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Zambia as your holiday destination

TRAVELLING IN ZAMBIA

Planning a holiday to Zambia? Fantastic choice! Wondering about the ideal time to visit and how to prepare? We give you an overview, covering essential pre-trip considerations and valuable tips for a memorable safari trip in Zambia.

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Best Time to Visit Zambia

Travelers can visit Zambia the whole year through, however it is good to keep in mind the pro’s and con’s of the different seasons. The best wildlife viewing time coincides with the Dry season (April to October) when water is scarce, and animals congregate at waterholes and rivers. The bush is less lush at this time, and animals are easier to spot.

 

Tropical or sub-tropical climate
The climate in Zambia is tropical or sub-tropical depending on altitude. The general height of the land gives Zambia a more pleasant climate than that experienced in most tropical countries. There are three seasons:

cool and dry from April to August

hot and dry from September to November

warm and wet from December to April

Only in the Valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa is there excessive heat, particularly in October and, in the wet season, a high humidity. In the warm wet season, frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms occur, followed by spells of bright sunshine. Plants grow profusely and rivers and streams fill up almost overnight.

 

Dry season
During the cool dry season, night frosts may occur in places sheltered from the wind. The countryside dries up gradually and grass fires, fanned by high winds are a feature of this time of the year. In depressions, frost can occur on cloudless nights. Temperatures rise high during the hot, dry season but new leaves appear on the trees before the start of the rains and new grass brightens the countryside.

 

Rainy season
From October until the rainy season, it can be unbearably hot. Some roads become impassable during the Wet season (November-March) and several parks and camps close at this time. In the mid-summer months of January and February: temperatures can get uncomfortably hot and humid; rainfall is at its highest – and so is the risk of malaria – while some of the roads in the national parks become impassable.

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Vaccinations

For Zambia, recommended vaccinations are DTP, and vaccination against hepatitis A/B. Malaria does occur in Zambia, therefore ask your local health services for the most updated advice on vaccinations and preventative care. Health facilities include hospitals at the major cities. District hospitals, rural clinics, dispensaries, and health centers also operate throughout the country.

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Explore Zambia offers tailor-made private guided safaris in Zambia including transport, meals, accommodations and activities. You will be supported by an experienced and knowledgeable driver/guide.

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Itineraries

10 Days Safari Tour

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13 Days Safari Tour

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14 Days Safari Tour

Visa

Zambia Visa & Immigration
Most EU citizens do not need to apply for a visa for Zambia for a visit of less than 90 days. However, always check your own personal situation and in either case ensure and that you have:

A passport with validity of minimum 6 months

A proof of owning sufficient financial resources

A proof for the first destination after arrival

A proof of a return ticket or to the next destination after your holiday

An original unabridged birth certificate when travelling with children under the age of 18

Finances - Currency

Currency
The local currency in Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha although US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the country. The Kwacha was adopted based on the Zambian Pound which, which was in use during its period as the British colony of Northern Rhodesia. The Malawian Kwacha is subdivided into 100 ngwee. Credit card acceptance is improving but don’t rely on it in Zambia’s more remote or little-visited destinations. For your daily expenses it is always important to have a wallet with smaller bills and keep the rest of your cash separated and out of sight.

 

Especially when you spend several days in more remote areas, like wild parks, ensure you have enough cash on you. Foreign exchange services are not easy to find. Furthermore, it is recommended to take a ‘mix’ of means for payment, including cash (USD), a debit card and a credit card (VISA or MasterCard). There are always cases in which you cannot pay with your normal debit card.

 

ATM
There are ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) in the larger destinations of Zambia. Remember that for every transaction you will be charged additional banking fees. Also do not forget to change the security settings of your bankcards to ‘Worldwide’ if necessary – ask your local bank for instructions.

Insurance

Travel and cancellation insurance

Ensure that you are well prepared to have a secure journey. The risk that something happens to you or your family before or during the trip is small, however, it is important to get the right insurance. It can save you costs and a lot of trouble! We strongly recommend a travel and cancellation insurance, so that any unexpected costs due to illness or accidents, costs of replacing stolen or lost baggage or necessary repatriation are covered.

 

We advise you to contact your local insurance agent or bank for information about the possibilities. Also, we recommend that you contact your healthcare provider to inform you about the coverage of possible medical expenses.

A day on private guided safari in Zambia

  • Wake up with the sound of singing birds and the trumpeting of Elephants while first rays of sunlight turn the dark night into a golden burst of color.
  • While you are enjoying your breakfast, your personal guide is preparing the car before you hit the road. You will be taken through far stretching landscapes and ever-changing sceneries while enjoying some good African music on the background.
  • You are on the lookout for wildlife crossing the road and with some luck may have to give ‘right of way’ for some elephants.
  • You arrive at your next destination, join a game drive and see many antelopes and some big game up close. After the excitement, a refreshing swim in the pool followed with some relaxation and a good book under the shades of huge acacia trees.
  • At sunset, this landscape shows its most beautiful side. Make some time to watch this natural wonder of changing colors see how shadows grow longer; listen to the howling of the hyena calling in the ending of another adventurous day in Zambia.
  • Time for dinner around a roaring campfire complimented by fine South African wine or an ice-cold local Zambian beer?
  • Finally, fully satisfied, fall asleep under the starry sky and the sound of chirping crickets knowing that Malawi waits for tomorrow, with more adventures and unforgettable memories.

