Zambia Landmarks and Monuments

(Zambia, ZM, Southern Africa)

Zambia's highlights include one of the most spectacular natural landmarks in the world. Indeed, no African adventure would really be complete without a visit to the Victoria Falls.

Other notable sights to see include a series of impressive river gorges, vast lakes and countless waterfalls. Visitors can also head to several manmade landmarks and monuments, including the memorial dedicated to the famous explorer Livingstone.

Keen sightseers prepared to travel may like to check out the Freedom Statue in Lusaka, the breathtaking Batoka Gorge in Livingstone, and Lake Bangweulu, which is based in Samfya and known for its wealth of Zambian flora and fauna.

Victoria Falls

Address: Victoria Falls, Zambia, ZM, Africa
Named 'the Smoke that Thunders' by the explorer David Livingstone, the Victoria Falls is the type of tourist destination that you can't possibly ignore. For a start, the sheer scale of this waterfall is of epic proportions. Claimed to be the largest of its kind in the world, the River Zambezi flows around islands that are dotted with trees. It then plummets vertically as a curtain of water some 108 metres / 360 feet into what is known as the First Gorge.

Beyond that, it feeds into a series of other gorges. Of particular interest is a pool that has been formed by the force of the water. Known as the Devil's Pool, it is possible to swim here at certain times during the year. As you would expect, the sight of the falls is at its most spectacular during Zambia's rainy season. Access is straightforward, both by bus or train.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, charge for guide-led trips

Livingstone Memorial

Address: Chipundu, Zambia, ZM, Africa
A small plaque marks the place where David Livingstone is said to have died back in May 1873, the famous explorer finally succumbing to exhaustion, malaria and dysentery on his ill-fated last expedition. The plaque, which was erected in 1902, replaces an earlier memorial, which is now housed at the Royal Geographical Society headquarters in London. In 1973, a centenary plaque was also added to the memorial. Visitors can record their visit in a book kept in Chipundu's health centre, although relatively few people choose to do so.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Freedom Statue

Address: Independence Avenue, Lusaka, Zambia, ZM, Africa
The Freedom Statue is one of Lusaka's most distinctive monuments. It symbolises the country's struggle for freedom and independence, being commissioned as part of the tenth independence anniversary celebrations in 1974. The statue is certainly thought provoking, since it pictures an angry slave breaking free from his rather barbaric chains.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Batoka Gorge

Address: Livingstone, Zambia, ZM, Africa
The Batoka Gorge lies within the Victoria Falls area and is widely regarded as one of the best 'commercially-managed' river sections in Zambia. Adventurous types can negotiate the Gorge's rapids - there are 23 in all - in what amounts to a large inflatable dinghy. The rafting season is a long one, running from July to February.

It is also possible to enjoy this white-water sport during the rest of the year, although the number of rapids that are negotiable is more limited outside of the peak rafting season. Aside from rafting, visitors to the Batoka Gorge can enjoy a range of other heart-stopping activities, including abseiling, 'rap jumping' (a type of freestyle abseiling, facing downwards) and a spot of gorge swinging. There are plenty of sandy beaches where thrillseekers can relax at the end of a busy day, or simply stop to admire the wildlife. From the top of the Batoka Gorge, the views over the Zambezi River are particularly memorable.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge for activities

Lake Bangweulu

Address: Samfya, Zambia, ZM, Africa
'The place where the water meets the sky' has retained a certain peaceful charm. Despite rising tourism in Zambia, this paradisiacal spot tends not to suffer from overcrowding. Only the most curious tourists and independent travellers tend to venture into what is often described as one of Zambia's last great wilderness areas.

Little in the way of tourist facilities exist here, which is all part of the attraction for some visitors, especially wildlife and birdwatching enthusiasts. Lake Bangweulu and the surrounding wetlands are home to huge populations of birds, including the Shoebill stork. The lake is also a popular haunt for local fishermen, who come here to catch bream, tiger fish and catfish.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Big Tree

Address: Kabwe, Zambia, ZM, Africa
This truly huge fig tree-turned Zambian national monument used to be a meeting place for those who lived in the town of Kabwe in colonial times, when it was the largest town in British North Rhodesia. The aptly named 'Big Tree' was also the place where donkey caravans were assembled before being taken northward by train. In more recent times, the tree has become a popular place for friends to meet up for a chat. It also offers welcome shade for the town's daily market - not surprising, really, considering that the tree's canopy measures an impressive 164 feet / 50 metres.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free