:: Useful Information
:: Health & Malaria
Most of Zambia is a malaria area and recommended
prophylaxis should be taken. The low lying
river valleys are where malaria is most
virulent and extra care should be taken
in these areas. Your doctor can advise you
on the best type for the area of travel
and your personal requirements. However,
taking prophylaxis will not guarantee that
you will not contract malaria! The best
way to avoid malaria is to avoid being bitten
by the mosquitoes that carry the parasite.
Only the females of one species of mosquito
(Anopheles) carry the tiny parasite, and
the greatest incidence of malaria is in
areas of high population where there are
many people for the mosquito to bite and
pass the parasite between.
Mosquitoes usually bite between sunset
and sunrise, so make sure that you are covered
up during this time! Wear loose fitting,
long sleeved shirts and trousers, use a
good insect repellent and sleep underneath
a mosquito net or in a tent/ room sealed
with netting. If you do develop flu-like
symptoms, or feel at all unwell, during
your holiday or after your return home,
you must make sure that your doctor knows
that you have recently travelled in a malaria
area. Malaria is not a serious problem provided
people take adequate precautions and seek
advice and treatment immediately if they
feel unwell.
Zambia's major private hospitals are of
a fair standard, however, serious medical
cases will be evacuated by air to South
Africa where further facilities are available.
For this reason you must make sure that
comprehensive travel insurance is taken
out before you travel, this insurance should
cover any medical expenses, air evacuation
and repatriation if necessary.
:: Water
The water is safe to drink in Zambia's
towns, when visiting the remote areas purification
tablets should be used, or bottled mineral
water bought en-route. Plenty of water must
be drunk to prevent dehydration. We recommend
2-3 litres minimum, excluding beverages
such as tea, coffee, juice and alcohol.
Dehydration is responsible for many emergency
evacuations and can cause very serious problems,
it is totally avoidable, so don't let this
spoil your holiday!
:: Climate
| Rainy season: |
December to April. Rainfall
does not usually occur every day, and
generally takes place in the afternoon
with mornings being fairly clear. |
| Summer: |
September to April with a high of
35° C and a low of 18° C. |
| Winter: |
May to August with a high of 27°
C and a low of 10° C. |
The best time to visit Zambia is in the
winter months of May to August, and many
safari operators do not run trips into the
National Parks during the rainy season due
to the condition of the roads and the intensity
of the heat in lowland areas.
:: Photography
Bring plenty of film and a spare camera
battery as these items are not available
in some of the more remote areas of Zambia.
100 ASA film is recommended for normal light
conditions, 200 may be used for low lighting
conditions. A good zoom lens (minimum 200
mm) is essential for wildlife photography.
:: Clothing
Neutral, muted colours such as khaki, dark
green or beige ensure as little disturbance
to wildlife as possible whilst on game drives
or walks. White or bright colours and army
camouflage uniforms or army hats are not
recommended.
:: Recommended Packing
Neutral coloured casual clothing (shorts/shirts)
for everyday wear, stout shoes (with soles
thick enough to protect against thorns and
for walking), light waterproof jacket for
summer, warm jumper/ fleece for winter,
warm long trousers for winter, two sets
of good casual clothes for evening dining
where appropriate, towel, broad brimmed
hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, plenty
of film & spare battery, binoculars,
reliable torch, sleeping bag if camping.
It is also worth noting that if you are
travelling by light aircraft or as part
of a guided safari, you should carry no
more than 10-15kg of luggage in a soft bag
for ease of packing.
:: Currency
Zambia's currency is the Zambian Kwacha
which is divided into 100 ngwee, although
these coins are very rarely used due to
devaluation. US$ can be exchanged throughout
the country, as can Euro and pounds sterling
although US$ generally receives a better
rate. Travellers cheques can also be changed
in banks and most accommodation establishments
accept credit cards, mainly Visa or Mastercard,
although this should be checked before arrival.
Fuel cannot be purchased with credit cards,
and in the more remote areas most places
only accept cash.
:: Visa Requirements
Visitors from the Commonwealth and some
other European countries can obtain tourist
visas for up to 3 months at the border.
The cost depends on your nationality but
this can usually be waived by booking in
advance with a registered Zambian operator
who will obtain your visa for you. Please
contact us for details regarding your personal
visa requirements.
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