My African Safari: Zambia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Northern Rhodesia

Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company first obtained mineral rights in the area, then expanded their control. South of the Zambezi River, Rhodes' company also controlled Southern Rhodesia which is now the nation of Zimbabwe.

Answer: David Livingstone

Dr. Livingstone first saw the falls in 1855. Henry Morton Stanley, of course, "found" Livingstone after he dropped from sight for several years on a later expedition. Richard Francis Burton explored the great African lakes to the north of Zambia. Lacenda died while exploring parts of what is now Zambia but didn't see the falls. Livingstone's 2010 population was nearly 137,000.

Answer: 60%

Since gaining independence in 1964, Zambia's population has grown faster than its GDP so the poverty rate has actually increased considerably. The Zambian economy has been largely based on mining but in the 21st century efforts have been made to diversify into tourism, agriculture and other areas.

Answer: True

The "smoke" - mist from the falling water - can rise hundreds of meters above the falls and is sometimes visible nearly 50 km away. As for the "thunder", at some vantage points my wife and I had to shout to hear each other. Victoria Falls is justifiably included on many lists of Natural Wonders of the World.

Answer: In the last century Rhinos were wiped out in Zambia and have been reintroduced from South Africa.

In the 1970s, Zambia had one of the largest rhino populations in Africa - over 12,000. By the 1990s, demand in Asia for rhinoceros horn led to poaching at a level which left rhinos "nationally extinct" in Zambia. As of the first years of the 21st century poachers had killed them all - every one of them. The rhinos we saw were all recent imports.

Answer: Copper

Since colonial days, copper has been Zambia's largest export. Sharply rising world copper prices in the early years of the 21st century have been beneficial to the country's economy but there is concern that a steep drop in prices could be devastating.

Answer: False

Despite constitutional protections, Zambia's government has a history of selectively suppressing political speech and press rights. In 2014, Zambia's freedom rating was downgraded even more due to President Michael Sata's prosecutions of political opponents and journalists critical of his administration.

Answer: True

Near the Zambian side of the falls, a calm natural pool, known as the Devil's Pool, has formed. When the river is at the right level, generally from September through December, tourists can jump into the pool, swim to the lip of the falls and, if they're brave enough, look over the edge. Deaths have been reported but for some reason neither tourist authorities nor the lodge which runs excursions to the pool publicize statistics. Devil's Pool was definitely not on my agenda while at the falls.

Answer: Impala

Impala are graceful, elegant animals and males have impressive horns that can reach a meter in length. Unfortunately, impala are also a preferred prey of most of Africa's high level predators including lions, leopards and cheetahs. Impala have been called "the fast food of the African bush".

The ones on our hotel grounds were safe from predators and so accustomed to people that we could approach to within a couple of meters for a good picture.

Answer: Moonbow (Lunar Rainbow)

A moonbow is created when light reflected off the moon is refracted through atmospheric moisture - in this case the mist from Victoria Falls. Moonbows tend to appear black and white to the eye, but a photograph with fairly long exposure time brings out the colors.