Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia , landlocked republic, southern Africa , bordered on the north-west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo ; on the north-east by Tanzania ; on the east by Malawi ; on the south-east by Mozambique ; on the south by Zimbabwe , Botswana , and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia; and on the west by Angola . Formerly the British colony of Northern Rhodesia , then part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Zambia became independent on October 24, 1964 . The area of Zambia is 752,614 square kilometres (290,586 square miles). Lusaka is the capital of the country.

For many years Zambia was the Cinderella of Africa, often overlooked by tourists, and forgotten by the rest of the world as disastrous politics in the 1970s and 1980s led to poverty and the virtual breakdown of the country. But by the 1990s the fortunes of Zambia changed, as a massive shift on the political scene lead to economic reforms and other improvements.

Zambia has changed massively for visitors too. For wildlife fans, the excellent national parks are teeming with birds and animals, and boast some of the finest safari camps and lodges in the whole of southern Africa. On top of this, the country shares (with Zimbabwe) Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River - two of the region's major tourist highlights. Apart from sightseeing, these places are also centers for a range of activities ranging from canoeing to white-water rafting and bungee jumping. Sure, for independent travelers Zambia is still a challenge - distances are long, and getting around takes persistence, particularly once you get off the main routes. But for many people, the challenge is the main attraction. Without a doubt, in Zambia you come pretty close to finding the 'real' Africa.

Area: 752,600 sq km (290,600 sq mi)
Population: 10 million
Capital city: Lusaka (pop 1.5 million)
People: African (98%): main ethnic groups are Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi and Tonga. Smaller groups include Ngoni, Lunda, Kaonde, Luvale and Asian (1%); European (1%)
Languages: English and over 70 indigenous languages
Religion: Christian (50-75%), indigenous beliefs (50 - 75%); many people follow both
Government: Republic
President: Levy Mwanawasa

GDP: US$3.8 billion
GDP per head: US$400
Annual growth: 0.5%
Inflation: 25%
Major industries: Copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer
Major trading partners: Japan, South Africa, USA, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, UK, Zimbabwe