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It is the fourth longest river in all of Africa – the mighty Zambezi. For thousands of years the waters of the Zambezi have served the many peoples who rely on it. The river is, in fact, a lifeline for Central Africa. In the 1850’s famous Scottish Explorer David Livingstone travelled the 2000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from the source of the Zambezi all the way to the Indian Ocean. What did he find? Well, lets travel the same course that Livingstone did 150 years ago and discover the mighty Zambezi for ourselves.
The river has it’s source about 5000 feet above sea level in Northern Zambia. After just 20 miles the Zambezi has already become a strong, forceful body of water some 15 yards (14 meters) wide. Onward it pushes to the Barotse Plain. In this region the Lotse Indian people have built a way of life around the life sustaining waters of the Zambezi River. The water is instrumental in the cooking, bathing, fishing and drinking of the people here.
During the rainy season of February, March and April the water rises as much as 40 feet. This forces thousands of villagers to flee to higher ground. This yearly ritual has evolved into the Kuomboka Ceremony, in which the paramount chief of the Lozi people is paddled in his royal barge across to his Summer Palace, to the accompaniment of the villagers in ceremonial song.
Traveling further down the river, we pass other settlements and villages, including the Sesheke. Along the course many wild animals can be seen grazing along the river banks. After about 800 miles of river travel we are about to see one of the most awesome waterfalls on earth – the mighty Victoria Falls. The Falls were named by David Livingstone in 1855 in honor of his Monarch, Queen Victoria. Every minute 150 million gallons of water dive over the one and a quarter mile gorge, descending some 350 feet to the floor of the crevasse. The spray generated from this awe inspiring display ascends a thousand feet in the sky. The native people call the Victoria Falls “Mosi oa Tunya,” or ‘the smoke that thunders.’
As it winds it’s way into the Central African Plateau, the mighty Zambezi becomes a narrow river, with water levels as low as 50 feet. After traveling 60 miles through the desolate Batoka Gorge, we enter Lake Kariba. This is one of the largest man made lakes in the world. It has become a rich source of food for the people of the area. After passing through the Kariba Dam area, we come to an area rich in green vegetation. Buffalo and hippos, elephants and hyenas, birds and giraffes can be spotted here, living off the lush vegetation that is so well nourished by the river. The river, however, winds on to the Chicora Plains, where it is bordered by a rich plantation of evergreens.
The peace and solitude of the journey is over as we approach the Kebrassa Rapids. Here millions of gallons water plunge over the rocks and boulders of the rapids to create a thunderous show of raw power. Next we encounter the Lupato Gorge. Here the Zambezi races over jagged rocks and boulders as it hurries to get out of the Gorge. From here it glides on calmly for the final part of it’s journey. Then the Zambezi divides, spreading it’s waters three to five miles wide as it travels down a broad valley for the last 200 miles of it’s journey.
As it comes into the Delta the River has become a number of streams that empty into the Indian Ocean. The once mighty waters of the great Zambezi are now swallowed up as part of that great ocean. Our journey down what David Livingstone called ‘God’s highway to the interior’ has come to an end.
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