Country Information Zambia
Zambia is a vast country, friendly and peaceful, that offers superb wildlife and cultural encounters. Landlocked in central Africa, it has a population of approximately 12 million peopla and is one of the least travelled and most rewarding wilderness destinations in Africa. Zambia is situated mainly on a vast plateau, and has three of Africa's largest rivers - the Zambezi, Kafue and Luangwa - as well as one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the Victoria Falls, which it shares with neighbouring Zimbabwe. Most of the country has a mild, pleasant climate, while the river valleys are hotter and more humid; the extreme north becomes tropical on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, one of Zambia's ten large lakes. While Lusaka is the country's capital, Livingstone, just ten kilometres from the Falls, is better known to travellers as the 'adventure capital' offering adrenalin-packed activities on and around the Falls and the Zambezi River.
When it comes to wildlife, what Zambia lacks in diversity, it makes up for in concentrations and numbers, offering some of the wildest and most remote game areas on the continent as well as a number of superb lodges and safari options. Using either air charter or a combination of air and road it is possible to build an itinerary that takes in the most rewarding areas at a relaxed and leisurely pace. You can see more than a thousand black lechwe on the floodplains of Bangweulu, catch some of the biggest tiger fish in Africa within sight of a large elephant herd on the Lower Zambezi, fly over the mighty Victoria Falls in spate, or view leopard on a kill at night in the South Luangwa. The modern walking or 'foot' safari originated in this lush land, offering today some of the best traditional walking safaris in Africa.
Entry requirements:
All visitors are required to carry a passport with two empty pages which is valid for at least six months beyond the intended length of stay.
Currency:
Zambia's unit of currency is the Zambian Kwachahttp://www.bankenverband.de/waehrungsrechner/index-xi.asp
Documents:
International driver’s license
Money:
Most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards. Most of the bigger banks will advance local currency against a credit card. Standard Chartered and Barclays Banks have ATMs which accept Visa cards for cash.
Health:
It is required that you obtain malaria prophylactics before entering Zambia. Take precautionary measures to prevent contact with mosquitoes, like: sleeping under a bed net or in a room/tent with mosquito proofing. An International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is required for visitors to northern and western Zambia. Immunization against Hepatitis A and B and tetanus is recommended. Swimming in dams and rivers should be avoided as the water may be infected with bilharzia. If you are canoeing or rafting and cannot avoid the water, this isn't a problem - just remember to towel off as soon as possible.
Language:
There are over 73 dialects spoken in Zambia, but the official language is English. All media and business is in English and most Zambians speak it fairly well. Only in truly remote settlements would there be problems communicating in English.
When to go:
Zambia’s distinctive seasons provide visitors with different perspectives depending on the time of year. As Zambia has a tropical climate, it is distinguished by a dry season and a wet season, instead of summer and winter. The dry season is from May to November and is the easiest time to travel, with June to August being the coolest months. October is the hottest month in Zambia, so be prepared for temperatures of over 40 degrees celcius if you travel then. The wet season, from December to March, has variable weather. Within one day you can have bright sunshine and heavy downpours. The rain does not usually last long, though, and the main downside of travelling to Zambia in the wet season is that many dirt roads become impassable. The Victoria Falls are spectacular in April and May after the rainy season, though the thick spray may obscure your view. At the end of the dry season, October to December, the water levels are low and one can see the magnificent rock formation.
IMPORTANT:
You should carry all important documents as photocopies with you at all times!