Zambian cuisine is largely based on nshima, which is a food prepared from pounded white maize. Nshima is part of nearly every Zambian meal. In traditional communities, the making of nshima is a long process, which includes drying the maize, sorting the kernels, pounding it and then finally cooking it. In addition to nshima, Zambian cuisine includes various types of stew, cooked vegetables and different types of beer. Dried fish and insects are also eaten. The types of relish eaten with nshima can be very simple, such as chibwabwa, or pumpkin leaves. The relish made with green vegetables is generally known as delele or thelele. A unique way to create relish relies on cooking with chidulo and kutendela. Chidulo is used in dishes made with green, leafy vegetables and also for wild mushrooms. Ifisashi is another common food in Zambia. It is a type of stew, made with greens and peanuts and served with nshima. Ifisashi can be vegetarian or cooked meat can be added to the stew. Samp is also eaten in Zambia.

Zambia’s contemporary culture is a blend of values, norms, and material and spiritual traditions of more than 70 ethnically diverse people. Each cultural group is acknowledged and celebrated each year in colourful festivals. Most of the tribes of Zambia moved into the area in a series of migratory waves a few centuries ago. They grew in numbers and many travelled in search of establishing new kingdoms, farming land and pastures.
Before the colonial days, Zambia's different ethnic groups lived in their own communities, each with their own culture. Much of that has changed with urbanisation and influence from western culture, but the people of Zambia still preserve their traditions and celebrate over 20 ceremonies and cultural festivals each year in the different parts of the country.
Traditional Zambian music is characterised by a lot of singing and dancing. The instrument that is played more than any other is the drum, and there there are others such as the thumb piano (kalimba, kathandi, or kangombio in some Zambian languages, or mbira in some cultures), and the kilimba (marimba or xylophone).

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Zambia is an excellent wildlife viewing destination, with the most prominent animal species easily visible. Zambia has all of the Big Five, but rhinos are extremely rare. The black rhino can only be found in North Luangwa, while the white rhino can only be found in Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls). Elephants, buffalo, and lions are common in many parks, and leopards can be found in Kafue, South Luangwa, and the Lower Zambezi, though wild dogs and cheetahs are more difficult to spot. Zambia is one of the wettest countries in Southern Africa, and its rivers and lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities as well as thriving populations of hippos and crocodiles.

Look past the Big Five and you'll find Zambia loaded with captivating rare and endemic species like black lechwe, Crawshays zebra and Thornicrofts giraffe. Liuwa Plain National Park has Africa's second-largest wildebeest migration in November every year, and in Kasanka National Parks 10 million fruit bats take to the skies from October to December. The Kafue lechwe and the black lechwe are special in specific swampy areas.

The best time to visit Zambia for a wildlife viewing experience is during the dry season from May to October when water is scant, and animals assemble at waterholes and rivers. The bush is less lavish as of now, and animals are easier to spot. From October until the rains, it tends to be agonizingly hot. A few streets become blocked during the Wet season from November-April, and a few parks and camps close at this time.

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Zambia has an assorted exhibit of birdlife, making it an optimal destination for visitors to partake in a birding safari. Perhaps the most extraordinary bird in Africa, the Shoebill is also found there. There are more than 700 species to be found all through the numerous assorted diverse ecosystems. The vast majority of the avifauna is found on the Central African Plateau as this region has many ecosystems. There are a few birding areas of interest, which incorporate the Lochinvar National Park, Bangweulu Swamps and the South Luangwa National Park and Kafue. Another extraordinary spot is the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, which has dams that draw in a wide cluster of animal groups.

The best time to visit Zambia for birding is during the wet season in summer between November and March when resident birds are nesting and migratory birds are available. However, getting around remote areas in the wet season will be troublesome. You’ll need to do some careful planning to give your trip the best chance of success. 

Want to Visit Zambia?

• Zambia safaris and tours
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Want to Visit Zambia?

• Zambia safaris and tours
• Accommodations from Zambia

Want to Visit Zambia?

• Zambia safaris and tours
• Accommodations from Zambia

Want to Visit Zambia?

• Zambia safaris and tours
• Accommodations from Zambia

Want to Visit Zambia?

• Zambia safaris and tours
• Accommodations from Zambia