International Transport Links in Manchester

The main international transport link to Manchester is by air. Manchester airport is located just outside the city and it takes 20 minutes by car to get to the airport by the M56 motorway. Manchester airport is the second busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers in the United Kingdom. Flights arrive from and depart for all parts of the world, which include the Far East, south East Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Caribbean, Latin America, United States, and Canada. There are three terminals that handle the arriving and departing passengers at Manchester airport. Cargo flights also operate regularly from Manchester. Imports to Manchester come mostly from the Far East and exports are sent to America.

Manchester airport is connected to the city by road and by rail. Not only is Manchester city linked by rail to the airport, but trains from as far away as Edinburgh also come to the airport railway station. The railway link to the airport station is being expanded further and new platforms are being added. There are taxi stands at all the three terminals of the airport.

Manchester city is connected to the rest of the United Kingdom by road and rail. Manchester has two main railway stations, Victoria and Piccadilly, which link Manchester to the rest of the United Kingdom. There is an hourly train service from Piccadilly station to London.

Manchester is located in the center of the United Kingdom and has one of the best road networks linking it to the rest of the country. Five motorways the M56, M61, M63, M65 and M62 link Manchester to the rest of Britain.

Getting to and from Manchester to any destination around the globe is very easy. Manchester being an industrial and commercial hub of England in very well connected to the rest of the world and the airport alone handles more then fifteen million passengers every year. Cargo flights land to and depart daily from the airport.

The Manchester ship canal links Manchester to the sea. There are over 40 berths and the port handles over two thousand ships every year. The port is served directly by a motorway and rail link. The ships are lifted over sixty feet by a system of locks to reach Manchester.

Manchester is the second largest city of England and commercially perhaps it rates as number one. This is the reason that Manchester has very good, established international transport links. It's because of these links that Manchester continues to thrive economically. There are plans to expand the airport facilities, so more traffic can be handled. The transport links to Manchester are reliable and getting to and from Manchester does not take long.

All the major cities in the United Kingdom are a few hours drive away from Manchester. London is a three-hour drive from Manchester. Manchester is the industrial center of England and that is why so much emphasis was laid on providing it the best international transport links. The city leaders of Manchester are constantly planning and evaluating future expansion of the international transport links to the city.

James L Harrison is a real estate agent. You can rent luxurious and comfortable leftbank apartments at a affordable price from estate agents Manchester.

My Experience With Reading Travel Reviews to Book My Hotel

In anticipation of an upcoming trip to Auckland, New Zealand (NZ) I was on the search for accommodation. With so many options to choose from - bed & breakfast, motels, lodges, serviced apartments and hotels (to name a few) - I eventually decided to choose Auckland hotel accommodation. Now my issue went from: What kind of accommodation do I want to stay in? to: Which provider do I choose?

It's fair to say that had I booked my trip through a travel agent they may well have been able to suggest the right provider for me, but in this day and age of online travel bookings, I had no need to talk to a travel agent. So keeping in line with my online flight bookings, I decided to book my accommodation online too. First though I decided to find out what other people were saying about Auckland hotels, to see if anyone had some good suggestions for me.

I've heard all this talk about user reviews becoming more and more popular in today's online environment, and I can now see why. It's much like talking to your family or friends and asking if they can recommend somewhere to stay, but in this event you have access to a wider range of opinions. The other advantage is that the feedback which is posted on the site is no longer filtered by the providers so that you only read good reviews, instead they are a much more transparent and honest assessment of the hotel.

There are many online travel review sites available, but I must say that it's important to find one which isn't just a general site allowing people to sign up and post comments unanimously, as these are open to unverified reports and even overly positive and sometimes fraudulent comments from accommodation providers themselves. So my first step was finding a trusted Auckland hotel review site/s.

This came in the form of an online booking site. The comments on these types of sites can only be posted by people who have actually booked and stayed at that particular Auckland hotel. This results in me being able to read honest reviews from actual guests. Not only that but it was easier to read the reviews on the same website I could end up booking on, than having to read one site and then find another for the actual Auckland hotel I chose.

