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Western Province, ZambiaThe Western Province, formerly known as the Barotseland, is in the western part of Zambia. Its provincial headquarters is Mongu. Together with Mongu, the province consists of six districts - Kaoma, Senanga, Lukulu, Kalabo and Sesheke. The geography of the province is dominated by the flood-plain of the Zambezi river, extending from the northern borders of the province to the Ngonye Falls in the south. This flood-plain, which can be up to 120 kilometres wide, is inundated from December to June, and serves as a vast reservoir storing the waters of the Zambezi. The seasonal flooding is very important to agriculture in the province, providing natural irrigation for the grasslands on which huge herds of cattle depend, and bringing water to the settlements along the edges of the plain. Away from the Zambezi valley, the sandy landscape is an undulating series of fossil sand dunes from a previous extension of the Kalahari Desert, with numerous lakes and seasonal swamps in hollows between the dunes. The main ethnic group in the province are the Lozi, traditionally cattle-keepers related to the Matabele of Zimbabwe, with a well-established system of traditional rulers headed by the Litunga. The seasonal migrations of the Litunga and his court from the dry-season capital of Lealui, on the Zambezi flood-plain, to Limulunga, is an important cultural and now tourist event. Cattle are the mainstay of the traditional economy, and are sold in the population centres further east when money is required for cash goods or school or medical expenses. Other crops, in particular maize, millet and vegetables, are grown, particularly along the margin of the flood plain. Logging for Rhodesian Teak, which grows wild in the south of the province, was important, and resulted in the construction of the longest private railway in southern Africa from Livingstone to Mulobezi, but this industry has declined due to the very slow rates of re-growth and the reduced demend for railway sleepers. There is no mining within the province, although there have been extensive exploration campaigns for diamonds and petroleum. The main tourist attractions are water sports and fishing on the Zambezi river, and the annual Kuomboka ceremony.
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