Zambia Classic Sample

Zambia is a vast, wild, and awe-inspiring safari destination in Southern Africa that showcases some of the most remote and untouched wilderness on the continent. From the expansive floodplains and seasonal wetlands of Kafue National Park and the wildlife-rich South Luangwa Valley—the birthplace of the walking safari—to the river-lined ecosystems of the Lower Zambezi, Zambia offers raw wilderness with abundant wildlife and powerful landscapes that few travellers have experienced. Its safari experiences range from immersive walking and game drives to canoeing and river safaris along the mighty Zambezi River, and include world-famous natural wonders such as Victoria Falls nearby. With English as a primary language and vast protected areas with prolific wildlife, Zambia delivers an adventure-filled, authentic Africa experience for nature lovers and safari enthusiasts alike.

Drones

-Due to concerns over poaching, it is illegal to bring un-permitted drones into most national parks, as well as into the countries of Rwanda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. For this reason, we highly advise against bringing a drone on your trip.

Travel Documents

-It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure they meet the entry and exit requirements of all countries being visited and transited through. Otherwise, entry into or exit from a country could be denied.

-Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of travel.

-Zambia requires at least 2 consecutive/side by side blank visa pages (not endorsement pages) on entry for both visas and stamps.

-At immigration, you may be asked to provide proof of return flight to your country of residence and proof of accommodation (your itinerary). Parents traveling with children under 18 may be required to produce unabridged original birth certificates for their children depending on the country being entered.

Travel Insurance

-The lodges require that you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover yourself for the duration of your trip in Africa. This is the sole responsibility of the traveler to organize. See our “About Travel Insurance” document for more information.

Visas

-We do our best to keep the below as up to date as possible. However, please note that it is intended as a guideline only and meeting the visa requirements of the countries entered/transited through is the sole responsibility of the traveler. For up-to-date visa information, visit the country-specific government websites. Failure to comply can result in entry/exit being denied. The below applies to US and EU citizens traveling on a US/EU passport:

-Zambia: No advance visa required. Allowed to enter for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. Passports will be stamped upon entry and exit. You may be asked to present your return flight ticket and hotel reservations at immigration.

Cash

-Banks and foreign exchange bureaus are available at most airports. ATMs in Africa do not dispense USD notes. We recommend you bring sufficient small USD dollar bills to avoid having to draw cash while traveling. See tipping guideline below. 

Credit Cards

-AMEX is widely not accepted. We recommend bringing only Mastercard or VISA. Most shops, hotels, lodges, and restaurants accept credit cards.

Tipping

-USD/Euros/local currency can be used in all countries for tipping. It is important to get new, untorn bills that are not older than 2009 as the older bills may not be accepted. We recommend bringing small denomination notes for tipping. Most hotels and some lodges have credit card facilities and often tips can be accepted via credit card, but please note that cash is the preferred tender for tips. A day-by-day tipping guide will be provided in your final itinerary.

- The daily tipping guidelines listed in your itinerary are the total amounts recommended for your group total, not per person amounts. They serve just as a guideline based on what have become normal tipping amounts over time. Remember that you should not feel obligated to pay exact amounts. If you feel that the service you received warrants a larger or smaller tip than what is outlined, feel free to adjust accordingly.

-Cash (USD or local currency) is the preferred tender for tips. We recommend bringing a variety of denomination notes. If you would prefer to carry less cash, you can leave tips at the hotels and some safari lodges on credit/debit card. In the event you do so, we recommending leaving a note for your guide and tracker letting them know that you have left a tip on card and the amount left. We recommend bringing $100-200 extra cash per person in a variety of denomination bills for any miscellaneous tipping you may like to do.

-At safari lodges, it is customary to tip once at the end of your stay. At city/winelands hotels, you can tip the bellhops directly and leave a tip for the general staff with the front desk/reception when you settle the bill at the end of your stay. The tip for the general staff is shared across the entire staff (housekeeping, laundry, security, chefs, managers/hosts etc.) except the guiding team. Please note that lodge/camp managers/hosts do not expect a separate tip. 

-At some safari lodges, you may have a designated waiter/server/butler. If you would like to tip this person specifically, you should feel free to do so. We recommend giving this person 1/3 of the amount allocated for the general staff. 

-Most hotels and lodges provide stationery and envelopes in the room for guests to use for tipping. If you would like to include a thank you note with any of your tips, feel free to use the stationery and envelopes for this. 

-It is customary to tip 10-15% for spa treatments and at restaurants in cities. If you would like to tip people who may help you with luggage in airports, we recommend $3-$5.

Charter Flights

-To maximize time spent in camp and on safari, some inter-camp transfers are done by light aircraft or helicopter. In most cases, the aircraft will make multiple stops enroute to your safari camp to pick up/drop off other passengers (typically no more than 2 stops). These stops may require changing aircraft. The lodges are typically only able to provide confirmed flight times the evening prior.

-The aircrafts used for these transfers are typically Cessna Caravan 208s for shared charter flights and Robinson R44s for helicopter flights.

-The flights can be warm and turbulent, so we recommend keeping your water bottle with you and taking anti-nausea medication if you get motion sickness.

Luggage

-If you plan on checking a bag, we recommend placing an Air Tag in it so that you can track the bag in the event its lost during transit. Do not place any essential items such as medications or valuables in checked bags.

