The eclipse tracked eastward across Africa for more than an hour from Angola to Madagascar, with the maximum eclipse lasting more than four minutes.

In Zambia, thousands of traditional dancers, acrobats and musicians mixed with foreign tourists to witness the celestial event at Chisamba, 60 km north of the capital Lusaka. Around 6,000 celestial watchers partied through the night at Chisamba.

Zimbabwean authorities said retailers across the country had nearly sold out of special viewers, with prices tripling in some areas to 500 Zimbabwe dollars ($9.0) a pair. They warned the public to beware of fake products on the streets. The government flooded the airwaves and newspapers with health warnings against viewing the eclipse with the naked eye. Many schools and companies closed for the day as thousands of Zimbabweans and foreign tourists flocked north to view the full eclipse in tourist areas such as Kariba. Authorities estimate that 20,000 eclipse watchers travelled to Zambia, which lured a majority of foreigners because of instability in other countries like Angola and Zimbabwe.

In Luangwa valley, in eastern Zambia, hundreds of ethnic Ngonis began assembling for a ceremony to commemorate the last eclipse through Zambia in 1835. At the time the Ngonis were escaping from tribal wars and preparing to cross the Zambezi River. When the eclipse appeared, they retreated in fear thinking it was a bad omen.

Zambia‘s eclipse organising committee said it was running short of sun filters and protective glasses. Some 4,000 policemen, one-third of Zambia‘s police force, was deployed to keep order. But police officials have reported no major incidents. The Zambian government declared Thursday a public holiday and the country expected to earn $15 million from visitors.

Hotels in Lusaka and in towns along the eclipse path are booked beyond capacity, in contrast with Angola where civil war ensured that tourist numbers were below optimistic expectations.

Northeastern Zimbabwe will see a total eclipse, while in most other parts of the country at least 85 percent of the sun will be in shadow.

REUTERS