Population: 9,760,000 people

Area: 290,586 square miles

Language: English

Time: +6 hours from New York

Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz

Geography: The country is bounded by Angola, Zaire (Congo) and Tanzania to the north, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south and again Angola to the west. The land are of Zambia is a great undulating plain which slopes to the south. Its main tourist feature is famed Victoria Falls.

Kafu National Park - The park is over 8,500 square miles and is loaded with animal and bird life. Among the species to be found are lions and elephants.

South Luangwa National Park - This park is also known as the "Crowded Valley" not because of people but because of all the spectacular wildlife. It 3,500 square miles has one of Africa's best stocked sanctuaries.

Victoria Falls - One of the great natural wonders of the world, this spectacular site is almost without equal. The thunderous sound deep within the narrow canyon with the endless avalanche of water is simply unforgettable. From Knofe Bridge you can view the falls directly. Another viewing point is Boiling Pot. Nearby is the National Museum where Dr. Livingstone's notebook in which he wrote his first impressions of the falls are written. You can take a cruise on the Zambezi River at sundown and see hippos and crocodiles just floating in the water. The Maramba Cultural Center is a place where ancients arts and practices are kept alive in a real village setting.

Tipping: Although officially tipping is not encouraged it is very much appreciated. Service charges are included in hotel nd restaurant bills. Porters and taxi drivers should get small change.

Shopping: Store are usually open by 8 am and close at 1 pm. They later reopen at 2 pm and close again at 5 pm. Stores are closed on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays. The most popular items to get in Zambia are beadwork, carvings, copperware and gemstones. Bargaining should be done with street vendors but not in the regular stores.

Food and Drink: A corn mash which is mixed with fish and/or meat is the main meal of Zambians. In most hotels you will find international menus with a fairly wide choice. Water in the hotels is usually safe to drink. Soft drinks and beer are plentiful. A drink which is based on soybeans is called Chibuku is popular in Zambia.

Social: Half of the country's population lives in the cities leaving the countryside to be sparsely settled. In fact, ZAmbia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. There are 35 different ethnic groups in Zambia with English being the unifying language.

Business: Business suits are recommended for all meetings and should be conservative in nature. Safari suits should not be worn in the cities. Business cards are essential as are appointments made well in advance.

Money and Banks

Banking: Banks are open by 8:30 in the morning and remain open until 12:45 weekdays except on Thursdays when they close at noon and on Saturdays when they close at 11 am.

Currency: The Kwacha (ZK)

Money Exchange: Banks are a good place to exchange currency, but here hotels do a good job as well with often the same rates as bank and much greater convenience. Keep all exchange receipts!

Credit cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club

Climate

Although Zambia sits in a tropical position in Africa, most of the country is high plateau ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 ft. The altitude tempers the climate and at times during the winter some parts will actually freeze. The cool time is from May to July and the rainy season is from November to April.