ZAMBIA
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Named after the River Zambezi, Zambia is often described as the "Real Africa", a country of vast, unspoilt wild areas, with some of the largest and best game viewing potential on the African continent. Zambia is a republic and the official language English, seven Bemba languages and about 70 other indigenous languages are also spoken.

Lusaka is the capital and other major towns are Livingstone, Kabwe, Kitwe and Ndola. Airports include Lusaka, Livingstone, Luangwa National Park, Kafue National Park, and at time of writing UK residents require a visa.

The Victoria Falls, named by Dr David Livingstone after the British queen, are for many one of the highlights of a visit to Zambia. The local name of the falls is "Mosi oa Tunya" - the smoke that thunders.

Archaeological excavations have shown that early man lived near the Falls which became a World Heritage site in 1986.

Zambia's lakes provide opportunities for boating, sailing and other watersports. The vast Lake Kariba that attracts a wide range of animals and birds is shared with Zimbabwe.

The South Luangwa National Park, is part of the Great Rift Valley, with 800 metre high plateaux on either side. Through the middle of the valley runs the Luangwa River, where there is good game viewing with large herds of elephant, lion, leopard, numerous antelope species and certain types of giraffe and wildebeest that are unique to the valley.

The North Luangwa National Park is less visited and more off the beaten track and provides scope for walking safaris. It is noted for the dramatic 1,100 metre Muchinga escarpment where the Mwaleshi River cascades down in a series of waterfalls. Huge herds of buffalo as well as elephant, lion and leopard abound. Some antelope species like oribi, hartebeest, reedbuck and eland are a common sight.

428 different species of birdlife can also be seen in Lochinvar National Park with a number of rarities, it is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in Africa. On the floodplain lechwe antelope graze in their thousands.

Covering 22,500 sq km, Kafue is one of Africa's largest national parks. The Kafue and Lufupa river systems have a diversity of landscapes and extensive wildlife. Kasanka, a wetland park, a refuge for the shy sitatunga antelope, also attracts a number of unusual bird species not normally found in the Southern Africa region.

To the far north, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Nsumbu reserve is home to plentiful game. To the east are the Kalambo Falls. The Lower Zambezi park, lies along the northern bank of the Zambezi River some 400 km downstream of the Victoria Falls - elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra, various antelope and predators such as lion, cheetah and leopard can be seen.