-Scheduled charter flights are often required to reach remote areas. These planes have small luggage holds and restrictive luggage allowances. We recommend packing in a soft-sided bag. The exact luggage allowances for your trip will be listed on the pack list.

-Keep in mind that most safari lodges offer free same day or next day laundry services, weather permitting.

-It is the responsibility of the traveler to make sure they have any and all vaccines and meet all health requirements to enter any countries being visited or transited through. Please consult your medical practitioner or travel clinic at least 3 months prior to your departure date to make sure you meet all health requirements and have all necessary vaccines for the countries you are visiting.

-We recommend all travelers get an international certification of vaccination also known as a “yellow book,” which is issued by your travel clinic and approved by the WHO. This is a helpful way to keep a record of all vaccines received, such as yellow fever, cholera, hep A, hep B, typhoid, tetanus etc. The CDC advises that you be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination and that some vaccines may be required for specific destinations. You can find out which vaccines are required and/or recommended from your local travel clinic. You can also search the most up-to-date information per country on the CDC website.

-Entry into any foreign country may be denied if a traveler has a fever.

-Malaria is present throughout Africa and can be prevented if you take basic precautions. There are several effective antimalarial drugs available. Please consult your travel clinic or doctor for the best drug for you.

-Certain over-the-counter medications contain ingredients that are on Zambia's list of controlled substances. As a precaution we recommend that you do not take any unnecessary non-prescription medication with you when travelling to Zambia, and carry a medical practitioner's prescription with you , with the medication in its original container.

It is sensible to take basic precautions while traveling anywhere in the world. Below are recommendations that we feel hold true for travel in general and which we suggest are also followed while you are traveling in Africa.

• Ask hotel staff for information about the safety of the specific area.
• Avoid walking with your phone in your hand. If you’re not using it for photos etc., put it away in a pocket/bag.
• Secure all luggage with a suitable lock for flights. Do not check any valuables or chronic medication.
• Drive with doors locked and windows closed and handbags out of sight. Do not leave any bags in the car unattended or unattended in general (handbags on tables, on backs of chairs at restaurants etc.)
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Separate cash and credit cards and do not carry all your cash with you. Avoid counting cash in public. Be vigilant around all ATMs. Never let a stranger assist you at an ATM and shield the keypad when entering your PIN. Keeping large amounts of foreign currency notes poses several risks; rather settle your bills via credit or debit card where possible.
• Store all valuables, travel documents (like passports), and cash in your camp/hotel safe.
• If you have any issues with safety at any time, please let us and your hotel know immediately.

Food and water safety:

-Standards of hygiene in relation to food health and safety are high in hotels, lodges, and restaurants. It is safe to eat fresh fruit, vegetables/salads, and put ice in your drinks. There is no need to limit yourself when enjoying the local cuisine at hotels and restaurants. 

Local cuisine:

-Zambian cuisine is diverse and flavourful, featuring dishes like Nshima (maize porridge), which is often served with meat, vegetables, or fish, Ifisashi (vegetables cooked in peanut sauce) and Biltong (dried meat). 

Drinks:
-It is very important to drink plenty of water (2-3 liters per day) as you will spend large portions of the day in the sun. Proper hydration also greatly helps to diminish jet lag. 

-Notable local drinks include Mosquito (fermented maize), Chibwantu (traditional beer), and Munkoyo (fermented drink made from maize or millet). 

Tipping:

-10-15% is customary in restaurants if a service charge is not included. 

The weather in Southern Africa is generally pleasant throughout the year—warm to hot days and cool to warm nights. During summer (September-April), it can be very hot during the middle of the day, so we recommend lightweight clothing and long sleeves/pants to protect you from the sun. We recommend that you pack according to the temperature guideline provided in your pack list. 

Annual rainfall: Varies 
Average temperature: 25°C (77 F)

Summer: 
Average highs: 30°C (86F)
Average lows: 20°C (68F)

Winter: 
Average highs: 25°C (77 F)
Average lows: 15°C (59F)

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Zambia is during the dry season from June to October when wildlife viewing is at its best. However, the wet season from November to April offers lush landscapes and excellent birdwatching opportunities. 

The weather in Southern Africa is generally pleasant throughout the year—warm to hot days and cool to warm nights.  Dressing for ease and comfort is key. We recommend that you pack according to the temperature guideline. Bear in mind, the safari lodges are very casual, and laundry is included at most safari lodges and will be returned on the same day, weather permitting.

Cell Signal

-Cell signal is strong in most major cities.  Most safari camps will not have cell phone signal.

Load Shedding

-Some major cities experience load shedding (planned power cuts to high demand parts of the country during peak electricity use hours). You may experience power cuts during your time in cities. Most hotels and restaurants have backup generators to utilize during load shedding.

WiFi

-Hotels in cities will have Wi-Fi. Most camps and lodges will have Wi-Fi, but it is not guaranteed, and they encourage you to enjoy the opportunity to disconnect. Where Wi-Fi is available in the bush, it is typically strong enough only for basic functions like email, but not for any streaming.

Plug Type: Type C, Type D, Type G 
Voltage (V): 230 
Frequency Hertz (Hz): 50 

*Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.