Most of the reviews I came across, had a 1 to 5 star rating system where :
1 = poor
2 = below average
3 = value for money
4 = great value for money
5 = excellent experience

This method of rating means I could easily gain a general idea of the value without having to read every review over the past twelve months. From there, further investigation of the hotel was required, which involved reading each of the reviews that caught my attention. At this point it was very important for me to remember that one or two bad reviews did not necessarily reflect poor service on the part of the hotel. People do have bad days, and unfortunately hotels do to. But if dripping taps, poor showers, noisy rooms or bad service is mentioned in a number of the reviews, I considered it safe to assume that the majority of guests are right.

In the end, the one trend that showed up in the majority of bad reviews, is that at times people were expecting more from the hotel than it provided. Such complaints as "the restaurant was closed at 11pm", "no room service" or "I had to carry my own luggage", all show on investigation that these services were not offered by the Auckland hotel in the first place. There is still the perception that a hotel has 24 hour front desks and bar, pools, gymnasiums and spa. Where as today's demands have removed the non essential offerings and services in order to provide a better price to the consumer.

So after reading numerous reviews and now feeling more informed than when I started, I managed to locate an Auckland hotel which meet my needs, not only in terms of service, but in terms of location, price and facilities. Ultimately the reviews were one component of my decision and needed to be viewed alongside my own personal criteria, in order to make my final decision.

ShortRates is a website that specialises in last minute accommodation rates for locations in New Zealand such as Wellington, Christchurch & Auckland hotels, motels and serviced apartments. Currently listings are only within New Zealand knowing and understanding that many loyal customers prefer and take comfort in dealing with a local supplier.

http://www.shortrates.com

Marine Life in Palau Islands

The Palau islands are a group of small islands that lie east of the Philippines. These islands have still not tasted commercialization and hence their beauty is unmatched and untouched. The sea water is so clear that you can see right through. No wonder it is one of the best destinations for scuba diving and exploring the marine life below the sea. You can go to Palau during those months when it does not have many visitors. The islands of Palau get frequent visitors from Japan who just love scuba diving.

In order to reach Palau Islands you can make reservations for a direct flight from Taipei. Do make reservations in advance so that you are not disappointed due to full bookings. You can also make your resort reservations in advance. There are excellent resorts at Palau suiting the budget of all travelers. The temperature is quite warm in Palau throughout the year and it is advisable to carry light clothes. However do carry a windcheater as sometimes it also rains in Palau. People of Palau speak the local Palauan language and also English. There are about 340 islands that make Palau. You can choose your scuba diving activity when the day is clear and the seas are calm.

Palau has one of the largest coral reef covers in the world after Gold Coast, Australia. Apart from the reefs you can also check out several of the 1,500 different species of fishes. However it is advisable not to venture too deep as there are dangerous predators ahead. You will be astonished to see the corals and fishes living in harmony with each other. Many small fishes have also made corals their home as they can safely hide in the coral away from the eyes of the predators.

The marine life in Palau is out of this world. Many experts say that Palau is a natural sea life wonder of the world with so many species of fish that have gained importance as they also form an important part of the discoveries made by experts. Deep sea divers explore the depths of Palau looking for newer species and also finding out more about the already discovered species. The diverse species of fish will fascinate you totally.

There has been nothing much that has changed in Palau since the last 20 years and this is largely due to conservation efforts followed by the government. The president has banned shark fishing since the last 4 years and people understand the importance of coral reefs that protect nature. Collective government efforts have laid to the island maintaining its natural environment. And you also have the Tketau Lake here which has about 20 million golden jellyfish that don't sting. You can also spot a school of sharks with barracudas and silver swordfish.

You can also visit the Milky way cove where you can rub white mud from volcano on your body as this mud is said to have healing properties for skin diseases

Kunal Vahalia is a travel agent based in Mumbai and he is a specialist at conducting Mumbai sightseeing tours and excursions around Mumbai. He has put in a lot of effort in researching the Mumbai tours and has come up with 14 types of different Mumbai tours. You can visit his Mumbai sightseeing tours website at http://www.namastecitytour.com.

The Happy Islands

The splintered archipelago off the African coast forms the outermost rim of the European Union. These little islands and islets that are also part of the Spanish Autonomous Communities have two capitals, Santa Cruz and Las Palmas. Volcanic in origin, this paradisaical archipelago was annexed in 1496 when Columbus set out to discover El Nouvel Mundo or the New World.

