Zambia Safari

Currency

Zambia’s unit of currency is the Kwacha (ZMW). The note denominations are K100, K50, K20, K10, K5 and K2. However, some prices are quoted in USD. It is, therefore, possible to use USD and Pounds Sterling as well.

Banking

In the cities and larger towns, you can change cash and travellers’ cheques at branches of Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. Larger branches have ATMs that accept Visa. Visa is more widely accepted than MasterCard and American Express. Foreign exchange offices are easy to find in cities and larger towns.

Banks are generally open on weekdays from 8:00 – 14:30, Monday to Friday. Most banks are closed over weekends except for the first and last Saturday of each month, and are open between 8:15 – 11:00.

Proflight flies from Lusaka to Mfuwe (South Luangwa), to Livingstone and the Copperbelt and also does charters. Various air charter companies will fly to any of the many airstrips around the country and most of the areas worth visiting are accessible by air.

In terms of public transport, taxis and bus services are available. There are good bus services available to Chipata, Livingstone, the Copperbelt, and Harare, although the timetables aren’t always set. One can hire a car from hire companies in Lusaka, but with only 10% – 20% of the roads being tarred, it is not recommended to drive outside of the city.

Zambia’s native cuisine is based on nshima, a cooked porridge made from ground maize normally accompanied by some tasty relish, perhaps made of meat and tomatoes, or dried fish. Safari camps will often prepare nshima if requested, and it is almost always available in small, local restaurants.

Camps, hotels and lodges that cater to overseas visitors tend to serve a range of international fare, and the quality of food prepared in the most remote bush camps is typically excellent. Water in the main towns is usually purified. The locals drink it and if you are in the country for a long time, then it may be worth acclimating yourself to it. However, if you are in Zambia for just a few weeks, then try to drink only bottled water.

Out in the bush, most of the camps and lodges provide bottled water or use water from boreholes which are generally safe to drink. According to our most recent Zambia travel advice, a discretionary ten percent tip is typical for restaurant bills, hotels, and taxis. In many places, a service charge is automatically added. It is customary to tip the game guide and lodge staff while on safari.

Rainy season is from November to March though the further north you are, the earlier the rains arrive and the later they leave. Eastern areas and higher areas generally receive more rain than western and lowland areas.

By April and May, most of the rain has faded away, leaving a landscape that’s still green, but starting to dry out. Nighttime temperatures start to drop, especially in higher and more southerly locations. June, July and August nights become much cooler, the days remain clear and warm. Make sure you bring warm clothes to wrap up if you’re out at night, as some nights get very cold! Most of Zambia’s small ‘walking bush camps’ open at the start of June, when the roads have dried out sufficiently to allow access.

This is the start of the ‘peak season’ for these countries – with cloudless days and continually increasing game sightings. In September and October, the temperatures climb: the lower-lying rift valleys – Lower Zambezi, Mana Pools and Luangwa Valley – can get up to 45 degrees. However, you’ll see some superb game as the animals concentrate around the limited water sources.

November is variable; it can be hot and dry like October, or it can see the season’s first downpours.

Zambia has mild winters and the summer days can be scorching hot. Lightweight casual clothes can be worn all year round, with a jacket or jersey for early winter mornings and evenings. On safari keep clothes to neutral colours – khakis, browns and greens. A sunhat, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent are a must.

Most hotels and lodges offer internet and/or Wi-Fi (free or paid) to their guests. Internet cafes are springing up in Zambia, but connections can be erratic and slow.

Current is 220/240 volts a with a frequency of 50Hz. Types C, D, and G are used. If your appliance’s plug doesn’t match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance’s plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into.

Travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. If you need to use appliances that are not compatible with 220-240 volt electrical input, you will need a voltage converter.