Zambia: Travelling

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Recommendation

Public transport options are limited and driving is the most common option throughout the country. There are several car hire companies in Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone, offering a wide range of vehicles on a flat weekly rate basis or with a daily rate plus mileage, insurance and petrol.
There are many taxis available in major towns. Drivers do not use the meters, so prices have to be bargained in advance. They can be booked on the phone or directly on the road.

Maps of Urban Networks

Lusaka Public Transport Map

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka	26 km/16 Miles NE of the City	Average fare from the airport to the city is USD 20 - 20-30 mins	30 minutes	n/a	available
Livingstone International (LVI)	6 km/4 Miles NW of the city	To the city USD 5, 10-15 mins	Various tour companies run shuttle buses into the city and to other locations	n/a	available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Recommendation

There are several options to travel around the country. Mini-buses are popular, but they are often irregular, dangerous, and uncomfortable. They only leave on a fill-up-and-go basis, and the driver will squeeze as many paying customers as possible to maximize profits.
Larger coaches tend to be more reliable and safer, usually depart on-time and tickets may be purchased in advance. They frequently leave from Lusaka to all the main towns. Furthermore, more comfortable Western-style express buses operate along the major routes (at a fare about 25% more expensive than the ordinary bus)
Zambia has three railway services, between Lusaka and Kitwe, via Kapiri Mposhi and Ndola, and the one between Lusaka and Livingstone. However, trains are not reliable and particularly slow, and most trains are in really poor conditions. Compartments have no lights or locks, so it is better to bring a torch if travelling at night.

Airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Travelling By Yourself

Recommendation

Zambia has 38,763 kilometres of roads, of which about 10,000 km are tarred, another 8000 km are gravel roads and the rest are dirt roads (whose quality may vary considerably). Vehicles drive on the left side of the road. Visiting drivers must hold an International Drivers Licence, as licences from other countries are not valid (except those issued by SADC countries).
4WD vehicles are recommended at any time and necessary on dirt roads in the rainy season. In fact, moving away from city centres, roads tend to be unpaved, and during the rainy season large sections of the roads wash away. Fuel can be easily found in major towns, but shortages can happen in the very remote areas. Finally, it is recommendable to carry a range of tools and essential spare parts.

Road Maps

Detailed map of Zambia

Find an Itinerary

Via Michelin Zambia Road Map
Ezilon Zambia Road Network Map

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Zambia offers a variety of historic sites, including: the Ayrshire Farm Rock Engravings, the Gwisho Hot Springs (where human skeletons from late Stone Age can be found), the Kalemba Rock and Kundabwika Rock paintings, the Niamkolo Church in Mpulungu (the oldest surviving church building in the country) and the Castle Hotel in Lundazi.

Cultural

Zambia has several museums. The main ones include: the Maramba Cultural Museum (displaying arts, crafts and culture of Zambia) and the Livingstone Museum (historical) in Livingstone, the Moto Moto Museum (culture and folklore) in Mbala, the Lusaka National Museum (historical and cultural) and the Victoria Falls Field Museum (natural).

Nature

Zambia has 20 national parks and around 30% of its territory are reserved for wildlife. Among the most important reserves there are the South Luangwa National Park, the Kafue National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park and the Nsumbu National Park. Visitors could see animals such as elephants, leopards, lions, giraffes and zebras.
Zambia's main attraction are the Victoria Falls, at the border with Zimbabwe. During the peak of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the basalt cliffs, over a width of almost two kilometers, into a gorge over one hundred meters below. Columns of spray can be seen from kilometers away. Several activities can be experienced at the Victoria Falls park, including kayaking, bungee jumping, hydrospeeding and rafting.

Religious

The Niamkolo Church is the oldest surviving stone church in the country and has been declared a national monument in Zambia. Other religious sites include the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka and the Cathedral of St. Theresa in Livingstone.

Thermal

Zambia is not rich in mineral and thermal water, however the country has some hot springs, like those of Kapishya, a natural hot spring surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and tall raffia palms.

Beach

Although totally landlocked, Zambia has several lakes whose beaches became a tourist destination. The most important are Lake Kariba, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru.

Winter Sports

The climate of Zambia is not suitable for winter sports.

Outdoor Activities

Zambia has 34 game management areas. South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi rank among the finest game parks in the world. The country's national parks can offer a wide array of outdoor activities, such as safaris, fishing trips, kayaking, bungee jumping, hydrospeeding, abseiling and rafting.

Shopping

The Kabwata Cultural Village in Lusaka is a good place to buy local handicrafts, along with jewellery, paintings, drums and handbags (produced locally). Tribal Textiles, 20km away from Mfuwe, is a factory that produces bags, wall hangings, bed linens and sarongs through the collaboration with local artists.

Tourism Organisations

Zambia Tourism

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter Zambia (except for vaccine against yellow fever which is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and travellers having transited more than twelve hours through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission). Nevertheless, WHO and foreign ministries of various countries recommend the following vaccines before entering the country: Hepatitis A, Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis B and Rabies.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

CDC - Health Information for Travelers to Zambia

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

U.S. Department of State - Zambia Travel Information
Government of Canada - Zambia Travel Advice
OSAC - Zambia Crime and Safety Report

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Lusaka (GMT+2)

Summer Time Period

There are no Daylight Saving Time clock changes in Zambia.