Organize your stay Zambia
Money Zambia
Zambia's currency unit - like Malawi's - is the kwacha, literally "sunrise" in the Nyanja and Bemba languages. The kwacha (Kw) is divided into ngwe (1 kwacha = 100 ngwe).
There are bills of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 kwacha as well as coins of 1 kwacha to 1 ngwee.
The banknotes are very attractive and feature the Zambian emblem, a fishing eagle. On the back, there is a wild animal (leopard, lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra, porcupine...) as well as typical scenes of life in Zambia, mainly related to the work of the land.
Exchange rates. In February 2023, 1 € = 20,6 Kw (1 US$ = 19,4 Kw), 10 Kw = 0,50 € (10 Kw = 0,52 US$). The Kwacha is a relatively unstable currency that has a high inflation rate. The US dollar is the reference currency to be favored before leaving on a trip while withdrawing kwachas on the spot to have some small change. Euros can be exchanged at airports, banks and major hotels, as well as at the few exchange offices in Lusaka and Livingstone, where rates are sometimes a little better than at banks.
Banks. Opening hours vary from city to city, but are generally between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and, for the larger branches, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. The main banks in the country are Barclays Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, Finance Bank, Indo-Zambia Bank and Stanbic Bank.
CB. ATMs are numerous in banks and malls. The exchange rate used for transactions is usually better than the rates charged at the exchange offices.
If you have a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, etc.), you don't need to carry large amounts of cash, just a reserve in case of problems.
Withdrawal fees. As the euro is not the currency of the country, a commission is retained for each withdrawal. Withdrawal fees vary from bank to bank and generally consist of a fixed fee of 3 euros on average and a commission of between 2 and 3% of the amount withdrawn, but with certain account formulas it is free. ATMs charge an additional fee that is mentioned at the time of withdrawal.
Advice before departure. Remember to tell your bank advisor about your trip. He or she can check with you to see if your payment and withdrawal limits have been set. If necessary, ask for an exceptional authorization to increase the limit.
Budget & Tips Zambia
Zambia is a destination for all budgets, but the trips are totally different.
Low budget. You can travel in Zambia by minibus and local bus, which cost nothing (US$ 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$500 per day. This includes airport transfers, meals and often two activities per day: game drive, walking safari, visit to the falls, cultural visit, etc. Beautiful lodges and hotels also exist in Lusaka.
Passport and visas Zambia
A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months after the end of the stay and with at least 2 free pages) and a return ticket are required. The visa, which used to be paid for, is now free since 2022 in order to encourage tourism. However, if you plan to visit Zimbabwe several times, where the visa is always payable, we advise you to take the KAZA Zambia/Zimbabwe double entry visa at US$ 50 for 90 days, rather than paying twice for the Zimbabwean single entry visa at US$ 30 and having to repeat all the formalities at each entry. It is also a good idea to check the Zambian Immigration Services website (www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm).
Smart tips. Before you leave, remember to photocopy all the documents you are taking with you. Take one copy of each document with you and leave the other with someone in France. In case of loss or theft, the renewal process will be much easier with the consular authorities.
Driver's license Zambia
In Zambia, it is customary to rent a 4x4 with a driver when you don't want to drive for hours on chaotic roads, or when you don't know how to drive on bush tracks or you are not comfortable driving on the left side of the road, as it is an English-speaking country formerly colonized by the British from whom it inherited the rules. Nevertheless, you can drive the rented 4x4s yourself. You just need to have your European license, and even if the international license is recommended, it is not essential. The police are not there to stop tourists at checkpoints. The rental agency will give you all the papers to present in case of control or accident. This option is for the adventurous, however, and most safari tourists prefer to fly to an airfield where the lodge guides will pick them up in a 4x4.
Health Zambia
As in the majority of sub-Saharan African countries, departure is accompanied by medical preparation because most of the so-called tropical diseases, against which we are not immune, can lead to serious complications. It is therefore necessary to think about this before leaving and to contact a doctor to plan preventive treatments. Anti-malaria drugs are essential, and condoms are needed in case of sexual intercourse, given the AIDS epidemic that is rampant in the country. If most cities in Zambia have a hospital, only Lusaka and Livingstone have infrastructures that really meet our Western standards. In rural areas, you can also find dispensaries or small clinics.
Some precautions. It is always preferable to eat cooked food, as raw meat and salads that are not properly washed often contain bacteria. Never drink water of uncertain origin. It is much better to drink bottled water (with the cap sealed), boil it or add an antiseptic. Tropical fruits (bananas, mangoes, oranges, papayas...) are excellent, but can cause diarrhea in some sensitive people. It is also recommended to take with you the medicines you use regularly and a small "first aid" kit.