The Canary Islands are a great favorite with honeymooners and holiday-makers because of the mild temperature that prevails throughout the year. It is not for nothing that the place has been billed as 'The Happy Islands'. Incidentally, the word 'canary' is a derivative of the word 'Canes' which means dog and has nothing to do, whatsoever, with little yellow bird.

Lovely long beaches, long extinct steep volcanoes, coral reefs... the Canary Islands offer all this and much more. No wonder nature lovers and naturalists throng to these islands which are also home to four of Spain's national parks.

With a population of two million, the Canary Islands are well-connected with a highly upgraded communication system, ports, and airports. The population comprises mainly Europeans, South Americans, and sub-Saharan and northern African. There is also a fair sprinkling of Koreans, Indians and more recently, Russians.

Traveling around these islands you should think of renting a car instead of hiring a taxi which can actually lighten your pocket. And if you travel between islands you are best off catching a ferry which is comfortable and relatively inexpensive compared to the ships dotting the docks.

Apart from their rich bio-diversity, the region is also rich in art, culture, and tradition. The islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma house as many as 40 museums showcasing archaeological ruins and aboriginal art. The Museo Canaria and the Museum of Science and Technology are worth a visit in the island of Gran Canaria, for instance.

Among the eagerly anticipated events in this archipelago is the classical music festival attracting the most prominent orchestras from the world over. The Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra have made frequent appearances in these islands with resounding success.

Apart from steeping yourself art and culture there plenty to do on these picturesque isles. You could go wind or kite surfing around Fuerteventura's blond bleaches or you can take a ride in the cable car in Tenerife right up to Mount Teide, the highest summit in all of the Spanish territory in the world. You can also take time off to visit the Teide National Park which, in 2007, was declared a World Heritage Site.
Tenerife is a terrific place to park yourself in with its four and five star luxury hotels. Of particular interest to the wealthier set is the Jumeirah Hotel with its five star facilities, luxury spa, and other goodies like the club executive lounge, breakfast, complimentary internet access and so on.

Lovely sights, great communication, fabulous beaches.... the Canary Islands offer a treat beyond the ordinary. Call your travel agent NOW!

Mike Greaves is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has travelled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of Los Angeles Luxury Hotels, Beach Resorts and World Best Hotels.

What You Need to Know About US Tourist Visa Application

While it is easy for Americans to come to Thailand for a holiday, Thais and other nationalities have to undergo a thorough procedure in obtaining a tourist visa that they may be able to enter the US for vacation.

Nature of a Tourist Visa Obtaining a travel permit to visit the US proves to be very difficult to obtain particularly for ordinary Thai applicants relying on the invitation of their American friends, fiancé, spouse or relatives. The US government's rigorous immigration procedure may be accounted for their inherent assumption when dealing with non-immigrant visa applications. The officer when evaluating the application immediately assumes that the tourist visa applicant who is seeking admittance to the US is in fact eyeing for a permanent stay in the country.

As such, this assumption needs to be overcome successfully by the applicant in such a way that he/she will be issued the necessary entry permit. However, it's important to note that the application is evaluated subjectively and its approval or denial is entirely on the discretion of the officer evaluating the application. This is the reason why compared to other entry permit types a tourist visa has a lower success rate. It is also the reason why an application is still denied despite the applicant's providing all the necessary requirements to substantiate his/her visit to the US.

Preparing for the Application As the evaluation of the tourist visa application is solely based on the applicant's capacity to prove that he can support himself financially through out his stay in the US and that he comes back to Thailand after his allowed visit, it's a must that the applicant has the following qualifications in support of his entry permit application. First would be a decent and a stable job in Thailand.

An employment letter or contract, income tax and pay slips are some ways to substantiate this. A 6-month job stint might not be enough to establish the stability of your employment but it's definitely better than nothing. A job involving prostitution or working in a bar or night club doesn't add appeal to your application so it might not be good declaring it. Second, you have to show assets and properties in Thailand. Assets can be in the form of cars, a piece of land, a house among others. Land or House Title deed, Mortgage agreement, Car registration certificate and other documents can be submitted to prove your possession of these assets. Supposing you own a business in Thailand, you would need to show your business registration certificate, income tax, balance sheet among others. A savings account with substantial amount of deposit in it could also serve as one of the evidence to prove your financial capability.

