ZAMBIA - Travel Information

Arrival by Rail
There are two points of entry into Zambia . One is via the Tazara line from Dar es Salaam , Tanzania , which only goes as far as Kapiri Mposhi. From there, one can change trains (and stations) for the journey to Lusaka . There are two trains a week running in each direction. The schedules are unreliable and should be confirmed prior to travel. First second and third class (not recommended) are offered. Dining is not available and very often neither is water. Expect full immigration and customs checks when crossing the border. The other line is from Zimbabwe , via Victoria Falls town to Livingstone. Trains run every second day from Livingstone to Lusaka .

Arrival by Road
Zambia can be entered by road from Congo D.R, Zimbabwe , Malawi , Mozambique , Tanzania , Botswana and Namibia . : All road borders are open 24 hours a day except for Chembe, Kazungula, Kariba and Chirundu, which are open from 06h00 to 18h00. Victoria Falls Bridge is open until 20h00.

Arrival by Water
The only water access to Zambia is on Lake Tanganyika . The MV Liemba, one of the world's oldest operating steam ships, runs scheduled services from Bujumbura in Burundi , via Kigoma in Tanzania and docks at Mpulungu in Zambia . The ferry takes vehicles, cargo and passenger in first, second and third class (not recommended). Compartments and meals are available. Delays of up to twenty four hours are possible.

Banks
Operational hours are 0815 to 1430 hours Mondays through to Fridays and 0815 to 1030 hours on 1st and last Saturdays of the month.

Business hours
Government offices are open from 08h00 to 17h00, Monday to Friday. Closed from 13h00 to 14h00.
Bank hours vary from bank to bank but most are open from 08h30 - 14h30 Monday to Friday. Only some are open on Saturdays.
Shops are generally open from 08h00 to 17h00, Monday to Friday although some stay open until 19h00 and on Saturdays from 08h00 to 13h00 although some stay open til 17h00.

Climate
Zambia has three distinct seasons. December to April: warm and wet, May to August: cool and dry. September to November: hot and dry. Average temperatures in Summer range from 25° C to 35° C and in winter from 6° C to 24° C.

Currency
The Kwacha has denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10 000, 20 000 and 50 000 kwacha notes.
As of October 2006 US$1 = K3845 but this rate fluctuates regularly and sometimes quite dramatically.
Basing the exchange on K3845 - this is a handy guide to what your money is worth

$10 = K38 450
$50 = K172,250
$100 = K384,500

K 10 000 = $2.60 / € 2.08 / SAR R19.86
K 50 000 = $13.00 / € 10.38 / SAR R99.37
K 100 000 = $26.00 / € 20.77 / SAR R198.68

Currency regulations
There is no limit to the importation of foreign currency, provided it is declared on arrival through a currency declaration form.

Credit Cards
Most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards. Most of the bigger banks will advance local currency against a credit card. Standard Chartered and Barclays Banks have ATM's which accept Visa cards for cash.

Chemists / pharmacies
Travelers should carry an adequate supply of their prescribed medicines with them although chemists in the major centers now carry a wide range of medicines and first aid accessories.. There are some emergency chemists open after hours or Sundays in Lusaka .

Clubs
There are a limited number of sporting and social clubs in the major towns. Visitors are usually welcomed. Some charge a temporary membership fee.

Communications
Postal services are fairly well organized in Zambia and you should have no problem sending or receiving letters. Telegrams are less certain. There are two commercial Internet servers in Lusaka and another on the Copperbelt.

E-mail: There are several Internet Cafes in Livingstone and Lusaka . Businet Internet Cafe in Lusaka is conveniently located at the Holiday Inn. Cyberweb is in Los Angeles Boulevard near the golf course and Firstnet is just off Cairo Rd. The main Internet Service Provider is Zamnet and two others are Coppernet and Zamtel.

Public telephones are available in most public buildings, ie. post offices, and most use tokens. International calls can also be made from a private home or large hotel. (Note the surcharge at hotels is quite high). Direct dialing to neighboring countries requires 4 sets of numbers: first the international prefix 00, then the country code, the city code, then the number. Incoming calls usually cost less than outgoing calls from Zambia . To book an operator assisted international call, dial 090 or 093. Local directory assistance is 103. There are secretarial services along Cairo Rd in Lusaka that offer telephone, fax and telex and email facilities for a fee.

Customs
Travelers may, for their own consumption, import 2.5 liters of duty free beer, wine or spirits and 400 cigarettes or 500gms of tobacco.

