Zambia

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Zambia

This unique, peanut-shaped country offers visitors an authentic African experience complete with adrenalin pumping adventure sports, a variety of fascinating cultural activities, and an abundance of indigenous wildlife, which finds refuge in Zambia’s vast national parks.

Enjoy the spectacular site of the world’s largest waterfall, the Victoria Falls, while sipping on sundowners after an exhilarating day of whitewater rafting down the rapids of the mighty Zambezi River. If that sounds a little too adventurous for your taste, take a houseboat cruise along the exquisite Lake Kariba while watching wild elephants drink at the riverbank as you try your hand at catching the elusive tiger fish.

However you choose to spend your time in this unique country, you are bound to leave with a heavy heart and a desire to return again soon to this exceptionally beautiful Southern African country.

Regions:

Busanga Plains – Kafue, Kafue National Park, Livingstone, Lower Zambezi, Lusaka, Mutinondo Wilderness, South Luangwa National Park, Victoria Falls (Zam)

Travel Styles:

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Regions

  • Busanga Plains – Kafue

    Busanga Plains – Kafue

    Kafue is Zambia’s largest national park, comprising two distinct sections, of which the northern section is the biggest and shelters the highest concentrations of game. Resident species include elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and antelope, while hippos and waterbirds thrive in…

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  • Kafue National Park

    Kafue National Park

    Set in the heart of western Zambia, Kafue National Park is the country’s biggest and oldest National Park. Three rivers form the lifeblood of the reserve namely the Lufupa, Lunga and Kafue rivers with the annual summer flood of the…

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  • Livingstone

    Livingstone

    Zambia’s flourishing border town, Livingstone, or Maramba, is situated in the South Province of the country. The British colonial city is a tourism centre for the nearby Victoria Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, and the Zambezi River. Continuously growing, this romantic…

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  • Lower Zambezi

    Lower Zambezi

    Located on the Zimbabwean border in the southern reaches of Zambia, the Lower Zambezi region is best known as the home to the Lower Zambezi National Park. The landscape is characterised by rugged, unspoilt wilderness of vast floodplains, scattered with…

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  • Lusaka

    Lusaka

    Lusaka, Zambia’s cosmopolitan capital, is a typical modern African city. Set on open plains at the heart of the country, northeast of the capital, the city serves as Zambia’s rapidly developing economic and transport hub with new buildings popping up…

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  • Mutinondo Wilderness

    Mutinondo Wilderness

    Mutinondo Wilderness lies within Chief Mpumba’s area on the plateau 30 km west of the Luangwa Valley in the Northern Province of Zambia. The area consists of 10,000hectares of privately owned land encompassing pristine Miombo woodland, massive chunks of granite…

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  • South Luangwa National Park

    South Luangwa National Park

    Undoubtedly Zambia’s most famous reserve, South Luangwa National Park is situated in eastern Zambia in the Luangwa valley. The South Luangwa National Park is renowned for its walking safari, which allows visitors to view elephant, hippo and even lion close-up…

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  • Victoria Falls (Zam)

    Victoria Falls (Zam)

    Located a few kilometres from the Zambezi River in southwestern Zambia, the bustling town of Livingstone is famous as the home of the magnificent Victoria Falls. One of the original natural wonders of the world, the World Heritage Site is…

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Travel Information

Electricity

Plug Type: Type G, Type M Voltage (V): 230 *Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.

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Banking

Currency  Local currency: Zambian Kwacha Symbol: ZK ISO code: ZMW Subunit: Ngwee Banking In Zambia, cash is king – and whereas the US dollar…

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Cuisine

Food and water safety: Can you drink the tap water: No Fresh fruit and veg: Yes within major cities Ice: Yes within major cities Meat: Yes within major…

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Climate

Annual rainfall: Varies Average temperature: 25°C Summer: Average highs: 30°C Average lows: 20°C Winter: Average highs: 25°C Average lows:…

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Transport

Air: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines all offer regular flights into Lusaka (LUN) with onward connections to…

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Dress

It is recommended to travel as light as possible as space is limited in the rear of the rental vehicles. Soft sided bags are easier to pack away than hard…

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Featured Tours

Reviews

  • We had an amazing 13 day trip in Botswana and Zambia thanks to Drive Botswana. Our self-drive safari was perfectly organized. The whole team have a deep knowledge of the lodges, campsites, and roads, keeping your trip on track.

