Country Guide • Zambia
Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bound by Angola to the west, Namibia to the south, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to the south east, Malawi to the east, Tanzania to the north east and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) to the north west. The Zambezi River together with Lake Kariba forms the frontier with Zimbabwe.
| Official Name | Republic of Zambia |
|---|---|
| Area | 752,619km² (290,588mile²) |
| Population | 10,307,000 |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population per mile² | 35 |
| Capital City | Lusaka |
| Religions | 34% Protestant, 26% Roman Catholic. 25% Muslims and Hindus, 1% follow local native tribal beliefs. |
| Language | English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages |
| Government | Republic |
| Currency | Kwacha |
| GDP | $8.9 billion |
| GDP per Head | $890 |
| Natural Resources | Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower |
| Land Use | Arable Land 7% |
| Agriculture | Cassava (tapioca), coffee, corn, cotton, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, sugarcane, and livestock inc. cattle, goats, pigs and poultry |
| Industry | |
| Tourism | Zambia has excellent national parks full of exotic birds and animals, and home to some of the finest safari camps and lodges in the whole of southern Africa. The country shares (with Zimbabwe) Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River - two of the region's major tourist highlights. These two tourist centres also have a great range of activities ranging from canoeing to white-water rafting and bungee jumping. The British and Foreign Commonwealth Office advise against travel to areas of Zambia bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. |
| Natural Hazards | Periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April) |
| Health Risks | Cholera, malaria, polio, typhoid, yellow fever |
| Climate | Zambia has a mild tropical climate with cooler conditions in the higher ground. There are three seasons. A cool dry season from May - August. A hot dry season from September - November and a warm wet season from December - April. Average rainfall varies between 40 - 50 inches in the north and reducing to 21 inches in the south. Average temperature ranges in Lusaka are from 9 to 23°C in July to 18 to 31°C in October |
| Time | GMT/UTC+2 hours |
| National Days | March 12 Youth Day May 1 Labour Day May 25 African Freedom Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation) July 7 Heroes’ Day July 8 Unity Day August 4 Farmers’ Day October 24 Independence Day |
| Visas | British passport holders and most other foreign nationals require a visa to enter Zambia. Visas are available at all ports of entry at a cost of £35 for a single entry and £45 for a multiple entry. British Nationals are asked to pay their Visa fees in Sterling. It is important to carry the exact amount with you, as change may not be given The departure tax of 20 US Dollars for non residents is payable only in that currency |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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