Coach travel
There are buses from Dar es Salaam and Mbeya in Tanzania , to the Copperbelt and Lusaka , as well as from Lilongwe and Harare to Lusaka . Other privately owned companies run domestic services over a number of routes There is a bus terminus behind Shoprite supermarket in Cairo Rd.

Car Hire
There are many car hire companies in Lusaka and a few in Ndola , offering a small range of vehicles. Some offer a flat weekly rate, but most charge a daily rate plus mileage, insurance and petrol. Most cars come with a chauffeur and are thus expensive. See Car Hire Companies for Rates.

Domestic Air Services
Currently there are scheduled flights available to Chipata, Kitwe , Livingstone, Mfuwe and Ndola.

Zambian Airways flies to Livingstone, Mfuwe (South Luangwa), Victoria Falls and any charter flights.
Proflight flies to Mfuwe ( South Luangwa ) and Livingstone and 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.

Departure Tax
Departure tax is at airports is US$25 (international) and $8 (domestic), payable in hard currency. Travelers cheques are not acceptable.

Drivers Licence
Visiting drivers must hold an International Drivers License. Drivers licenses from other countries are not valid except SADC countries. New residents are required to pass a driving test. A person driving into the country on business can have their car admitted without having to pay duty, provided they will not use it for hire or commercial purposes. They will also have to show that the car is owned by themselves or by their company.

Duty Free
The following items may be imported into Zambia without incurring customs duty:
400 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco; One bottle of spirits and wine and 2.5 liters of beer (opened); 1oz bottle of perfume.
Note: Souvenirs may be exported without restriction but game trophies such as tooth, bone, horn, shell, claw, skin, hair, feather or other durable items are subject to export permits.

Energy
Local current is 220v, 50 cycle AC

Government
The government of Zambia is elected in a multi-party general election every five years. Up until 1991, when the first multi-party elections were held, the country was ruled by Kenneth Kaunda in a one party state. The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and their leader Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, are now the ruling government for the second term. Their economic policy is to move Zambia from a centralized, state driven economy to a more liberal open market economy that is private sector driven. The Government has put in place the necessary incentives to encourage private investment which includes privatization of State owned companies, rehabilitation of strategic infrastructure, a stable monetary policy and the recent enactment of the Competition and Fair Trade Act.

Health Requirements
Visitors from or passing through a yellow fever and cholera zone (most of tropical Africa and South America) must be able to produce a valid International Certificate of Vaccination. Air travelers who only pass through the airports of such a zone are exempt from the requirement. See Health International/ MARS, and Specialty Emergency Services for Medical Rescue Services.

International Flights
Airlines serving Zambia are: Zambian Airways, Air Malawi , Air Zaire , Air Zimbabwe , British Airways, Kenya Airways, , South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Regional Air There are frequent services to and from Lusaka and a limited number to Mfuwe International Airport in Luangwa Valley . The Airport is 24kms from the centre of Lusaka .

Insurance
Third party insurance must be purchased at the border for a nominal fee.

Language
There are over 73 dialects spoken in Zambia , but the official language is English. All media and business is in English and most Zambians speak it fairly well. Bemba is the next most commonly understood language, followed by Nyanja Tonga , Luvale, Lozi, Mambwe and Tumbuka.

Membership
INTERNATIONAL: Commonwealth, GATT, ILO, IMF , NAM , UN, WB, WHO
REGIONAL: African Development Bank, Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) OAU, Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Media
Magazines: Lusaka Lowdown Maps of Lusaka, reviews of accommodation and restaurants, consumer affairs, articles on tourism and other Zambian issues, life in Lusaka , regular features, interesting links and an archive of back issues.

Medical services
Medical services are underdeveloped and only in Lusaka , Ndola and Livingstone can you find anything resembling western standards. There are a number of small clinics in Lusaka which are better than the general hospitals, but the clinics in the rural areas have little more than quinine, aspirin and band aids.

See Specialty Emergency Services. or Hospitals

Medical Insurance
Medical insurance should be purchased before you leave your own country and should include emergency air evacuation coverage if you're spending any time in remote parts of the country. There are two medical rescue organizations. (See listings)

Petrol
Petrol and diesel can be readily obtained in all major towns, but shortages are common in the very remote areas so make sure you have spare fuel for emergencies. Both petrol and diesel get more expensive the further away you are from the line of rail. Unleaded petrol is now available at most BP stations in the major towns.

