ZAMBIA- GENERAL INFORMATION
Z
A M B I A
(05/2024)
GEOGRAPHY
Credit: Central Intelligence Agency
HISTORY
There is archaeological evidence to show
that
In the 1950’s, Kenneth Kaunda founded a
breakaway movement from the African National Congress (ANC) called the Zambia
African National Congress (ZANC). ZANC was committed to fighting for basic
civil and voting rights for the African population and was swiftly banned by
the government; Kaunda was arrested. While he was in jail, his followers
reformed ZANC as the United National Independence Party (UNIP); Kaunda became
chairman of UNIP after his release in 1960. UNIP too was made illegal, but it
received widespread support across the population. After waves of
demonstrations spread across the country in the early 1960s,
THE
PEOPLE
SOCIAL
CONVENTIONS
Shaking hands is the normal way of greeting. The pace of life is leisurely, and patience is frequently required for seemingly trivial matters, as well as matters of greater seeming urgency.
LANGUAGE
The official language is English, which is
widely spoken. There are more than 73 tribal dialects, of which the major ones
are
GOVERNMENT
The government of
The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is
ruling the government. Their economic policy is to move
TIME ZONE
Two hours ahead of GMT.
ELECTRICITY
CLIMATE
Although
Clothes to Wear:
Lightweight or tropical clothing with rainwear
is highly recommended. Sweaters and jackets are necessary during the cool and
the rainy seasons.
LOGISTICAL
Entry
& Exit Requirements
A passport is
required. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the intended
date of departure from
Visitors traveling on passports other than North-American documents must ascertain rules to enter Zambia based on their travel documents.
The Government
of the
If your
passport is lost or stolen while you are in Zambia, visit the Zambian Department of Immigration office to
apply for a replacement entry permit before attempting to depart the country.
All citizens,
except resident diplomats, must pay an airport departure tax which is collected
in U.S. dollars. Airlines include this tax in the cost of the ticket; however,
passengers will need to verify that this tax has been paid at the airport. The
passenger will receive a “no-fee” receipt reflecting this payment.
U.S. / Canadian visitors traveling in Zambia are encouraged to register
with the U.S. / Canadian Embassy in Lusaka at the Department
of State’s travel registration page in order to obtain updated
information on local travel and security. U.S. / Canadian citizens without
Internet access may register directly with their respective Embassy.
Registration is important; it allows Officials to assist citizens in an
emergency. The Embassy of the
Embassy & High Commission Locations:
Zambian Embassy of the United
States of
Cnr
Nations Avenues,
Tel: (+260 21) 1 250 955, ext. 2234
After hour emergencies: ext. 1
Fax: (+260 21) 1 253 824
High Commission of
Canada to Zambia
5199 United Nations Avenue
Lusaka, Zambia
Tel:
(+260 21) 1 250 833
Fax: (+260 21) 1 254 176
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/zambia-zambie/index.asp
Health:
While not required for entry, it is highly recommended for all
travelers to be up to date on their routine vaccinations, including, but not
limited to: Influenza, Chickenpox (Varicella), polio, Measles / Mumps / Rubella
(
Malaria is
endemic in Zambia. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness
while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home
should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel
history and what anti-malarials they have been taking. For additional information
on malaria, protection from insect bites, and anti-malarial drugs,
please visit the CDC Travelers' Health web site.
Outbreaks of
cholera occur during rainy season (usually Nov-Apr) throughout the country, but
are unlikely to affect U.S. citizen visitors, unless they eat or drink in areas
with questionable water sources and hygiene. For further information on cholera,
consult the CDC’s information on cholera.
Human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) are also health concerns in
Zambia. For further information on HIV, please consult CDC’s information on HIV; for further
information on TB, please consult CDC's information on TB.
Certain
over-the-counter medications, such as the anti-histamine Benadryl, may not be
brought into the country. A complete list of controlled substances banned
in Zambia is on the Zambia Drug Enforcement web site (http://www.deczambia.gov.zm/docs/Cap%2096%20of%20the%20Laws%20of%20Zambia.pdf).
Information
on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water
precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for
international travelers at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or via the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the
infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO)
website at http://www.who.int/topics/infectious_ diseases/en/.The
WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers,
including detailed country-specific health information.
Banks & Currency:
Kwacha (ZMK) = 100 ngwee.
Notes are in denominations of ZMK 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500,
100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of ZMK 10, 5 and 1, and 50 and 25 ngwee.
Exchange of foreign currency is carried out at authorised banks and bureaux de change. Most hotels, restaurants, and bigger shops accept credit cards. ATM’s are available within Lusaka and some of the major towns in Zambia. Standard Chartered and Barclays Bank have ATM’s which accept Visa.