You can ask your bank for your latest 6-month bank statements or you can show your passbooks for this matter. Just a note on the savings account, having a big money in your bank account doesn't guarantee a successful application though it helps establish your financial status. However, if your sponsor abroad plans depositing an amount of money in your bank account just to show that you have money, make sure that the funds have been deposited discretely not in a lump sum as this will be obvious.

Finally, if you have your family or children in Thailand, then you can mention them as your dependants to support your visa application. Don't also miss to provide an outline of your itinerary detailing the whereabouts of your trips i.e. accommodation and places to visit. What if you don't have most of the above qualifications as you rely on the sponsorship of your American relative, boyfriend or friend? This would considerably make your chances even more slimmer. However, you can still proceed with the application. As mentioned above the approval or denial of your application is entirely on the discretion of the officer. For family members visiting their relatives or families in the US their situations are viewed differently.

The Application Process After familiarizing yourself with the requirements and procedure of the tourist entry permit application, you may now start collecting the required documents. You have to collect as many evidence as you can to support your application. If your documents are in Thai, make sure to translate them into English. If you are going to the US via sponsorship, make sure that your sponsor provides sponsorship letter detailing your relationship and his intention to support you while you are in the US. He might need to provide bank statements or employment certificate to validate his good financial status in the US.

When everything is in order you can already contact the US embassy to schedule the submission of your documents and for the interview. The US embassy in Bangkok as well as the US consulate in Chiang Mai accepts and processes tourist visa applications. The processing time normally takes 2-3 business days and the result of the application is issued accordingly. During the interview, be prepared to answer questions like how will you support your stay in the US, what will you do in the US among others. A confident applicant would likely give a better impression on the visa officer than a nervous one. In this regard, you have to anticipate all possible questions that the officer may ask you in relation to your visa application and practice answering them. Using a Visa Agent

If you want to increase the chances of your tourist visa application getting approved, it might be good enlisting the services of US visa professionals to assist you with this endeavor. You would greatly benefit from their expertise in going over the visa application therefore ensuring better chances for your visa application. Be mindful though about unscrupulous visa agents. Look for the established and registered ones with proven track of record in US visa assistance.

Summary

Obtaining a US tourist visa proves to be a difficult ordeal especially for ordinary applicants. Apart from proper planning and familiarizing yourself with the requirements and procedure, it would also be good to consult with US visa professionals to personally guide you with the visa application. A money you spend for them maybe worth it if you don't need to do the application again the second time.

George M. Londob works as a Business Correspondent for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and licensed US visa attorneys that provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Reach Siam Legal at +(66) 2-253-8100, or info@siam-legal.com.

The Best of the Bush - African Safari

An African Safari will conjure up many images and preconceptions that one cannot truly appreciated until they have stayed in the bush and seen the amazing animals up close in their natural habitat. Traveling to South Africa and staying at the Umlani Bush Camp is an incredible adventure that is truly an experience of a lifetime.

Arriving at what might be the tiniest airport ever, the Hoedspruit Airport in South Africa, your adventure begins. Not a tremendous amount of security going on here as your luggage is unloaded by a tractor and brought to the front of the airport where a driver waits to take you and possibly a few other campers out to the bush.

The drive to the secluded Umlani Bush Camp in the Timbavati Private Nature Preserve and part of the Kruger National Park is an introduction to the terrain that makes up this area. Upon arrival you are immediately greeted by a warm and welcoming staff that presents a short orientation about your stay and then escorts you to your hut. The simple huts have thatched roofs and are very comfortable and pleasing. Enchanting beds with mosquito netting and oil lamps give the hut a very appealing ambiance. No electricity here, the entire camp is lit by oil lamps and candles which adds to the charming atmosphere. Each hut has its own bathroom facilities including flush toilets and an intriguing open air bush shower that is heated by wood fire.

The camp can accommodate 16 people, but offers families, couples, and individual travelers a serene setting with many of the amenities that you expect while on vacation. There is a pool and double hammocks for relaxing while in camp. All huts are equipped with towels, bathroom amenities, bottled water, and even insect repellent in case you forgot yours. The bush bar and deck is available all day for you to enjoy a drink overlooking the riverbed, have a bite of breakfast and lunch or to just socialize. Before dinner, try a drink at a traditional boma around the fire and enjoy hearing all the stories about the days events and sightings. Then enjoy dinner under a covered open air dining room or under the stars with a variety of gourmet award winning food served by candlelight.

