Efforts are being made by the Zambian government, along with a number of non-governmental organizations, to increase the visibility of the many natural and historical treasures in the Northern Province.

Tourism has proven an effective way to bring economic growth in other parts of Zambia, i.e. Livingstone and Victoria Falls.

However, a lack of infrastructure along the vast distances between major points of interest makes visiting this part of the country difficult.

The Northern Province lies mainly on the great southern African plateau, which has been uplifted to an elevation around 1200 metres above sea level.

These are now in Muchinga Province) These features produce a diverse landscape that varies and poses different challenges, particularly to highway construction, as one moves from one part to another.

The Mafinga Hills, which include the highest point in the country at 2301 metres above sea level, once formed a formidable barrier between the Northern and Eastern Provinces that few but the best 4-wheel drive vehicles dared to cross, especially during the rainy season.

Rivers, streams and dambos crisscross the province in profusion, posing yet another great challenge to easy movement of people, goods, and services.

The most prominent river on the eastern side is the Luangwa, which has its source in the Mafinga Hills, and which has no road across its valley for a distance of about 800 km.

During times of very heavy rains, these rivers, particularly the Chambeshi and Luangwa, spread across floodplains often several kilometers wide, and create large tracts of both seasonal and permanent lagoons and swamps along their valleys.

However, the most common language is Icibemba, spoken by the Bemba people of Chinsali, Kasama, Mungwi and parts of Mporokoso and Luwingu districts.

Despite its size and the diversity of languages and dialects, the people of Northern Province generally share a common culture.

Most of the food produced is consumed within the province, though a small percentage is bought by traders for resale along the railway.

Most of the people are peasant subsistence farmers using the traditional "slash and burn" shifting cultivation locally known as "chitemene", and are barely able to even produce enough to feed themselves.

Mpulungu, 208 km from Kasama, is Zambia's only port, and its harbour is generally used to export bulky goods, such as sugar and cement, to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In turn, Zambia also imports Kapenta (small, dried fish) and other merchandise from these two countries, as well as Tanzania, through the same port.

[22] Provincial administration is headed by the Permanent Secretary, a minister appointed by the President and there are ministries of central government for each province.

Councils are mandated to maintain each of their community centres, zoos, local parks, drainage system, playgrounds, cemeteries, caravan sites, libraries, museums and art galleries.

They also work along with specific government departments for helping in agriculture, conservation of natural resources, postal service, establishing and maintaining hospitals, schools and colleges.