The landlocked country of Zambia gets its name from the prominent Zambezi River that runs through it and for many this is the main reason for visiting Zambia. The small population of the country is mainly concentrated in the capital of Lusaka or around the rich copper belt. In the south, Zambia borders all of South Africa’s northern neighbors, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is on the northern border and Tanzania on the northeast border, while Malawi borders on its eastern side and Angola on its western border.

The area was peacefully visited, apparently sporadically, by British explorers during the 18th and 19th centuries without much effort to colonize the area. In the late 19th century, through a peaceful agreement with local chiefs, the area became the British protectorate known as Northern Rhodesia. For most of the colonial period, the region was never ruled by more than 400 former patriotic British administrators. This is a small number compared to some of the British colonies of this era and could not have been achieved without the cooperation of local rulers and citizens. In 1964, the country gained independence, became part of the Common Wealth of Nations, and adopted the name Zambia.

Despite being recognized by the World Bank as the world’s most progressive developing economy, 68% of the population still lives below the recognized poverty line. Historically, the economy had been based on copper mining until production fell in the 1970s and the world copper price plummeted. Today, Zambia has a lot to gain from the tourism industry. Being in the sub-Saharan section of Africa means that it has the same abundance of wildlife and game reserves that have made Botswana, South Africa and Namibia favorites among foreign travelers.

Kafue National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Zambia, at 22,400 square kilometers it is the second largest national park in the world and is almost the size of Wales. The wildlife here is abundant and the Big 5 reside. Prides of up to twenty lions have been seen in the park, attracted by the huge herd of antelope that graze in the area, as well as wild bees and zebras. Incorporated into the park are the Busahnga Plains, a vast expanse of wetlands that has never been spoiled by human development.

Another important source of tourism income is the Zambezi River and available fishing. Fishing in the Zambezi River is some of the best in the world, and world-famous tigerfish are found here in abundance, attracting big game fishermen from around the world. The tiger fish is known as a fierce fighter and any self-respecting angler wants to try to get one. The reputation they have earned comes from their incredible speed and sharp teeth. Some fishermen claim that they are one of the fastest freshwater fish in the world, if not the fastest. They can grow up to 30 pounds, although anything between 15 and 20 pounds is considered a decent trophy.