Public Holidays

1st January - Sunday-New Year
2nd January- Monday - Public Holiday
12th March - Sunday -Youth Day
13th March - Monday- Public Holiday
14th April - Friday - Good Friday
15th April - Saturday-Holy Saturday
17th April -Monday - Easter Monday
1st May - Monday - Labour Day
25th May - Thursday- Africa Freedom Day
3rd July -Monday- Heroes Day
4th July - Tuesday- Unity Day
7th August - Monday - Farmers Day
24th October - Tuesday- Independence Day
25th December - Monday - Christmas Day

Public transport
There are many taxis available. Prices are negotiable. There is a good bus service to Chipata, Livingstone, the Copperbelt and Harare , but they don't always follow strict schedules. The main bus terminus is in Dedan Kimathi road in Lusaka where one can enquire about timetables. Other private bus companies offer more reliable services to Livingstone, Harare and Johannesburg .

Religion
There is freedom of worship in Zambia with over 15 different churches. Christianity is followed by over 60% of the population.

Road Conditions
Zambia has a total road length of 38763kms tarred roads, 8592kms gravel roads and 21999 kms dirt roads. Zambia is notorious for potholes and road signs are few, but there are major road works on some of the main routes at the moment as the roads are finally being upgraded.. Some of the more remote roads require great care and caution while driving. Avoid driving at night if possible as there are no road markings and potholes and animals occur when least expected. A 4x4 is recommended if you're going anywhere off the main routes.

Road Rules
In Zambia , one drives on the left hand side of the road. The general speed limit on national highways is 100km/h, secondary roads 100km/h and in urban built up areas 65 km/h unless otherwise indicated.

Security
Petty theft is as common as any major city where unemployment is high. Be very awake when walking around carrying anything of value, there are master pickpockets here and there. Never leave your vehicle unlocked and never change money on the streets. For the most part, however, Zambians are very friendly and helpful.

Time
Zambia is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, one hour ahead of Central European Time, seven hours ahead of Eastern USA time and ten hours ahead of Western USA time.

Tipping
Tipping is discouraged as it is included as service charge on your bill.

Vehicle permits
To bring a vehicle into Zambia one must obtain a temporary import permit (TIP) or, depending on the country of origin of the vehicle, a carnet de passage. If the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, they must have a letter of authorization from the owner for use of the vehicle in Zambia . Your local AA office should be consulted before leaving for Zambia to check whether any of these conditions have changed. Otherwise, write to the

Controller of Customs and Excise Headquarters, Box 60500 , Livingstone , Zambia

TOURISTS TO ZAMBIA

• A bonafide tourist is any person traveling to Zambia as an individual or group of persons on a pre-arranged package tour through a foreign tour operator or travel agent in conjunction with a local tour operator.  Tour operators include hotels registered in Zambia as such.
• All bonafide tourists shall be issued with visas at any port of entry to Zambia or at  Zambian Missions abroad EXCEPT for those at paragraph 4 who require visas authorized by the Chief Immigration Officer or the stipulated Zambian Mission abroad.
• Any bonafide tourist traveling to Zambia as an individual or in a group  on a pre-arranged package tour through a foreign tour operator or travel agent in conjunction with a local operator shall be issued with a FEE WAIVED VISA at any port of entry to Zambia .
• Any person qualifying as a bonafide tourist under paragraph 3.3 above shall be issued with a multiple entry visa at any port of entry and such a visa shall be valid for the duration of the visit which shall not exceed a period of fourteen (14) days.
• The duly signed notice of tourists intending to come to Zambia on fee waived visa should be furnished to the officers at the port of entry at least twenty –four (24) hours prior to their arrival.  The notice should include the following details:  Passport particulars (full names, passport numbers and nationality), expected date of arrival and itinerary.
   
• PRIVATE VISITORS
• Nationals of countries which require visas to enter Zambia for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives should be issued with visas at Zambian Missions abroad or ports of entry.  Those nationals who may wish to obtain such visas well in advance should apply for them to the Chief Immigration Officer – P . O Box 50300 , LUSAKA - ZAMBIA , Zambiavisa@zamnet.zm.
• BUSINESS VISITORS
• Nationals of countries which require visas, coming as experts on business with organizations in Zambia could be issued with entry visas at ports of entry EXCEPT for those from countries listed under paragraph 4 below.  A Business visitor should produce an invitation letter from the institution which invited him/her.  A Business visitor is entitled to thirty (30) days visit in a period of twelve (12) months.
• TRANSIT VISITORS
• Nationals of countries who require transit visas could obtain them at Zambian Missions abroad or ports of entry except for those from countries listed at 4 below.  A transit visa shall be valid for a maximum period of seven (7) days.
• DAY TRIPPERS
• Day tripper visas shall be issued at ports of entry to tourists coming to visit Zambia for a period of less than twenty-four (24) hours.

Source: Zambia National Tourist Board for more Info visit the official website:
http://www.zambiatourism.com/welcome.htm