Early morning and late afternoon game drives or morning bush walks are available to make the most of your time. Experienced and knowledgeable rangers and trackers provide opportunities to take in as much as possible; see amazing animals and birds, learn about the animal's natural habitat and surroundings, and discover South Africa's cultural heritage. This time spent in the open Land Rovers is packed with anticipation and excitement as you search the range for the wild animals. Your guides will go beyond normal measures to make sure each guest has the best possible experience and to see the greatest variety of animals possible, taking time to insure everyone get those treasured pictures to take back home.

Everything from arrival to departure is so well done that it makes it hard to leave. Between the delicious cuisine, exciting game drives, relaxing surroundings, friendly staff, and the company of the guests who quickly become acquainted it is hard to decide on the best of Umlani. Perhaps one trip isn't enough!

http://www.umlani.com

Sandy McDowell

http://www.specialtytravelagents.com

How to Spend Luxury Holidays in India

India, a country with rich heritage, culture, cuisine, nature and history, displays more diversity that is hardly seen anywhere else in the world. It puts forward a perfect blend of the modern culture and the history. It is one of the prime destinations and a land to travel to which is an ecstasy of tourism delight and pleasure.

The tourists from all over the globe are enthusiastic for spending their holidays in India. India's cultural strength and diversity cannot fail to impress even the less frequent visitors. This multi ethical country is a perfect holiday destination for those who love traditions spread all over the beautiful states. Indian states have their own charm and distinct culture.

Being the only country all over the world that has incredible and inconceivable diversity in the castes, religions, people, forests, trees and wildlife, India is the place where the tourists can have a beautiful and memorable experience. Each state has distinguished attractions drawing the people for spending a holiday both luxurious and relaxing.

Beginning from the snow covered Himalayas, enormous deserts in Rajasthan and affluent cultural and artistic heritage sights to beautiful hill stations with amazing natural beauty and to the untouched beaches in Goa and the serene backwaters in Kerala, India has variety for all the tourists to spend a luxurious holiday that is worth remembering.

Talking about how to spend a luxury holidays in India, the travel agent is the best option available to you who will arrange the best luxury trip for you. Some of the luxury tours include golden triangle tours, honeymoon tours, wildlife tours, North India tours and luxury India lovers' tours. For the tourists who wish to spend their holidays in beaches and enjoy the natural beauty, there are tour packages available that are offered by various travel agents that can let the viewers have an amazing experience.

All these luxury tours include exploring various unique and spell bounded destinations, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur and many others that have the famous tourist destinations. The major attractions that are possessed with these states include the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Mysore palace, Elephanta Caves, palaces in Jaipur, India Gate, Red Fort and Ellora caves. The Chandni Chowk Bazaar of Delhi is also famous mainly amongst the international tourists.

The luxury holiday's tours are not just limited to exploring sightseeing attractions but also incorporate lavish accommodation in classic hotels and resorts. For the tourists who wish to spend luxurious holidays, there are luxury tour packages that ensure meeting the standards of comfort and luxury for tourists. There are some splendid and wonderful hotels in the popular tourist destinations that offer the best and contemporary amenities to the tourists. Some of them are the superb heritage palace hotels that along with offering the modern facilities have the charm and excellent old world hospitality.

India luxury tours cover exploration of the best locations in the most splendid regions of the country to make sure that the tourists enjoy and feel on the top of the world.

You are interested in a India Luxury Tours and India Luxury Holidays Find out more at luxurytoursindia.net

The Zambezi River - Zambia's Finest Safari Feature

The Zambezi is Africa's fourth largest river; flowing for about 3000km across central Africa. The river hails from a small brook at the upper Northwest corner of Zambia and it then flows through Angola and borders Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe before finally cutting through Mozambique where it empties its waters into the Indian Ocean through a Delta. 

The Zambezi River ebbs and flows depending on season. If there is prolonged rain, the river swells up and bursts its banks in particular areas displacing thousands of people. On the other hand if there is no rain, the waters recede. The river is divided into three sections; the upper Zambezi, middle Zambezi and lower Zambezi.

