General Information on Travelling in Zambia

Travelling to Zambia

International flights to Lusaka are provided by the following carriers:

• British Airways
• South African Airways
• Kenyan Airways
• Ethiopian Airways
• Emirates

Where possible our set departures are linked to either the British Airways or South African Airways timetables.

For internal flights we recommend Proflight

Visas

In November 2008, Zambia's president at the time, Mr Rupiah Banda, announced a decrease of the tourist visa fee charge to USD 50 to encourage more visitors to Zambia. This replaces the previous full visa rates, which in turn replaced the visa waiver scheme.

All visitors are required to purchase a tourist visa. Please visit the Zambian Immigration Website for full information. For guidance, the visa rate for single entry is USD 50, and USD 80 for multiple entries.

Most nationals can purchase their visas upon arrival. Please have correct money and amounts in $5 and $10 notes. (With "big heads" - see money). Some nationals do have to obtain a visa before arriving in Lusaka such as Greek, Turkish, Indian, Chinese.

Important tip

Please ensure you check the visa stamp in your passport when at the immigration desk.  Ensure that you have been given enough days.  There have been a number of incidences where the days were short and you will be fined heavily on departure (currently $250 per person per day overstayed). We recommend you ask for 30 days in Zambia which is the maximum for a tourist visa. You will need to extend this in the country if you are staying longer.

Airport Taxes

• Domestic departure tax & security charges – ZMK 58 currently approximately US$12 
• International departure tax & security charges – ZMK156 currently approximately US$31 

Please not that all departure tax needs to be paid in Zambian Kwacha. This can be obtained at the airport either from the ATMs (Visa & Mastercard only) or Banks/Bureaux de Change. 

TIP: if carrying cash, please do carry a little extra in case of currency fluctuations. 
If arriving in Lusaka, our meet and greet team will assistant you with the above

Meet and Greet Service

If you are arriving in Lusaka from an international or domestic flight, you will be met and assisted by a representative from Tours Africa. The representative will assist you with immigration, check-in for your connecting flight, payment of departure tax, and any other assistance you may need.

Their contact number in Zambia is: 021 127 1070.

Lusaka Hotel Accommodation

Robin Pope Safaris is happy to book hotel accommodation when an overnight stay in Lusaka is required.

Medical

All visitors should be medically insured. Robin Pope Safaris does insure for medical evacuation but not for medical services.
Malaria - protection imperative.
Tetanus and the hepatitis vaccinations are recommended.
It is advisable to know your blood group type in case of emergency.

Money

It has recently been made law that every transaction within the country be done in local Zambian Kwacha. The local currency is only available within the country and can be obtained at the airports either from the ATMs (Visa & Mastercard only) or Banks/Bureaux de Change. 

Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted but not in remote areas and should not be relied on except in major towns. RPS accept visa for payments made in the camp. US dollars are easier to change than sterling. Please ask the exchange or bank to supply you with only new US dollar bills - i.e. ones with large heads as any with small heads are not accepted in Zambia.

NB: On the 1st of January 2013 Zambia rebased their currency and dropped three zeros and issued new currency. The old notes are still in circulation and will be accepted as legal tender until June.

Tipping

Is not expected but always enthusiastically received if you are happy with the service. We suggest you tip your guides directly, and leave the staff tip with the management to be shared out. When asked 'how much' I say from US$5 to US$10 per person per night at camps.

Voltage

220-240 A.C. Hairdryers cannot be used at camps with generators, but video battery recharging is fine. See Camp Information for details of which camps are on mains, and which have generators.

Insurance

We advise that luggage is fully insured. We highly recommend full Trip Cancellation Insurance - we do need to charge cancellation fees as stipulated. Robin Pope Safaris bears no responsibility for any delays, loss, injury, illness, death, cancellation of flights, change of itinerary and retains the right to alter or cancel a safari with just reason. All guests are advised to insure fully.

Photography

Please be sensitive when photographing local people and their villages. Ask the guide or the villagers first. Be careful when photographing public buildings and persons in uniform - again, ask first.