Gratuity

Tipping in Zambia

As is common around the world, tipping in Zambia is completely voluntary and dependent on the quality of the service you have received. At Explore Zambia, we believe that good service should be rewarded, but you should also be mindful of the potential impact that tipping may have on the local community. Tips can make a large difference to those in the service industry, such as waiters, guides and trackers. However, there’s a fine line between the right amount to tip and tipping too much: excessive tips can really affect the balance of the local economy.

 

In restaurants it is usual to give a gratuity of about 5-10% of your bill. Drivers and guides also appreciate a gratuity as this is often not just an extra, but most often forms part of their salary which a family lives from. In guesthouses and hotels, you will mostly find a ‘tip-box’ for gratuity which is then shared amongst everybody, as also the gardener contributes to you having a comfortable stay. People that do you a favor in public, like cleaning your window or watch your car, would normally receive gratuity too.

Food - Drinks

Food
Zambia’s native cuisine is based on nshima, a cooked porridge made from ground maize accompanied by some tasty relish, perhaps made of meat and tomatoes, or dried fish. You should taste this at some stage when visiting. It is always available in small restaurants in the towns. Often these will have only three items on the menu: nshima and chicken; nshima and meat; and nshima and fish – and they can be very good.

 

Camps, hotels and lodges that cater to overseas visitors will serve a very international fare, and the quality of food prepared in the most remote bush camps amazes visitors. Coming to Zambia on safari your biggest problem with food is likely to be the temptation to eat too much.

 

Shoprite stores in bigger towns have really all that you will need. In the smaller towns, availability is limited to products which are popular locally. These include bread, flour, rice, soups and various tinned vegetables, meats, and fish. This is fine for nutrition, but you may get bored with the selection in a week or so.

 

Drinks
Zambia has two distinct beer types: clear and opaque. Most visitors and more affluent Zambians drink the clear beers, which are similar to European lagers and always served chilled. Mosi, Castle and Rhino are the lagers brewed. They are widely available and usually good. Soft drinks are available everywhere, which is fortunate when the temperatures are high. Tea is of an incredibly high quality. It is advisable to Avoid drinking tap water, but to drink bottled water instead when travelling through Malawi. Of course, South-African wine is sold in abundance and is of high quality.

Essential on your packing list to Zambia

  • Binoculars
  • Camera with extra SD card
  • Travel guide/app
  • Animal guide/app
  • Headlamp
  • Cap or hat
  • CD's or USB with African beats
  • Board games
  • Water bottle with filter
  • Pocket knife

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Photography - Books

Capturing the Essence: photography in Zambia

Zambia guarantees you the most beautiful pictures. For the real hobbyists, a telephoto lens is a must for wildlife-photography. However, keep some rules in mind while taking pictures. If you want to take pictures of people, always ask for their permission first. Especially at places that are popular for tourists, locals may ask for money for a picture. Negotiate friendly and do not secretly take a picture.

 

Tips for reading
There are many good guidebooks about Zambia, such as the Rough Guide, Lonely Planet and Bradt. For those guides that are specifically about Zambia’s nature you can always visit a local bookstore.

Zambia Tailor-made Travel Advice

Every traveller has their own preferences. Do you need assistance in planning your private safari to Zambia? Our experienced tour consultants are ready to assist you! Together we fully customize the tour to your personal preferences, wishes and budget. We can assist you in many different ways. Our team of friendly and service-oriented Tour Consultants is available in Europe and Africa to assist you in creating a personalized proposal for your tailor-made trip to Zambia and to answer all your questions you might have.

Zambia Tailor-made Travel Advice

Every traveller has their own preferences. Do you need assistance in planning your private safari to Zambia? Our experienced tour consultants are ready to assist you! Together we fully customize the tour to your personal preferences, wishes and budget. We can assist you in many different ways. Our team of friendly and service-oriented Tour Consultants is available in Europe and Africa to assist you in creating a personalized proposal for your tailor-made trip to Zambia and to answer all your questions you might have.

Private Safaris to Zambia: Discover Africa’s Hidden Treasures

Zambia Safari Trips to Inspire

The itineraries to Zambia we offer are fully customizable to your needs. You can book these, or you can use them for inspiration to build your own, tailor-made private safari to Zambia. See below some of our other sample itineraries that we have put together. Explore Zambia will always make sure that you will experience the journey of your dreams!

Impressive Zambia
Private guided safari & fly-in safari to discover Zambia in a nutshell.

Length: 10 Days (customizable)

Price from: €3.990,- EUR

Zambia Highlights in luxury
Luxury private guided safari & fly-in safari to explore all the highlights of Zambia.

Length: 13 Days (customizable)

Price from: €6.490,- EUR

Discover Malawi & Zambia
Explore two countries in one trip and discover the most fascinating national parks

Length: 13 Days (customizable)

Price from: €2.750,- EUR

Combi Malawi & Zambia
Seek diversity; from great wildlife viewings to majestic mountain plateaus and the exotic Lake Malawi.

Length: 14 Days (customizable)

Price from: €3.630,- EUR

Explore Zambia’s wildlife with our private guided safaris!

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