In case of a serious problem. It is recommended to go to Lusaka without delay. If the symptoms persist, do not hesitate to contact your insurance company and get evacuated. A reflex: contact the French Consulate. They will help you, accompany you and provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In case of a serious problem, the consulate will also inform the family and decide on the repatriation. It is recommended that you take out repatriation insurance before your trip, which will allow you to be evacuated to France or South Africa in the event of serious health problems. To find out about emergencies and establishments that meet international standards, visit www. diplomatie.gouv.fr and www.pasteur.fr
Mandatory vaccination Zambia
No vaccinations are required for travel to Zambia. However, it may be advisable to get vaccinated against the most common and dangerous diseases, such as yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, and rabies, and to make sure that your vaccinations are valid: diphtheria, tetanus and polio (DT Polio). Please note that for travelers transiting through South Africa, the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory. It is essential to have your yellow fever vaccination booklet with you when transiting through South Africa from Zambia, otherwise you will be kept in quarantine or sent back to your point of origin. In any case, the yellow fever vaccine is strongly recommended, as is the typhoid vaccine, which is valid for three years, especially if you are going into the bush.
Security Zambia
Zambia is a safe and peaceful country, where it is easy and pleasant to travel. There are no aggressive or pushy people, as unfortunately exists in other countries. Politically, the situation is stable and there are no ethnic or religious conflicts that could endanger the lives of tourists, although special care is recommended in the border areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. In the cities, if basic precautions are taken to avoid becoming a victim of pickpockets, all is well. Corruption has been reported during roadside checks, but it is marginal and police officers are generally honest.
Potential Dangers and Tips. Zambia is a relatively safe country, where it is possible to hitchhike without fear of being robbed. It is possible to hitchhike alone in the countryside, as well as to stroll the streets of major cities during the day. However, there are some basic safety precautions that should be taken: do not carry your cameras over your shoulder, do not leave your wallet in the back pocket of your pants, do not leave the doors of your car open or display valuable objects. It is also not advisable to visit the local markets, especially in the larger towns, without a local guide who can advise you. The city of Livingstone is the most touristic in the country, but also the least safe. It is recommended to be particularly vigilant and not to stop on the side of the road, outside the tourist places. Another real danger comes from the road, especially from speeding, or from large animals wandering around the edges of the national parks. Avoid driving at night!
Finally, it is strictly forbidden to collect anything in the national parks (feathers, leaves, seeds and a fortiori horns and bones of animals). On several occasions, French and foreign tourists have been arrested by ZAWA and put in jail for several days for this type of offence.
Single women traveling. There are no particular restrictions for single women in Zambia, as the country is considered perfectly safe in this respect. Zambians are often surprised to meet women traveling alone and will usually be respectful.
Time difference Zambia
Zambia is located at GMT+2. There is no time difference in the summer, but you will have to advance your watch by one hour if you travel in winter.
Spoken languages Zambia
Zambia has 72 languages and dialects, all of which are of Bantu origin. English is the language of work and education, and many people speak enough to communicate with each other. The main language groups are Bemba (31%), Nyanja (25%), Tonga (17%), Boarotse (10%).
Communication Zambia
In the cities, the hotels are well equipped with good wifi, while in the national parks and villages, the lodges generally offer a sufficient connection in the main lounge, but not in the rooms. For the telephone ditto, the signal passes in the lodge areas but not in the bush camps, generally totally disconnected!
Electricity and measurements Zambia
Electricity. The standard is 220 volts. It is necessary to obtain adapters for the English style plugs which are the standard in Zambia and consist of 3 square plugs. As the lodges and bush camps are not connected to the national electricity grid, electricity is produced by generators or solar panels. In the most remote areas, we do not even have this luxury and we resort to kerosene lamps or candles (so be careful with your digital camera or cell phone batteries). This is the lot of many Zambians, especially those who still live in simple huts in the countryside.
Smart info: with a pen inserted in the upper hole of the socket you can plug in your French appliances without an adapter, it is the ground and therefore no risk of electrocution.
Weights and measures. Zambia has adopted the metric system.
Luggage Zambia
What to pack? The amount and type of luggage you take with you to Zambia depends mainly on whether you are planning a leisurely trip or an expedition. Here is a list of the essentials to bring with you.
If you are going on safari, avoid flashy red or fluorescent colors to avoid scaring the animals. Completely white outfits are also to be avoided, because the animals will spot them from afar, but also because of the constant dust baths during game drives. Avoid black and dark blue, which absorb heat and attract insects, especially tsetse flies, which are very numerous in national parks. Prefer discreet colors that blend in with nature (khaki, brown, beige). Dress according to the season (it cannot be repeated enough: the winter evenings and nights from June to September are cold in Zambia).
