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 Here are some common Frequently Asked Questions about Zambia.
How long is the flight to Zambia?Flight time is approximately 10 hours non-stop and is dependant on the aircraft used. Do I need a visa to travel to Zambia?Visas are required by all except for nationals of Commonwealth Dependent and Associated states including nationals of Ireland, Fiji, Norway, Romania, Sweden and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and South Africa. Nationals of Britain, Ghana, India, Gambia Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the US require visas. How much is a visa?Visa fees change from time to time, but generally a Single/Business/Transit visa is £75.00 or US$140.00. Visa formalities are subject to change without notice. It is therefore recommended that you pre-arrange your visa prior to your departure from your home country. To check if you fall into a category to be exempt from the requirements of a visa, please contact your Zambian High commission/Embassy in your country or check the website www.zambiatourism.com. What vaccinations and inoculations do I need?Malaria is prevalent in Zambia particularly to those visiting game reserves, so please make sure you prescribe to a course of anti-malaria tablets. Inoculations against hepatitis A, polio and yellow fever are recommended. However, Zambia is no longer considered a yellow fever area but authorities will require yellow fever and cholera inoculation certificates if visitors have passed through any infected areas. Therefore at least six weeks before you travel please check with your doctor concerning malaria tablets and other vaccination requirements. Check the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk. On arrival in Zambia, customs officials may ask to see prescriptions for any medication brought into the country. What is the currency in Zambia?The currency is the Kwacha for exchange rates. Check the currency converter website at www.xe.com/ucc for an indication of the latest currency exchange rate. Visitors may now import foreign currency without restrictions. Can I use credit cards to pay for goods and services?Most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards. The majority of the bigger banks will advance local currency against a credit card. To prevent fraudulent use of your credit cards, do not use them to pay for goods and services from small outlets. Standard Chartered and Barclays Bank have ATM’s which accept Visa Cards for cash. Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds such as traveller’s cheques (in sterling or US dollars) or credit cards. Before you leave, find out how you can replace your travellers cheques and credit cards if you lose them, and keep a separate note of their numbers. Is tap water safe to drink?Drinking water must be boiled or bought in brand bottles with unbroken seals. Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards. Which side of the road do Zambians drive on?Zambians drive on the left hand side of the road and observe standard British driving rules. Under the Zambian Road Traffic Commission, you are permitted to drive for three months on your foreign Driving Licence. Your drivers licence must be in your possession at all times when driving in Zambia. What language do they speak in Zambia?There are seventy three dialects in Zambia! Of the 73, the most generally used are Bemba and Nyanja. To greet/say hello in Bemba – Muli Shani However, the official language is English and most Zambians speak it perfectly well. All business and media is conducted in English. What are the local laws and customs?The possession or use of narcotics, including soft drugs such as marijuana, is strictly prohibited. Drug taking and smuggling is an offence. The punishments can be severe. The possession of pornographic material is illegal in Zambia and offenders may be jailed and/or deported. When things go wrong on holiday and you are detained, you may insist on your right to contact the British High Commission or your country’s consular officer. What about Sustainable Tourism?Responsible Travel is referred to by The Travel Foundation as Sustainable Tourism. Sustainable Tourism simply cares for your holiday destination by minimising the negative effects of your dream holiday and having a positive impact on the country visited. It will keep your holiday special, you will always receive a warm welcome and feel good about looking after the environment. Tourism is a source of economic growth in Zambia. It is one of the important money earners for the country. To play your role, there are simple things to do on holiday that can make an enormous difference to the community in Zambia. To have a positive impact on the people and the environment, you only need to follow some simple tips as outlined in our Tips and Time Savers page. These tips are sure to make your visit to Zambia a memorable one by having a positive impact on the economic, environmental and social status of the country. Donations for this cause are also welcome. We will appreciate a voluntary contribution to be made at the time of booking on behalf of The Travel Foundation. For more information visit www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk to make a donation;
Please click on our Tips and Time Savers page which will cover any further queries you may have.
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