Though the river, has a lot to offer with every square kilometer it passes through, it has the best of its features in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Perhaps the most spectacular feature along the Zambezi is the magnificent Victoria Falls. Known locally as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" (the smoke that thunders), the Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The deafening roar of the falls as millions of liters of water cascade down its rocky cliff can be heard from metres away. From the falling water rises a glistening blanket of mist which makes the sight all the more enchanting.

The best time to tour the falls is during the dry winter season which runs from July to August. Around the rainy season, the blanket of mist gets so thick that it makes it impossible to catch a glimpse of the falls. The peak of the dry season is also not best because the falls are at their dullest during this time. If you wish to, you can catch a helicopter ride and get a bird's eye view of the falls. However, most people prefer the experience from the ground where they can feel the spray of the falls on their faces. If you plan to view the falls from the ground, carry a raincoat as you are bound to get soaked, most people get a kick out of this though.

Not far from the falls stands the grand Victoria Falls Bridge. The bridge is a prized piece of fine architecture that joins Zambia and Zimbabwe while also providing an expansive view of the Zambezi and the adjacent rain forests. The most popular activity at the bridge is bungee jumping. The fall is 111 metres long making it the second longest bungee distance in the world. Other notable sights along the Zambezi include the expansive Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams.

The Kariba dam in Zambia, boasts a vast 300km. The Cahora Bassa dam lies in Mozambique and is 20km smaller than the Kariba making it 280km wide. Both dams are deep and quite popular for their sport fishing activities. You can choose whether to fish from the banks or go out into the water in a canoe. The most common fish in these areas are Tiger fish which can grow to as much as 10kg, the yellow-belly bream, and the red-breasted bream among others.

Besides fishing, the dams also provide the local community with enough water for irrigation for those who practice farming along the river. The dams are also a source of hydropower. The Kariba dam supplies power to Zambia and Zimbabwe while the Cahora Bassa dam supplies power to both Mozambique and South Africa.   

There are a number of game parks and reserves dotted all along the Zambezi and offering some of the best Africa safaris. The most popular of these include the Zambezi National Park, the Victoria Falls national park, the Mana pools park, and the Wide horizons elephant camp. Here, visitors can watch a wide array of wild animals along game drives or in fenced and controlled reserves. The activity that the Zambezi is world famous for is its eventful white water rafting expeditions. The rocky riverbeds of the Zambezi and the steep, gorged terrain as well as pressure pools provide an excellent flowing strip for the exciting rapids.

The Zambezi rapids have been classified as grade five, meaning that they are very difficult to negotiate, very fast, violent and unpredictable as they have no clear pattern that a negotiator can get used to therefore making each trip different from the next. The rapids are also popular because they have little bare rock allaying fears of injury therefore allowing kayakers to make the most of the experience.

There is a wide array of hotels and lodges to choose from along the Zambezi. They range from outdoor tent and mattress camping lodges to luxury five star hotels. Whichever you choose, they all promise different adventures that are bound to make your stay memorable. A couple of the most popular hotel and lodges include; the Royal Livingstone hotel, the Tongabezi lodge and the Thorn tree lodge at Victoria Falls. The Mwambashi river lodge, Kasaka river lodge and Mtondo river camp are good choices for those who want to be close to the river and around wild game. And for those who want to spend their days fishing in Lake Kariba, the Chete Island deluxe tented safari lodge and the Chikanka Island hotel would be good choices for you.

There are a number of towns and settlements along the Zambezi River. The major ones include; Katima Mulilo in Namibia, Mongu, Lukulu and Livingstone in Zambia, Victoria Falls and Kariba in Zimbabwe, and finally Songo and Tete in Mozambique. Interestingly, over 70 different languages spoken by the people along the Zambezi. Most of these natives depend on the Zambezi for their livelihood and have a fascinating culture as well as unique practices. The Bundu people of Zambia, for example, believe that there is a live spirit called Nyaminyami in the river. They believe that the spirit offers them protection and therefore regularly perform rituals at the river bank to appease the spirit.

Samuel Maina is online travel writer for Africa Point Limited, an Africa specialist travel agent, offering online reservation services for hotels, airline tickets, rental cars, tours and safaris to 13 African countries. Read some of his works on Africa Tours & Flights Guide.