almost double the height of Niagara Falls in Canada.

5. Zambia relies on copper as one of its biggest exports

Zambia’s main export is copper. They produce around 1.5 million tonnes a year.

CHECK OUT INTREPID’S SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES TO ZAMBIA NOW!

6. It’s home to the Big Five of wildlife

All of Africa’s Big Five can be found in Zambia including lions, rhinos and elephants. South Luangwa National Park is a protection area for these animals.

Image by Johan Elzenga

7. The currency of Zambia is called the Zambian kwacha

The local currency is the Zambian kwacha – translating to ‘dawn’. Most of the ATMs give out US dollars which you can use for larger purchases or when paying at hotels and restaurants.

8. There’s a bunch of adventure activities you can do

You can go white water rafting down the Zambezi, canoe through national parks for a closer look at the wildlife, take a chopper flight over Victoria Falls or swing off one of the massive gorges (appropriately dubbed ‘gorge swinging’).

Image by Winsome Brown

9. There’s a massive man-made lake that sustains life to the country

Lake Kariba is the world’s biggest man-made lake and is used for commercial fishing operations and to supply electric hydropower to Zambia and Zimbabwe.

10. Zambia was named after the fourth biggest river in Africa

The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa after the Nile, Congo, and Niger Rivers.

Trying to decide how to travel in Africa? Check out Intrepid’s range of small group safaris today

Feature image by FCG / Shutterstock 

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