What budget to travel Zambia? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Zambia?

The museums are generally modest but also very affordable, which makes them a good reason to visit. The safaris are always more interesting with the all-inclusive package than with the optional safaris if you want to follow the rhythm of 2 activities per day (game drive, boat cruise, walking safari, etc.).

Around Lusaka, game ranches and other estates have sprung up where families come to relax in the green on weekends. You can either drive to the ranch for a picnic and barbecue or have lunch at a restaurant with a terrace surrounded by greenery. These resorts are equipped with nice swimming pools and offer game drives for the whole family to discover peaceful herbivores.

Duty Free. Since your final destination is outside the European Union, you can benefit from Duty Free (tax-free purchases). Please note that if you have a stopover in the European Union, you will benefit from Duty Free at all airports on the outbound flight, but not on the return. For example, for an outbound flight with a stopover, you will be able to do Duty Free shopping in all three airports, but only in the airport where you are staying on the return trip.

What budget to eat Zambia?

In the malls that exist everywhere in Zambia, you will always find a Shoprite, Pick'N'Pay or Spar supermarket that prepares Zambian food in a takeaway stand. It is really cheap, you can eat a balanced menu and go on a picnic easily.

What is the budget for accommodation Zambia?

The campsites of the lodges are really cheap, between 5 and 15 US$ per person per day, it depends if the camp is located in a national park or not. Nevertheless, you must be independent in drinking water, food and stove in the most basic bush camps.Backpackers and lodges that offer accommodation at the entrance to the parks for all budgets always have shared dormitories for less than US$ 15 per day per person.

Travel budget Zambia and cost of living

Zambia is a destination for all budgets, but the trips are totally different.

Low budget. You can travel in Zambia by minibus and local bus, which cost nothing (US$ 1 to 30 on average for long distance buses) and serve all the major cities of the country. You can sleep on a camping site in any park lodge or in a dormitory in the tourist towns for US$ 12 to 15 per day. Eating local food does not cost much, a few dollars, as long as you like nshima (the maize puree that constitutes meals in Zambia). The restaurants of the youth hostels are also very affordable as well as the cafes in town that offer burgers, wraps, sandwiches, etc. Count on 5 to 10 US$ for a meal. The supermarkets in the many malls around the country all have a low-cost catering section with plenty of local take-away food and South African fast food chains such as Hungry Lion, Steerz or Debonair's Pizza.

Medium budget. Reasonably priced motels and hotels exist in all cities, with air conditioning, private bathrooms, parking and often a pool. Expect to pay between US$50 and US$80 per room for a good level of comfort. On safari, less expensive lodges are located near the gates of the national parks. Some are really affordable and rustic, others are more expensive but less expensive than the lodges located in the heart of the parks. You can choose the "all inclusive" formula with full board and two activities per day (game drive, boat cruise, walking safari, canoe safari...). But you can also choose a half-board formula with optional game drives on certain days and meals in the villages. It is less expensive. Nevertheless, you will have to take planes of the company Proflight for an easier access to the camps of the park (count in the 250 US$ the round trip). The other option for the average budget is to have your own 4x4 rented and equipped to go into the bush. In this case, the best option is to stay in self-catering bush camps (i.e. you do your own shopping and cooking - or you can ask for the service as an option) and to go on self-drive safaris, without paying the very expensive "all-inclusive" with meals and game drive. A classic option for South Africans on vacation but unfamiliar to Europeans who don't really know how to drive a 4x4 in the bush for the most part.

Big budget. Tourists who wish to stay in boutique or luxury lodges and enjoy the activities offered by the national parks and Victoria Falls on an all-inclusive basis, while spending a minimum of time on the roads by air, should expect to spend more than US$500 per day. This includes airport transfers, meals and often two activities per day: game drive, walking safari, visit to the falls, cultural visit, etc. Beautiful lodges and hotels also exist in Lusaka.