5 Things You Should Know About Zambia – A Truly African Getaway

Zambia, like most African nations, has a long and storied history that can be traced back to many centuries. In fact, the earliest evidence of human activity in the region dates back to over 3 million years ago! For a majority of Zambia's early history, the nomadic Khoisan people dominated the land. The hunter-gatherer societies were joined by the Bantu tribes in later years. During the colonial era, Europeans discovered Zambia far later than other African regions. This was due to the country being found a lot closer to the heart of the continent. Zambia became a British colony in 1888 and gained independence in 1964 after several nationalist movements. All these events have helped shaped the region and the Zambian people – you'll find traces of all these past scenarios as you tour through the country.

Livingstone is one of the most popular places to stay in Zambia. Chances are you'll also be taking it easy at one of the many hotels in Livingstone – such as the Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara – during your time in Zambia. However, you might not know that this historic British colonial city was named after a very special person. Dr. David Livingstone was a missionary by trade and an ardent explorer at that. During the 1800s, during the height of the colonial period, Livingstone made his name by exploring Southern Africa through countless expeditions. He was the first European to discover Victoria Falls and was the first to attempt to navigate the full length of the Zambezi River.

Zambia has some of the largest lakes you'll find in Africa. This also includes the world's largest man-made lake – the massive Kariba Lake. You'll find this immense body of water on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The lake was created by damming a section of the Zambezi River. Prior to the construction of the lake, the Kariba region was a desolate wasteland that had been devastated by raging fires. With the creation of Lake Kariba, the land flourished and life returned to the region. This is now a great spot to see some Zambian Wildlife.

While Kariba Lake is home to some fantastic animals, it's by no means the only place in Zambia for some excellent wildlife viewing. In fact, Zambia is one of the best locations in Africa to go on safari. Native species include a big game like the African elephant, lion, leopard and Cape buffalo.

Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia and it serves as the central heart of Zambia, and you should definitely make a visit to the city during your tours through the country. Of particular interest here is the Soweto marketplace – a bustling hub of trade and commerce. You'll find everything here from fresh produce to charming souvenirs.