Zambia sits on an undulating plateau in South-Eastern Africa, bordered by eight different countries: Angola to the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the North- West, Tanzania to the North-East, Malawi to the East and Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the South.
Most of Zambia is moist savanna woodland, and in the drier areas, especially the valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa Rivers, the stout baobab trees grow, some of which are thousands of years old.
Since 1000 AD, Zambia has been populated by myriad tribal groups coming in from all of the neighbouring countries and kingdoms i.e.: Congo, the East African coast, and the Zulu nation and now there are about 35 different ethnic groups in Zambia, all with their own
languages.
Following Livingstone’s trip up the Zambezi in the mid 1850s, hunters and prospectors began coming in droves and much of the area, known at the time as Northern Rhodesia, came under the control of the British South Africa Company. Zambia achieved independence in 1963.
Newly circumcised young drummers greet their first dawn as men with voices raised in ceremonial song. The ritual is a tradition of the Bantu-speaking Luvale tribe.Zambia’s National Parks teem with wildlife, the most well-known being the South Luangwa, home of one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, and it appears that the country is rapidly becoming an adventure centre for tourists. Zambia is sometimes referred to as ‘the real Africa’. Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, continues to be a major draw - the town of Livingstone
is experiencing something of a renaissance - with many of the
activities centred around water sports on the Zambezi River. Zambia is rich in natural resources and mining is an important industry for the country.
Most farms include substantial areas of natural forest, indigenous trees and veldt (plains) grasses which provide both safe havens and safe passage for many indigenous species of wildlife, birds and insects.
Photography in Zambia with the Peace Corps
Please forgive me, but I submitted a similar question to this one a few days ago with some general information, but have since been able to add some details to the mix. I'll be leaving for Zambia (South-Central Africa) in a month to volunteer there with the Peace Corps for two years. Apparently, Zambia has a 5-6 month rainy season, but is otherwise reasonably mild in climate. I will be taking a Nikon-based system consisting primarily of an FM, N90s, T4, and assorted (4) Nikon lenses. I am thinking that I'll take three film types: B&W, slide, and print (P&S). I do not have details yet regarding my living arrangements. I think that it is safest to assume that they will be rustic, at best. Any advice on long term photography in a developing nation, specifically Central Africa will be very much appreciated. I'm particularly interested in how to handle my film before and after exposure and in how to prevent damage from humidity and water.
zambia Victoria Falls
For a long time Zambia has been a well kept secret by those who live there and those who visit. However, this is changing rapidly as increasing numbers of birders and ecotourists are discovering this wonderful country. Zambia is safe and very friendly. It is accessible and the infrastructure is reasonable. It still supports huge areas of wilderness and it holds 750 species of bird, many of which are difficult to see anywhere else. Amongst its attractions are the spectacular Victoria Falls and some of the very best game-viewing safaris anywhere in the world. For birders, highlights include endless miombo woodland full of tantalising bird parties, vast wetlands, sweeping grasslands, the most southerly tracts of the great equatorial forests and some remote and challenging montane wilderness areas.
Yesterday I visited Liz Brookes, Principal Teacher of Outdoor Education within East Lothian Council. The reason for my visit was that Liz had very kindly offered to talk to me about the various qualifications I would need in order to become GTC recognised as a Teacher of Outdoor Education.
We are very lucky in East Lothian as we have a very good and busy Outdoor Education Team who not only provide lots of opportunities for our pupils but also provide a wide variety of staff development opportunities. I intend to book onto various courses over the coming months in order to build up my qualifications. In addition, Liz is also allowing me to help the team out during my spare time to build up my experience.
