4 Major Rivers of Zambia

Let us explore the Rivers of Zambia as part of our revision notes for test or examination in Social Studies or Geography. The country has four main rivers, namely, Zambezi River, Kafue river, Luangwa River and Chambeshi-Luapula River.

Zambezi River

• The Zambezi, the river that has given our country its name, is the fourth largest river in Africa.
• The source of the Zambezi is in the kalene hills near mwinilunga in the far northwest of Zambia.
• The river starts small, flowing deeply down a deep, narrow valley and winding its way around the slopes of hills.
• The upper Zambezi leaves Zambia and enters eastern Angola, then re-enters Zambia near chavuma.
• The river then flows through the flatter Kashiji plains and the Barotse (also known as the Bulozi) floodplains, on the plains, the rivers flows more slow over sand that washed down the river and settled on top of an impermeable clay layer. 
• The impermeable clay layer causes the area to become waterlogged during the rainy season, which results in shallow swamps or floodplains.

As the Zambezi flows further south, it flows through an area where Zambia meets up with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the best known feature of the river: the Victoria Falls.

• As the river flows further through Zambia, it is joined by various tributaries, such as the Kafue and Luangwa Rivers.
• On the last part of its course through Zambia, the Zambezi has been dammed at Lake Kariba, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. You will find out more about Lake Kariba on the Lakes of Zambia.

Soon after the river enters Mozambique, it enters the Cahora Bassa dam, before it eventually flows into the Indian Ocean on the coast of Mozambique.

NOTE:

• The Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe is recognized by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) as a world Heritage site.

Kafue River

• The Kafue River is one of the tributaries that flow into the Zambezi.
• It has its source on the Zambezi-Congo watershed.
• It flows south then Southwest towards Lukanga swamp in central province. From there it flows westwards, then southwards, entering the Kafue flood plains.
• It then winds its way down to a narrow gorge were it has been harnessed for power before it joins the Zambezi River near Chirundu.

Luangwa River

• The Luangwa River is also one of the tributaries of the Zambezi.
• Its source is on the Luangwa/Lake Malawi watershed in the Mafinga hills.
• It j oins the Zambezi River in the Luangwa District.
• The north and south Luangwa National Parks that lie along the river are popular tourist attractions.

Chambeshi -Luapula River

• This is one river with two names. In the Northern Province it is called the Chambeshi.
• The same river is called Luapula in Luapula province.
• This river flows towards the northern side of the Congo-Zambezi watershed: Its source is in the Mbala highlands, from where the Chambeshi River enters the Bangweulu swamps.
• It then flows from Lake Bangweulu as the Luapula River before entering Lake Mweru.
• From Lake Mweru it joins the Luvua River, which is the tributary of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.