ZAMBIA

This is a guide only – please check with your nearest Zambian Consulate for up-to-date information. All visitors are required to carry a passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. There should be sufficient blank pages for any visa as well as for entry stamps upon arrival.

Zambia’s unit of currency is the Zambian kwacha, which is divided into 100 ngwee. Notes are issued in denominations of K10,000; 5,000; 1,000; 500; 200; 100 and 50

Climate January-March The “Emerald Season” is one of regrowth, replenishment and rebirth. The birds are breeding and its peak birth season of many animals. The rainfall is at its highest during these months but it mostly falls at night. With the rainfall, the Victoria Falls get to the peak of their flow around March. Weather: Warm / need waterproofs. April-May The rains have gone but there is the odd potential rain storm around. The grass is now tall and green, the skies are clear and the blue, the new generation of birds have left the nests and the migrants start to leave. Flow of the Victoria Falls is at its peak. Weather: Warm in the day and not yet cold at night.

June-July This is now the “dry season” and is also our winter. The grass dries up and dies back, this makes for easier sightings when in the Luangwa Valley. Weather: warm days but cold at night and in the early mornings. Jackets needed.

In August, the bush is dry. Lagoons now obviously shrinking in the Luangwa and the flow of the Falls decreasing. Weather: Varies from cool to hot. Can still have cold spells.

September Weather: Hot, dry and hazy. Trees flower and lose leaves.

October New growth starts – and there are newborns everywhere towards the end of the month. Weather: Very dry and hot with cloud build up, could have occasional rain when it can cool down and clear the air. It can be very hot (up to 45 degrees in the shade).

November-December An extremely beautiful and exciting time of the year. The migrant birds arrive; excellent bird-watching. The onset of the rains can also bring a deluge of flying ants and other insects (sometimes in pretty big proportions, but normally lasting a few hours). With the insects come the cooler temperatures but also the humidity. Weather: Hot, slightly humid. Early rains, vary from the odd shower to short periods of daily afternoon storms. These can be very dramatic with wind, dark clouds, and shafts of light, sheet lightening.

In addition to the English language, the government of Zambia also recognizes 7 official regional languages. These regional languages include: Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Lunda, Kaonde, and Luvale.

In Zambia you drive on the left-hand side. An international Drivers License is required. The traffic signs are mostly in accordance with international standards. Be extra cautious when driving a 4×4 or 2×4 vehicle in sandy roads.

Minimum age to drive a rental care is 23 years old.

Seatbelts are compulsory in the front and back of the vehicle.

To drive legally in Zambia: you must acquire an International Driving Permit. The IDP is a translation of your national driving license and allows motorists to drive vehicles in foreign countries. Be sure to carry both your IDP and national driving license with you at all times.

You will need a police clearance to drive any vehicle across any of our SADC borders. This must be organized in advance of your travels. Such a documents has to be ordered in advance with your car rental company.