Why We Love Zambia…
Home to Africa’s few remaining untouched wilderness’, Zambia is home to a plethora of incredible wildlife and spectacular landscapes… Which you can explore on one of Zambia’s famous walking safaris.
Entry Requirements
Passports
If you are visiting Zambia, your passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages.
Visas
Visas are not required for British passport holders entering Zambia.
Covid-19 Rules
Please see the British government’s advice here.
All travellers to Zambia are no longer required to show proof of vaccination, recovery or testing against COVID-19.
Please check the Government guidance if you are entering/returning to a different country, and do get in touch with our concierge team with any questions.
Transfers
Roads are few in Zambia, so most journeys are made by light aircraft.
We’re able to arrange your transfers for you, just let us know your flight number, and we’ll plan the route and let you know the cost! For multi-stop trips, we can also arrange your transfers between hotels/regions.
You might have a couple of stops at different airstrips before yours. Schedules are announced on the day and our local partners will inform you of this information and timings locally.
Baggage Allowance
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, there are specific baggage allowances for each country and sometimes even different airlines. Don’t worry, we’re on hand to make your packing as easy as possible.
See below for Zambia’s baggage allowances.
Airline: Wilderness Air
Type: Light aircraft
Weight allowance: 20kg (soft-sided) – total weight including hand luggage
Dimensions: 25cm x 30cm x 62cm
Airline: Proflight
Type: Scheduled aircraft
Weight allowance: 23kg hold (soft-sided) & 5kg hand
Dimensions: The total dimension of each checked in bag must not exceed 157cms – add the length, width and height of your luggage to obtain its total dimensions.
Packing Tips
Please see our What to Pack on Safari blog for our top packing tips for your safari adventure.
– We strongly recommend that you carry overnight essentials and any prescribed medication in your hand luggage on international flights, particularly if connecting to an onward destination.
– Most lodges and camps will offer laundry services, with a 24hr turnaround but it’s worth noting that almost all do not do women’s underwear due to cultural reasons.
Climate
The summer months (November to March) are very hot and is when Zambia receives most of its annual rainfall while the winter months (April – October) are characterised by bright, warm days and cool nights and almost no rain. The best game-viewing months are during the winter season from April to October when the weather is dry and temperate. Nights can be very cold in May, June, July and early August so warm clothing for early morning game drives and evenings in camp are required (gloves and a woollen hat are also useful accessories).
Laws and Customs
Before you travel, please take a look at Zambia’s Laws & Customs here.
Plug Type
For Zambia there are three associated plug types, types C, D and G. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins, plug type D has three round pins in a triangular pattern and plug type G is the plug which has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern.
Currency
Zambian Kwacha.
Zambian Kwacha are not available outside of the two countries so you should take US Dollars in cash. It is advisable to take dollars in small denominations and there is no need to change any money into local currency as US dollars are an accepted currency. US Dollar notes are not accepted with smaller heads on them i.e. the older notes so please check your money when you get your dollars.
Credit cards are also accepted in a number of hotels and lodges, but not in the bush camps – Visa and Mastercard are the most useful but you will usually be charged a fee of approx 5% for using them.
Vaccinations
We aren’t certified to give medical advice so always recommend you consult your doctor or a travel doctor, as they will know which vaccinations you have had already and any additional ones necessary for your trip. You can also take a look here for travel vaccination information and advice on bringing medication into the country.
It’s worth noting that Yellow Fever Vaccinations are mandatory when coming from a country which has a risk of yellow fever transmission. More information on this can be found on the above link.
Tipping/Gratuities on Safari
We recommend travelling with USD in cash. For a couple, the guideline is $25 per day for your guide and the same again for the combined lodge staff – so around $50 per day total. The camp manager is always on hand on the ground if you have any questions.
Flights & Time Zone
The total flight duration from London to Zambia is 9 hours and 30 minutes
Zambia is GMT +2.
Language
English, along with several major indigenous languages: Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga, Luvale, Lunda, and Kaonde.
Food
Many Zambian meals feature the tasty staple ‘nshima’, which is a food prepared from pounded white maize, along with peanut, chilli and cassava flavours served with grilled or stewed meat and vegetables. The cuisine is wholesome, healthy and comforting, perfect for refuelling after a day exploring the bush on safari!