Question 1

True or false: Victoria Falls on the Zambezi is the tallest waterfall in the world.

Accepted Answer

False. Victoria Falls, at 108 meters high, is not the tallest; Angel Falls in Venezuela holds that record at 979 meters. Victoria Falls is famous for its width.

Question 2

True or false: The Zambezi River flows northward for most of its course.

Accepted Answer

False. It flows generally south and east, from its source in Zambia to the Indian Ocean, not northward.

Question 3

True or false: The Zambezi River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Accepted Answer

False. The Zambezi River flows eastward and empties into the Indian Ocean via a large delta in Mozambique, not the Atlantic.

Question 4

True or false: The Zambezi River forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe for a significant stretch.

Accepted Answer

True. A long section of the Zambezi River serves as the natural border between Zambia to the north and Zimbabwe to the south.

Question 5

True or false: The Zambezi River was named by the explorer David Livingstone.

Accepted Answer

False. The name 'Zambezi' predates Livingstone; it comes from local Bantu languages. Livingstone was the first European to see the river and its falls.

Question 6

True or false: The Zambezi River is entirely within the tropics.

Accepted Answer

True. The river flows between about 10°S and 19°S latitude, staying north of the Tropic of Capricorn (23.4°S). Its entire course lies within the tropical zone.

Question 7

True or false: The Zambezi River has no dams along its entire length.

Accepted Answer

False. It has major dams like Kariba Dam and Cahora Bassa Dam, which create vast reservoirs for hydroelectric power.

Question 8

True or false: The Zambezi River's Victoria Falls is recognized as the world's largest curtain of falling water.

Accepted Answer

True. Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River is UNESCO-listed as the largest curtain of falling water, based on combined width and height.

Question 9

True or false: The Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River created the largest man-made lake by volume in the world when completed in 1959.

Accepted Answer

True. Lake Kariba, formed by the Kariba Dam, held the record for the largest artificial lake by volume upon its completion in 1959.

Question 10

True or false: The Zambezi River flows through six countries before emptying into the Indian Ocean.

Accepted Answer

True. It passes through Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, making it Africa's fourth-longest river.

Question 11

True or false: The Zambezi River is the second longest river in Africa.

Accepted Answer

False. The Zambezi River is the fourth longest in Africa, after the Nile, Congo, and Niger rivers. It is about 2,574 km long.

Question 12

True or false: The Zambezi River has a delta that is the largest in Africa.

Accepted Answer

False. Africa's largest delta is the Okavango Delta (an inland delta) or the Nile Delta. The Zambezi Delta is smaller and not the largest.

Question 13

True or false: The source of the Zambezi River is located in the Mwinilunga District of Zambia.

Accepted Answer

True. The Zambezi River rises from a marshy area near Mwinilunga in north-western Zambia, at about 1,500 meters elevation.

Question 14

True or false: A species of electric fish in the Zambezi can generate up to 600 volts.

Accepted Answer

False. The electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) in the Zambezi generates shocks up to 350-450 volts. The 600-volt shock is from the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus), found in South America, not Africa.

Question 15

True or false: During the dry season, Victoria Falls completely dries up and stops flowing.

Accepted Answer

False. Flow reduces dramatically but rarely stops entirely; it may become a trickle in extreme droughts, not a full cessation.

Question 16

True or false: The Zambezi River is the fourth-longest river in Africa.

Accepted Answer

True. The Zambezi is approximately 2,574 km long, ranking fourth behind the Nile, Congo, and Niger Rivers.

Zambezi River Trivia Questions