Africa
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Visa Requirements - Holders of UK passports do not require a visa for entry into Zambia if travelling on a pre-arranged tour.
Non-British passport holders should check their visa requirements with their local Embassy or High Commission. Please also be aware that you need to have at least two blank pages in your passport.
Health Requirements - A Yellow Fever Certificate is required only if you enter Zambia from or via an infected country. There are no other mandatory vaccinations required although Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Meningitis and Hepatitis A are usually recommended. Malaria does exist in various parts of Zambia and it is therefore essential that you seek qualified medical advice on its prevention.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 606 2782 for all professional medical advice.
Time - GMT + 2 hours (+ 1 hour during British Summer Time)
Money - The currency is the Zambian Kwacha. Travellers' cheques, US Dollars and Sterling can be freely exchanged at most commercial banks. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted in many of the more sophisticated hotels and bush camps, however an alternative payment source such as cash or travellers cheques is sensible when in remote areas.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
British Airways |
Heathrow/Lusaka |
Wed/Sat |
Direct |
|
South African Airways |
Heathrow/Livingstone |
Daily |
Johannesburg |
Climate - a rough guide
Zambia has two quite distinct dry and rainy seasons as described below:
WINTER (Dry Season) The dry winter months generally last from May until October and are characterised by warm, dry days with temperatures hovering around 80F, and cool nights with temperatures falling to a relatively cool 53F. The skies are usually beautifully clear and normally there is very little rain throughout this period. As winter draws to a close in September/October, the temperature starts to rise and the humidity increases as the November rains approach.
SUMMER (Wet Season) November heralds the start of the wet season with high temperatures and humidity that normally last until March. Daytime temperatures can rise to 90F in early summer although they tend to fall as the season progresses, and the nights remain at a balmy 65F throughout the season. The rains are generally heaviest from December to February and usually fall in short, heavy downpours before the sun reappears. It is possible to have days without any rain at all, although heavy rainfall can also render some areas inaccessible at times.
When to go
It is the dry winter months from May to October with clear skies and warm days that is generally the best time to visit. As the season progresses, the bush becomes thinner and drier and the game viewing becomes easier as the animals have to frequent the dwindling number of water holes. April is an unpredictable month which can enjoy wonderful dry weather with some intermittent rain storms.
The summer months from November to March see higher levels of rainfall and humidity than the winter months and many of the roads become impassable which leads to most camps being closed. Some of the camps in the South Luangwa National Park remain open as the roads are all-weather and it is a time when you can see the park at its greenest and most beautiful.
|
Lusaka |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
79/ |
79/ |
79/ |
79/ |
78/ |
74/ |
74/ |
78/ |
83/ |
86/ |
84/ |
81/ |
|
Rain (in) |
8.5 |
6.7 |
3.6 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
0.05 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.05 |
0.7 |
3.5 |
7.9 |
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) = Average Monthly Rainfall