    Amy

  • Our 6x week safari through Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, organised through Drive Botswana was superb. We were sent very comprehensive plans of routes with adetails of road conditions, and when/where to stock up on provisions. Superb trip through beautiful countries.

    Linda D

  • We are a family of three and this is our second trip organized with Drive Botswana, and we cannot recommend them highly enough. This year, we went on another self-drive trip in Zambia. Our journey was nothing short of extraordinary.

    Zane

  • Thanks to Drive Botswana for organising a brilliant trip to Namibia and Zambia. This is the second time they have organised a trip for us. The itinerary was excellent, very tailored to our individual needs.

    Lawrence A

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Electricity

Plug Type: Type G, Type M Voltage (V): 230 *Travel plug adapter and voltage converter might be necessary depending on your appliances.
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Banking

Currency  Local currency: Zambian Kwacha Symbol: ZK ISO code: ZMW Subunit: Ngwee Banking In Zambia, cash is king - and whereas the US dollar was widely used in the past, Zambia’s re-based local currency - Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) - is legally required to be used for most purchases although most tourism establishments will still take US dollars for purchases or payment of additional activities. Credit and debit cards (VISA / Mastercard) are accepted in the larger shops and at fuel stations in the towns. Traveller's cheques are not advised and we would suggest using cash machines to withdraw Kwacha instead - VISA is better than Mastercard and AMEX does not work for cash withdrawals.
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Cuisine

Food and water safety: Can you drink the tap water: No Fresh fruit and veg: Yes within major cities Ice: Yes within major cities Meat: Yes within major cities Local cuisine: Zambian cuisine features a variety of dishes, including Nshima (maize porridge), which is often served with meat, vegetables, or fish. Other popular dishes include Ifisashi (vegetables cooked in peanut sauce) and Biltong (dried meat). Tipping: Tipping is accepted and indeed encouraged (where the service warrants it!) for game guides and camp staff. In restaurants whilst not mandatory it is expected that you will give a gratuity. The preferred currency for tips is Zambian Kwacha or US dollars.
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Climate

Annual rainfall: Varies Average temperature: 25°C Summer: Average highs: 30°C Average lows: 20°C Winter: Average highs: 25°C Average lows: 15°C Best time to visit: The best time to visit Zambia is during the dry season from June to August when wildlife viewing is at its best. However, the wet season from November to April offers lush landscapes and excellent birdwatching opportunities.
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Transport

Air: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines all offer regular flights into Lusaka (LUN) with onward connections to the rest of the world. South African Airways, Air Tanzania, Malawi Airlines, RwandAir and Airlink also operate regional flights into Lusaka. Livingstone airport (LVI) is served by Kenya Airways (Nairobi) and Airlink (Johannesburg) and there are a number of Zambian operators including Proflight, Zambia Airways and Mahogany Air who offer regional and domestic services. Road: Driving on the: Left Tar roads: Yes, poorly-maintained in some areas Gravel roads: Yes, especially in rural areas Away from the major centres, the roads are usually gravel between the smaller villages and sometimes in poor condition especially after the rains. Once you venture off road, this changes to a single track so a 4x4 is essential.
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Dress

It is recommended to travel as light as possible as space is limited in the rear of the rental vehicles. Soft sided bags are easier to pack away than hard suitcases. Pack some clothing in your hand luggage just in case your suitcases are delayed. Clothing The summer months call for loose, cotton (or similar) clothing to keep cool. At night to protect against insect bites it is advisable to wear long sleeves and trousers, especially during the rainy season when insects are more active. Remember to bring your swim wear as many lodges have swimming pools. Don't forget to bring adequate protection from the sun with a squashable sun hat and sunglasses essential as well as suncream and lip balm. In winter the days are warm, often exceeding 20°C, but at night the temperatures drop, especially in the desert areas, occasionally dipping below 0°C so make sure you pack some warm jumpers for the cold mornings and evenings. When in wildlife areas try to avoid wearing bright clothing - khaki or similar colours are preferred although avoid wearing military camouflage. Footwear For camping it is advisable to wear adequate footwear and socks, especially at night, because of scorpions and insects. Open sandals or flip-flops are useful for wearing at other times. If you are doing any walking safaris or hiking remember to bring a pair of comfortable walking boots as well.