The quintessence of Africa, virgin Zambia beckons the traveler with rich flora and fauna, expanses of national parks and great waterfalls. The colorful capital of Lusaka, colonial Livingston and Victoria Falls – all about Zambia: map, visa, tours, fishing and photos.
According to CachedHealth, Zambia, like a rough diamond in a row of perfectly cut diamonds, is a real, rough, wild, animal Africa. Here are not only some of the best national parks on the entire continent – unique wildlife reserves, but also the main attractions of this region: Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba, Zambezi Park. In addition, this country is every angler’s dream: thousands of anglers from all over the world flock to the mighty Zambezi River every year to try their luck in search of toothy African tiger fish or the rare giant wundu catfish. Energetic bird lovers also flock to Zambia to catch an incredible variety of birds in the scope of the camera, the most coveted prey is the African beard.
For independent travelers, Zambia can be a problematic country: the distances between the main cities and sights are large enough to travel by car, or (especially) public transport, you will have to be patient.
Must-visit destinations include Lusaka (because 99% of the time you will fly there) and Livingston, the real Africa, so rare among the increasingly developing and Western-oriented other countries of the continent.
Look for a complete list of cities and interesting places in the country on the page cities and resorts of Zambia.
Visa to Zambia
To visit the country, Russian citizens need a visa to Zambia, which can be obtained at the consulate in Moscow, or when crossing the border. Medical insurance to Africa when applying for a visa is optional, but going without it to the country is at least unreasonable.
Zambia’s main borders are open from 06:00 to 18:00, with the exception of the border crossing at Victoria Falls, which closes at 20:00, and Chirundu, which closes at 19:00.
Customs
The import of foreign currency is not limited, but a declaration is required. The export of imported foreign currency is not limited. You can import duty-free: 200 cigarettes or 450 grams of tobacco, 1 uncorked bottle of spirits, food within the limits of personal needs.
Firearms and drugs are prohibited.
You cannot export unprocessed precious and semi-precious stones (emerald, aquamarine, tourmaline, malachite, amethyst), ivory products (maximum – 1 product, which requires permission from the authorities), skins of wild animals, souvenir coins (only with an invoice from specially authorized stores).
Where to call if
Embassy of Zambia in Moscow: Mira Avenue, 52a; (495) 688-50-01, 688-50-83
Russian Embassy in Lusaka: Plot 6407, Diplomatic Triangle, Longacres POBox 32355; (211) 252-120, 252-183; Web site
Tourist safety
In general, Zambia is a very safe country, although in cities and tourist areas there is always a chance to become a victim of robbers or scammers. You can reduce the risk without forgetting reasonable precautions: leaving your passport and large sums of money in a hotel safe, for example.
Also, don’t drink tap water, have sex without a condom, wear sleeveless t-shirts in the hot sun, or leave windows open at night – you risk being bitten by a malarial mosquito. It is worth taking antimalarial pills, getting vaccinated against yellow fever.
Zambia Hotels
There is no official certification of hotels in the country, all stars were assigned personally by hoteliers or tour operators. So it’s worth reading reviews about the hotel before booking. 4-5 * level hotels are only in Lusaka and Livingston, as well as in national parks. But outside of big cities or popular tourist areas, tourists don’t have much to choose from, so prices per night can increase significantly compared to the capital.
Banks, exchange offices and tips
The country’s monetary unit is the Zambian Kwacha (ZMK), in 1 Zambian Kwacha 100 ngwe. Current exchange rate: 1 ZMW = 3.38 RUB (1 USD = 17.05 ZMW, 1 EUR = 17.93 ZMW).
The country has a high rate of inflation; Some prices are in Kwachas and US dollars. In major cities, cash and travelers checks can be exchanged at Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank branches. Large branches have ATMs that accept Visa cards. Currency exchange offices – often referred to as bureau de changex – are easy to find in all major cities.
It is better not to bring the euro into the country: the exchange rate of this currency is simply predatory.
Climate of Zambia
Zambia has three seasons: dry (mid-April to August) when temperatures drop a lot at night but the landscape is very green and lush; the hot season (September to mid-November) is the best time to enjoy wildlife views, as the flora is stunted and does not interfere with observing nature with the naked eye; and the rainy season (mid-November to mid-April) is an ideal period for birdwatching in natural habitats. See also the current weather forecast in the capital of Zambia for 10 days.
