2018-04-25 Wed

Zambia, in southern Africa, is a landlocked country of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife, with many parks and safaris. On its border with Zimbabwe is famed Victoria Falls – indigenously called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "Smoke That Thunders” – plunging a misty 108m into narrow Batoka Gorge. This thundering smoke also adorns the banknotes of Zambia.

Here’s one for you:
Year of Issue: 2006
Obverse: African Fish Eagle, the national bird of Zambia, is to the right with denominational value in words over coconut palm trees in the background. The Promissory text “I promise to pay the bearer on demand One Hundred Kwacha for the Bank of Zambia” is in the centre the Zambian Coat of Arms with words “One Zambia One Nation” in the left bottom corner. Flying white dove as a see-through register is in left. Main colours: Deep purple and pink. Signature: Dr Caleb Mailoni Fundanga (Governor; in office since 2002).

Reverse: Head of the African buffalo or Cape buffalo is seen to the left. Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) on the Zambezi River in portrayed in the centre. The Freedom Statue or the "Chain breaker" in Lusaka is depicted in centre right bottom. Watermark: Head of an African Fish Eagle.

Zambia is such a beautiful country that there are 14 ecosystems in Zambia with approximately 12,505 identified species—63% animal species, 33% plant species and 4% bacterial and microorganism species. There are an estimated 3,543 species of wild flowering plants, consisting of sedges, herbaceous plants and woody plants.

Makes you want to add Zambia to your bucket list no? That may take time to actually travel to the country, till then but Zambian banknotes and explore its exotic wildlife that is depicted on them!

Image Courtesy: Mintage World