Zambia, as timeless as the mighty Zambezi whose waters, sometimes turbulent sometimes serene, bring life to this captivating heartland of Africa. Zambia, a land echoing with the throb of the maoma drums, and the spectacle of great herds of game and of teeming shoals of brilliant tropical fish. Zambia, where Africa can be discovered anew, and where tradition and today combine to greet the modern visitor who comes to explore a world where nature is unconfined and unchallenged.

Set on the high plateau of Central Africa, 1300 meters above sea level, Zambia is blessed with landscapes of rolling grasslands, dramatic gorges and exciting wetlands. With a climate that is tempered by its altitude, Zambia is a country to explore at any time of the year.

The wildlife of Zambia is our greatest treasure. No less than nineteen National Parks provide safe and secure habitats for the magnificent herds of elephant, stately giraffe and dramatically striped zebra. One of the great safari experiences is to watch a pride of lions resting in the shade of the baobab tree, with the remains of their kill nearby, while the female keeps a watchful eye on her cubs as they gambol in the sun.

The highlight of any safari in Zambia must be the South Luangwa Valley. Just 75 minutes by air from the Capital, Lusaka, the camps of the South Luangwa are perfect bases from which to explore nature as only Africa can unveil it. Dry grassland crackles underfoot as your walking safari, always accompanied by an experienced ranger, takes you into the bush. Through woodlands and across rocky hillsides, watching out for comically ungainly hornbills, stately Fish Eagles and the brilliantly coloured Carmine Bee-eaters. Cresting the brow of a hill to see a cavalcade of game spread out across the valley. This is Africa as you have never seen it before.

Night game viewing is another new experience. Spotlights pick out the shy nocturnal animals, like bushbabies and sleek genet cats, while the glint in the eye of a leopard reminds us that nature can be cruel as well as enthralling. And when we return to the campfire, and an excellent dinner under the stars, we will dream of today and plan for new adventures tomorrow.

In Southern Zambia lies Kafue National Park, our largest park, with grasslands alive with all kinds of plains game and over 600 species of birds. The Lower Zambezi National Park combines the attractions of big game viewing with canoe and fishing safaris. Land a 30kg Tiger fish, or Ncheni, or a giant Catfish (vundu) which can be up to 90kg.

The Zambezi is the mightiest river in Africa. This great waterway rises in the highlands on the borders of Zambia, Angola and Zaire, and flows right across Central Africa, then through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. The greatest spectacle in all Africa is here in Zambia, where a mile wide curtain of spray draws back to reveal the river plunging into the abyss that is the Victoria Falls. No finer views exist of the falls than from the Knife Edge footbridge, where you stand face to face with the majesty of five million liters of water surging into the chasm every second, and from the Eastern Cataract, where in the early evening the magical spectacle of a moonlight rainbow is caught in the spray. The first European to behold this wonder was David Livingstone, the great explorer who named the falls - known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders - after his Queen. Livingstone gave his own name in turn to the attractive little town that grew up nearby, where now the National Museum displays the fascinating archaeology of Zambia - as well as his notebook recording the very moment he first saw the falls, on 11th November 1855.

Up river the luxury launch Makumbi thrills visitors with wonderful views of hippos, elephants and crocodiles, while below the falls is the Zambezi Gorge, the Mecca for white water rafting. The adrenaline surges as the roller-coaster through the rapids. And if this is too sedate, why not try Bungie jumping the 111 meter drop from the bridge? Definitely not for the faint hearted!

But Zambia is a living, vibrant country offering a warm welcome to visitors from all over the world. Seventy-three languages and dialects demonstrate the diversity of our people (although English is our main tongue), and this is nowhere more manifest than in our culture and the festivals that abound in our towns and villages - like the spectacular Kuomboka ceremony in the Western Province, when a zebra-striped royal barge with 120 paddlers bears the Lozi King and his court.

Zambia is the perfect country in which to explore an Africa that has all but disappeared. An Africa where our nature is conserved and where our heritage is an essential part of today's life. A country that is easy to get to - Lusaka, our modern capital, is served by airlines from Europe and all over Africa - and where modern hospitality is an art form.

There is no finer place in Africa to see the wonders of nature. No finer place to pit your strength and skill against some of the most sporting lake and river fish. To glide along a peaceful river, watching timid antelope coming to the bank to drink...to marvel at the strength of nature as 'The Smoke that Thunders' casts its spray through the most beautiful rainbow in the world...to experience the warmth of a traditional African welcome...and to dream of new adventures that another day will bring...this is Zambia.

Time

Greenwich Mean Time plus 2 hours.

Climate

Tropical with 3 seasons: May-August cool and dry, September-November hot and dry, and December-April wet; temperature range 9 to 28 degrees Celsius; rainfall range 50.8 to 127 centimeters.

Status

Republic.

Capital

Lusaka

Other main towns

Kitwe, Ndola, Kabwe and Mufulira.

Population

9,000,000 aprox.

Official Language

English.

Main religion

Christianity, African religions.

Currency

1 Zambia Kwacha = 100 ngwee.

Exports

Copper, Cobalt, Zinc, Lead, Tobacco.

Imports

Machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, chemicals and related products, basic manufactures, cereals.

Main industries

Mining (copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal), metals and metal products, food processing and beverages, chemicals, textiles, vehicle assembly.

Main crops

Maize, cassava, sorghum and millet, wheat, rice, Soya beans, cotton, tobacco, groundnuts, sugar cane.