Zambia Population: 17.09 Million (Population Growth 3%) – 2017
Zambia Capital: Lusaka
Zambia GDP: US$25.8 Billion (2017)
Zambia Currency: Kwacha (US$1 = ZMW15.28 (As at 08.03.20) (USD Preferred)
Zambia Time Zone: CAT (GMT+2)
Zambia Driving Side: Left
Zambia Calling Code: +260 –
Language: English
Zambia, with a mostly mild subtropical climate, is regarded as one of the pearls of Africa. Its a country with a natural friendliness that always welcomes tourists.
Zambia is located on a high plateau, with the lowest point above sea level being the Zambezi River to the south, at 329 meters. The highest point is the sandstone Mafinga Hills in the Northeastern part of the country at 2,339 meters. In between are a myriad of tourist attractions.
A SHORT-COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO TRAVEL ZAMBIA
Where is Zambia?
Zambia is a landlocked country in the middle of Central and Southern Africa. Zambia shares borders with no less than eight countries: Mozambique (East), Malawi and Tanzania (North and East), the DRC (North-West), Angola, and Namibia (Westwards) and Zimbabwe and Botswana to the South. Zambia’s capital city is Lusaka, with a bustling international airport.
5 Interesting Facts of Zambia
- Zambia has unique borders with eight countries. That is the second most in Africa. Only the DRC has more with nine.
- When you think of Zambia, the Victoria Falls springs to mind, but the country has another 17 spectacular waterfalls.
- Zambians, with the help of international pressure, negotiated a bloodless independence gained on 24 October 1964, a unique occurrence in Africa in the sixties.
- Zambia is home to the ‘Inzwa,’ the flying termites which provide spectacular displays during rainfalls. Other termite species built enormous mounds, some of the biggest in Africa.
- Zambia has abundant copper reserves (70% of Africa’s reserves), which is their main export product. Zambian copper exports equal to US $6.8 million of Zambia’s income and form some 75% of the country’s export.
Visa for Zambia
It is advisable to get a visa BEFORE traveling to Zambia. Visas are available from Zambian missions overseas, or you may apply online at the following web address: https://eservices.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm/#/app/services/Visa
Processing time: 3 to 5 working days
Visa for Zambia – Exempt Countries
Validity: Visitors who hold ordinary, valid passports and originate from any of the below-listed countries can enter Zambia without a visa. Your passport will need to have at least two blank pages.
| Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Botswana Cayman Islands Channel Islands Cyprus Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Falkland Islands Federated States of Micronesia Fiji French Guiana Gibraltar Grenada Guadeloupe Ireland Isle of man Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Malaysia Maldives Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritius Mayotte | Montenegro Montserrat Mozambique Namibia Nauru Niue Norfolk Island Palau Pitcairn Islands Reunion Romania Ross Dependency Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and Grenadines Samoa Seychelles Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Suriname Swaziland Tanzania Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Island Tuvalu Uganda Vanuatu Virgin Islands Zimbabwe |
Visa for Zambia – Validity & Cost
Validity:
- Single visas are valid for 90 Days.
- Double and multiple visit visas are also valid for 90 days.
(The exception is for USA citizens who will enjoy validity of 3 years.)
Cost:
- Single and transit visas: US $50 (Transit visas are only applicable to land transits.)
- Double and multiple visas: US $80
- Day Trippers: US $20 (For Victoria Falls visitors, residing in Zimbabwe, etc.)
- KAZA Uni-Visa: US $50 (Details below)
Visa for Zambia – Visit Visa Prior To Arrival
Tourists from the following countries will require a visa PRIOR to arrival:
| Afghanistan Albania Algeria Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cameroon Central African Republic Chad China Côte d’Ivoire Egypt Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Guinea Guinea-Bissau India Indonesia Iran Iraq Jordan Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan | Lebanon Liberia Libya Mali Mauritania Morocco Nepal Niger Nigeria North Korea Oman Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Sudan Sri Lanka Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Timor-Leste Togo Tunisia Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Yemen |
Zambia Entry Points
The main entry points into Zambia are:
- Lusaka, with its large international airport, is the main entry point for inland tourists.
- Tourists that intent to visit the Victoria Falls only, are advised to take a direct flight to Livingstone 470 km to the south, to avoid daily Lusaka traffic congestion.
- Victoria Falls Bridge – Applicable to day-trippers that want see both sides of the Victoria Falls.
Visa for Zambia – African Passport Holders
The government of Zambia is said to soon introduce a ‘Visa on Arrival’ to all African passport holders. African passports will be issued to citizens of most of the 55 African countries on the African continent. The need for Africans to obtain a visa will be phased out. This initiative is similar to the European Union and was first launched on 17 July 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Visa for Zambia – The New KAZA UNIVISA
Launched on 28 November 2014, the KAZA UNIVISA is a tourist visa that allows tourists to visit both Zambia and Zimbabwe with one visa, multiple-entry. The cost of the KAZA UNIVISA costs $50 and covers entry for the famous Okavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) that covers 5 African countries, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Apply for your KAZA UNIVISA online.
