Zambia is a beautiful country located in Southern Africa known for its stunning landscapes, rich culture and warm, welcoming people. In this article, we have gathered 52 fun riddles about different aspects of Zambia, from its geography and wildlife to its history and culture. Each riddle comes with an answer revealed when you click on it. Test your Zambia knowledge or learn something new as you work through these brain teasers!
Riddles about Zambian Cities and Provinces
I am Zambia’s capital and largest city located near Victoria Falls. I served as the capital of Northern Rhodesia during colonial rule. What am I?
Lusaka
I am Zambia’s second largest city situated near Kafue National Park along the Kafue River. I am an industrial center known for manufacturing. What city am I?
Ndola
I am a province in Zambia bordering eight other provinces as well as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. I contain part of the famous Victoria Falls. What province am I?
Southern Province
I am a city in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province known as the center of the country’s mining industry. I host the largest underground mine in Africa. What city am I?
Kitwe
I am Zambia’s Western Province located along the Zambezi River across from Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park. My capital city is Mongu located on the edge of the Barotse Floodplain. What province am I?
Western Province
Riddles about Zambian Culture and People
I am Zambia’s most widely spoken language and lingua franca belonging to the Bantu language family. I am closely related to Chewa spoken in Malawi. What language am I?
Bemba
I am an annual Zambian music festival and arts event taking place in Livingstone featuring local and international musicians. I am named after the thunderous sound of the nearby Victoria Falls. What event am I?
Ngoma Festival
We are a semi-nomadic indigenous tribe living across parts of Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Angola near the Okavango Delta. Our name means “people of the river” referring to the Zambezi. Who are we?
The Lozi people
I am Zambia’s most famous footballer who became the first sub-Saharan African and Zambian player to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 1995. Who am I?
Kalusha Bwalya
We are a South African ethnic group who migrated north to settle in urban areas across Zambia in the early 20th century. Today we have fully integrated into Zambian culture while preserving hallmarks of our own. Who are we?
Zambian Afrikaners
Riddles about Zambian Food
I am a popular Zambian street food consisting of grilled goat meat skewers served with a spicy vinegar sauce. What dish am I?
Chibwabwa
We are a sweet deep-fried Zambian doughnut soaked in sticky orange juice then coated in powdered sugar. What are we?
Futali
I am a thick Zambian porridge dish made from ground maize flour cooked with water into a smooth, doughy texture. I am often eaten for breakfast. What am I?
Nshima
I am a popular Zambian snack of pan-fried caterpillars packed with protein. What am I?
Inswa
We are bite-sized Zambian fritters made from a fried batter often mixed with onions, cabbage or potatoes. What type of fritter are we?
Vitumbua
Riddles about Zambian Wildlife and Geography
I am Zambia’s largest National Park covering over 22,400 square km in the country’s northern region. I am known for abundant wildlife along the lush Kafue River. What park am I?
Kafue National Park
I am Zambia’s longest river flowing over 1,600 km across Western, Central and Lusaka Provinces. I am an important river for commerce and transport. What river am I?
Kafue River
At 108 meters, I am the tallest waterfall in the world located on Zambia’s southern border with Zimbabwe within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. What natural wonder am I?
Victoria Falls
I am Zambia’s official national animal. I am a large antelope prized for my curved horns that can reach up to 1.5 meters. You can find me roaming Zambia’s plains in herds up to 150 members strong. What animal am I?
Kafue Lechwe
I am Zambia’s biggest freshwater lake spanning 7,350 square km across parts of Eastern Province. Island shorebird colonies, over 300 types of birds, hippos and crocodiles call my wetlands home. What lake am I?
Lake Bangweulu
Riddles about Zambian History
I was the first president of independent Zambia who led the country after British colonial rule ended in 1964. I promoted peaceful resistance to white minority rule across southern Africa. Who am I?
Kenneth Kaunda
We were an ancient empire stretching across Central, East and Southern Africa over 1,000 years ago until the 16th century. At our peak we traded gold, copper and ivory with Swahili merchants on Africa’s Indian Ocean coast. What lost empire were we?
The Lunda Empire
I was an English explorer who became the first European to discover Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls in 1855 while searching for the source of the Nile River. Today the falls are named after the local Kololo tribe’s phrase meaning “the smoke that thunders”. Who am I?
David Livingstone
I am an ancient hunter-gatherer culture stretching back 10,000-250,000 years evidenced by stone tools and rock art found across Zambia’s national parks. I represent the earliest human civilization discovered in Zambia so far. What culture am I?
The Lupemban culture
I am a chronic lung disease common amongst Zambian copper miners after years working underground breathing toxic dust and gases. Export of copper made Zambia one of the ten most industrialized countries by 1969, but led to health issues for miners. What disease am I?
Silicosis
Riddles about the Zambian Economy
I served as Zambia’s currency from independence in 1964 until 2013 when I was replaced due to rampant inflation. My name means “dawn of a new day”. What was I called?
Zambian Kwacha
Copper mining has dominated Zambia’s economy since the 1930s when rich underground seams were discovered. Zambia was the world’s ____ largest copper producer for decades before being overtaken by Chile in the 1990s.
Number one / 1st
I am one of the world’s largest emeralds at 5,655 carats found in Zambia’s Kafubu mines in 2018. I am also called “Inkalamu” meaning lion in the Bemba language after the lion pit I was discovered inside. What is my more popular name referencing my gigantic size?
The Fifth Elephant
Kariba Dam spanning the Zambezi river between Zambia and Zimbabwe is crucial for what service providing nearly 100% of Zambia’s annual demand?
Electricity generation / Energy / Power
I am a town situated near the world’s largest known safari hunting elephant population in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley. For decades I attracted wealthy tourists until a global ban on ivory imports led to economic decline. What town am I?
Feira
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed testing your Zambia knowledge with these riddles and learning more about this beautiful and fascinating country! From its rich wildlife and landscapes to its complex history and vibrant culture, Zambia has so much to offer visitors and locals alike. Whether you got every riddle right or found some challenging, exploring Zambia through fun brainteasers allows for quality family bonding time while discovering new perspectives on places near and far.
