Zambia travel guide

Getting there

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone are the main gateways; land borders connect with Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi and others.

Best time to visit: May–Oct – dry season, best for safaris and the falls.

Tougher months: December-March – heavy rains make many roads impassable and some safari camps close.

Weather by month in Lusaka

• 26°J●●●
• 26°F●●●
• 26°M●●
• 26°A●
• 25°M
• 23°J
• 23°J
• 26°A
• 29°S
• 31°O●
• 29°N●●
• 27°D●●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Africa/Maputo. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 145 of 198 other passports can enter Zambia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 53 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Zambia (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2023-07-31). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Zambia travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Zambia are based around Livingstone & Victoria Falls, South Luangwa National Park or Lower Zambezi National Park. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$35–60 for a backpacker and US$120–250 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Zambia page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, D, G. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +260.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Livingstone & Victoria Falls (South · falls & adventure): Zambia's adventure capital, with direct access to the falls, river cruises and adrenaline activities.
• South Luangwa National Park (East · safari): One of Africa's finest parks for leopards and walking safaris along the Luangwa River.
• Lower Zambezi National Park (Southeast · river safari): Canoe, fish and spot wildlife on the Zambezi opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools.
• Kafue National Park (West · wilderness): A huge, little-visited park with the Busanga Plains and a wide variety of antelope.
• Kasanka National Park (Central · bat migration): A small park famous for its spectacular annual fruit bat migration.
• Liuwa Plain National Park (Western · grasslands): Remote plains hosting Africa's second-largest wildebeest migration.
• Lake Kariba (South · lake): A vast man-made lake on the Zimbabwe border, known for sunsets and tiger fishing.
• Lusaka (Capital · city): The fast-growing capital with markets, galleries and a convenient base for onward travel.

Things to do

• Victoria Falls. Get drenched by spray on the rainforest trail as the Zambezi plunges into a narrow gorge with a deafening roar.
• Walking safari in South Luangwa. Track lions, leopards and elephants on foot with an expert guide in the park that pioneered walking safaris.
• Devil's Pool. In low water, swim to a natural rock pool right on the lip of Victoria Falls on a guided trip.
• Canoe the Lower Zambezi. Paddle past hippos and elephants drinking at the river's edge beneath the escarpment.
• Raft the Zambezi. Tackle some of the world's most famous big-water rapids in the gorges below the falls.
• Bat migration at Kasanka. Watch millions of straw-coloured fruit bats fill the dusk sky in one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles.
• Liuwa Plain wildebeest. See vast herds of wildebeest and hunting hyenas on remote grasslands in the far west.
• Kuomboka ceremony. Witness the Lozi king's royal barge move to higher ground as the Zambezi floods.

Source: full Zambia guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Nshima – maize porridge eaten with relishes
• Ifisashi – greens in peanut sauce
• Kapenta – small dried fish, fried with tomato and onion
• Bream – grilled fish from lakes and rivers

Source: RoamSun Zambia guide

Money and safety

Currency: Zambian kwacha (ZMW). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Appreciated – around 10% in restaurants and tips for safari guides and staff.

Emergency numbers: 999 police · 991 ambulance · 993 fire.

• The currency is the Zambian kwacha (ZMW); many safari lodges price in US dollars.
• ATMs are found in towns and cities but rare in rural areas and parks, so carry enough cash.
• Zambia is generally peaceful and friendly, but petty theft occurs in cities – keep valuables hidden and avoid walking alone at night.
• Never approach wildlife on foot without a guide, and follow camp rules about walking after dark.

Source: RoamSun Zambia facts