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Zambia Travel Information

 

1.  Getting to Zambia

Many airlines fly in and out of Lusaka International Airport, including Zambian Airways, British Airways, Aeroflot, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, Air France, Air Botswana, Air Malawi, Air Tanzania, Air Zaire, Air Zimbabwe and Kenya Airways. InterAir flies into Ndola International Airport

Entry visas for visitors cost US$25 Single entry (Sep 1998) and there is an airport departure tax of US$ 25 when you leave. Domestic flight departure tax is $8.

Mfuwe airport recently achieved international status and plans are afoot for international airlines to fly directly to Luangwa Valley. The Livingstone Airport near Victoria Falls is also being upgraded.

Nationwide Airways are flying Joburg/Livingstone/Lusaka return 3 times a week, also connecting to the Airwaves Airlink flights to/from Mfuwe.

2.  When to go

Zambia’s three distinctive seasons provide visitors with different perspectives depending on the time of year.
The Luangwa Valley for example is best for game viewing during the dry season from June to October, but the rainy season, with its spectacular profusion of greens and reds changes the landscape dramatically and the bird populations increase with the arrival of migrants from the north.
The Victoria Falls are at their most spectacular between April and May after the rainy season but often the spray is so thick it is difficult to see the full width of the falls. To appreciate the magnificent rock formations and gorges, it is just as interesting to come when the water is low at the end of the dry season from October to December.
Kafue National Park is best from May to October as is the Lower Zambezi. Ideal road travelling months are April to September as the heat is at it’s most bearable.

3.  Safety

As far as personal safety is concerned, one could easily hitchhike alone throughout the country without a problem. Theft however is rife in the bigger towns and cities. Don’t walk around with things you can’t do without, like your passport or airline tickets. Carry minimum amounts of cash and keep it hidden or in a money belt and if possible, don’t leave your car unattended. This is less of a problem in the rural areas.

4.  Clothes

Zambia has mild winters and the summer days can get quite hot. Lightweight casual clothes can be worn all year round, with a jacket or jersey for early winter mornings and evenings. On safari keep clothes to a minimum and mostly of neutral colouring - khakis, browns and greens. A sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellant are a must.

5.  Health

A yellow fever certificate is mandatory if you are travelling from an infected area. Vaccinations for cholera, tetanus and yellow fever are advised. Malaria is virulent in the low lying areas of the country which include most of the good wildlife destinations. Take prophylactics two weeks before arrival and continue two weeks after leaving. Your chemist or doctor can advise you of the most suitable drug available as certain drugs lose their effectiveness.
Tap water in the major towns is purified and perfectly safe to drink. In the more remote areas always boil it first, except if you’re staying at a lodge or hotel where drinking water is boiled already. Bottled water is readily available in the bigger towns. www.medicineplanet.com

Travel Insurance

 

6.  Currency

It's best to come into the country with either travellers cheques or dollars or pounds which can be exchanged at any of the many Bureaux de Change in the main Towns.  If you are offered an exchange on the black market at the borders,  excercise extreme caution as they are notorious for cheating you without you even realising it. Travellers cheques attract a commission when changing to other currencies.
The Zambian currency is the Kwacha and it fluctuates quite regularly.
In  2005 - 1 US$ buys you 4800 Kwacha . Nobody uses ngwee coins any more as they are worthless.
Most used denominations are K500 and K1000, K5000  and K10 000 notes

 

7.  Emergency Numbers

Emergency  – 999

Police – 991

Lusaka, Central police station, – 220006

Lusaka,  Central Fire station, 220180

Lusaka, Ambulance service – 220180
National telephone operator – 100

National directory – 102

International operator - 090

Ambulance - 991

Fire brigade – 993

Hospital UTH  - Lusaka
           - General Line 251200
           - Casualty Direct Line254115
Livingstone Central police 03 323575/320116

Livingstone Fire station- 03 324043

8.  Visa Information

  • A bonafide tourist is any person travelling to Zambia as an individual or group of persons on a pre-arranged package tour through a foreign tour operator or travel agent in conjunction with a local tour operator.  Tour operators include hotels registered in Zambia as such.
  • All bonafide tourists shall be issued with visas at any port of entry to Zambia or at  Zambian Missions abroad EXCEPT for those at paragraph 4 who require visas authorized by the Chief Immigration Officer or the stipulated Zambian Mission abroad.
  • Any bonafide tourist travelling to Zambia as an individual or in a group  on a pre-arranged package tour through a foreign tour operator or travel agent in conjunction with a local operator shall be issued with a FEE WAIVED VISA at any port of entry to Zambia.
  • Any person qualifying as a bonafide tourist under paragraph 3.3 above shall be issued with a multiple entry visa at any port of entry and such a visa shall be valid for the duration of the visit which shall not exceed a period of fourteen (14) days.
  • The duly signed notice of tourists intending to come to Zambia on fee waived visa should be furnished to the officers at the port of entry at least twenty –four (24) hours prior to their arrival.  The notice should include the following details:  Passport particulars (full names, passport numbers and nationality), expected date of arrival and itinerary

 

 

 




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