Currency restrictions apply. Banking Hours vary from bank to bank, but most are open Mon-Fri 08:15 am – 02:30 pm. Some banks are open 08:15 am – 10:30 am on the first and last Saturday of the month.
Communication:
The post is neither cheap nor fast, though
it is fairly reliable, for letters and postcards. It's worth noting that Zambia
has some lovely stamps for sale, a favorite of stamp collectors.
The Zambian
telephone system can be overloaded and has difficulty coping. Getting through
to anywhere can be hard, and this difficulty generally increases in proportion
to the remoteness of the place that you are trying to contact. If you must use
the phone, then persistence is the key – just keep on trying and eventually you
should get a line that works. To dial into the country from abroad, the
international access code for
Mobile phones,
or 'cells', are widely used in the larger cities, where there is often a choice
of networks. Coverage is slowly widening to encompass some of Zambia's
medium-sized towns but expect coverage outside Lusaka and Livingstone to be
patchy. Be careful of picking up Zimbabwean networks in Livingstone, as the
prices may be based on official Zimbabwean exchange rates, and hence be much
more expensive than their Zambian equivalents.
Cell
Phone Usage:
Please contact your cell phone provider to
determine whether your contract includes coverage in the country you are
visiting. Depending on your contract you may have to add international services
and/or country specific services.
ENTERTAINMENT
Food & Drink:
Zambian supermarkets of
the new century are considerably well stocked with modern conveniences, even in
some remote regions. All safari camps and luxury lodges offer top-class
cuisine. Traditional Zambian
dishes include bream (fish)
caught from the Zambezi, Kafue and Luapula rivers, as well as tasty Nile perch, lake salmon and other freshwater fish from the vast waters of Lake Tanganyika. Termites, caterpillars, fresh maize (known
as dobe) and roasted maize or chiwaya cha kazinga are common
condiments enjoyed at a traditional homestead.
Chibuku beer brewed from
maize is common. Beer, brewed commercially, include Mosi, Rhino Lager
and Ndola Supreme. Zambian coffee
is superb and can be bought at most retail outlets or departure lounges.
Nightlife:
All over Zambia, you will find many things
to do, see and experience. Zambia is full of interesting places, where one can
easily pass many hours enjoying the entertainment that can be found in Zambia.
There are a wide range of bars, cafes and clubs all over Zambia. Lusaka and
tourist resorts in Zambia have some of the most popular clubs in the country.
Shopping:
Zambia's crafts people have combined
artistic license with traditional mores to produce a range of fine crafts, from
the master basket weavers of Barotseland to the ebony sculptures of the
Southern Province. Fierce masks, objects
d'art made from copper, brass or malachite, traditional musical instruments
from drums to thumb pianos, even the stretched canvas is becoming a popular
medium for Zambian self expression.
BAGGAGE
Baggage
rules for international and domestic air travel have changed much in recent
years, differ from carrier to carrier and these days even may cover your
on-board bags. Checking luggage may cost a separate fee or may be free
depending on your personal mileage status with the carrier. We therefore
encourage you to read your ticket’s small print and/or contact your carrier for
exact rules.
For tours that include light aircraft transfers and/or
charter flights there is a maximum weight allowance of 33-44 lbs. per person.
Soft-sided luggage is required and strict limitations are imposed. Preferably,
travel light, if possible. If not, it is recommended to include a
soft-sided bag inside your regular luggage to carry this allowable
weight. For overland tours, space for luggage in safari vehicles is
limited. Extra baggage will be stored wherever possible (additional
charges may apply, please request information from your sales
consultant).
All luggage checked
in at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport must comply with the
following requirements:
1. Bags must have at least one flat surface.
2. No long shoulder straps which can hamper movement on luggage belts.
3. If the soft bag has a shoulder strap, this needs to be taken off before
checking in the luggage.
4. If the bag has more straps, like soft backpacks, they need to be
wrapped in plastic.
TIPPING
Tipping is according to personal
preference. The following guidelines are recommended but left to your
discretion: Drivers/Guides on safari from US$10-$15 per person per day. Porters
& Hotel staff from US$1-3 per person per service. Meals are 10-15% of your
restaurant bill.
LAUNDRY
Most hotels and
lodges will offer a laundry service.
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
You will find incredible photographic opportunities on your safari.
Please be courteous when taking pictures of the local people. In some countries
you must refrain from photographing sites such as Military bases and industrial
installations. Also be aware of cultural sensitivities when taking pictures of
or near churches and other religious sites.
USE
OF DRONES
The use of
drones is being legislated by many countries. In some cases, drones are already
forbidden and their unauthorized use may carry severe penalties. If you plan to
travel with a drone please contact the embassy or consulate of the country you
wish to visit in order to ascertain rules
pertaining to drones.