Read More (https://www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm/kaza-univisa/)
The Capital of Zambia
Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia. The capital city is located in the center of the southern part of Zambia. Lusaka is regarded as a modern, fast-growing city. It is alive with ever-increasing modern shopping malls of South African and European origin and ongoing building projects.
Crime is minimal, but petty theft does occur. The city’s growth attracts people from all over the country. But rest assured, most of them are friendly and are trying to make an honest living by selling their wares on the streets and public markets. The lousy thing probably is that there is no influx control and that the roads and municipal facilities are hardly adequate for a large number of inhabitants. There are no official bus services, but a range of minibus taxis, wrecks, and good dial-up taxis are available from the airport. To avoid getting lost, obtain a city map at the airport before attempting sightseeing with a guide, or travel with your tour guide!
Zambia Population
Zambia has a population estimated at 18.3 million (2020) based on earlier census’s and is ranked at number 65 on the World Population Bank Rankings.
A Short History of Zambia
The first westerner to set foot in what is now called Zambia was the well-known explorer David Livingstone in 1851. He was the first man to see the ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ or the later named Victoria Falls and had the town of Livingstone named after him. Cecil Rhodes obtained mining concessions as far back as in 1888, but it only became a British protectorate in 1924.
Lusaka became the capital city in 1935. In 1953 the Central African Federation was formed consisting of Northern and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) along with Nyasaland (Botswana). Negotiations for independence was completed in 1963. The Republic of Zambia was formed on 24 October 1964 with Kenneth Kaunda as the first President. Today Zambia is a stable country that welcomes tourists from all over the world.
The Best Time to Travel Zambia
The best time to travel Zambia is during the dry months from June to November when it is the best time for game watching. March is a great time for birdwatching, and May probably the best time to visit the Victoria Falls.
How to Travel to Zambia
Tourists can fly directly to the Kenneth Kaunda Airport in Lusaka, Zambia. Lusaka is linked to all major African continental entry points such as Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Nairobi in Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Most of the world’s major airlines have flights or link-ups to these airports regularly. Most African airways have flights directly to Livingstone for those tourists who are only on their way to the Victoria Falls.
Is Zambia Safe to Travel?
Zambia, in general, is a safe place to travel, but like any other tourist destination, being a tourist makes you a target for opportunists.
How To Stay Safe While You Travel In Zambia:
- Travel with a tour guide or a recommended guide. Safety is in numbers.
- Like most of Southern Africa, load shedding is a part of life. Most tourist destinations have back-up generators. Sill, avoid walking alone in the dark at night; don’t become a mugger’s target.
- It probably safe to rather avoid the Zambian and DRC border areas around Lake Mweru. There’s always a chance that the internal conflict in the DRC may spill over the border into Zambia.
- Malaria and Tsetse Flies are an ongoing problem and a nuisance in certain areas, including the Victoria Falls. Take the necessary anti-malaria medication and have insect repellants at hand.
- Always be on the alert for con artists and never leave your traveling gear unattended.
Map of Zambia
A map of Zambia. Note the location of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, with an estimated population of 2.7 million people in 2020.
The Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Zambia
10 – Choma Town And District
Choma is the hometown of the Tonga tribe in the southern part of Zambia. The town is the commercial hub in the south of Zambia and offers a sizeable market-related industry with a cultural museum. The town and districts provide hiking and biking trails, and farm visits as well as game viewing.
9 – Lusaka
The capital city of Zambia, Lusaka, has a lot to offer tourists such as the National Museum, shopping malls, markets and a visit to the Kalimba Reptile Park, the Lusaka National Park, and the Munda Wanga Environmental Park.
8 – Kasama City & District Tour
Kasama is the capital city of Northern Zambia and home to the Bemba people. Amongst hiking and biking, tourists can visit the Chishimba waterfalls where quarreling is forbidden, the Mwela Rock Paintings, and the Chambeshi Monument.
7 – Lower Zambezi National Park
The Lower Zambezi National Park is located on the banks of the Zambezi River in the remote eastern part of Zambia. Wildlife viewing and boat and canoe trips are among the favorite activities available to tourists. The park is known for its large elephant herds and some 400-bird species.
6 – Liuwa Plain National Park
The Liuwa Plain National Park differs from other parks in Zambia due to its unique location in the beautiful, grassy plains in the northwest. It has a hot tropical climate and is the place to be if you want to see and experience the migration of thousands of Wildebeest.
5 – Blue Lagoon National Park
This unspoiled gem of a park was a defense force preserve and only recently opened to the public. Located some 120 km west of Lusaka, the Blue Lagoon National Park, with its vast floodplains, is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Other inhabitants include river pythons that hunt the largest concentration of Lechwe water-loving antelopes.
4 – The Kafue National Park
The Kafue National Park is Zambia’s oldest and largest game reserve. Activities include game and bird watching, boat and hiking safaris, as well as hot air balloon flights.
3 – Lake Tanganyika
The longest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Tanganyika, is on the northeastern border of Zambia and offers boat trips, fishing, island explorations and game viewing (including crocodiles).
2 – Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is the largest human-made lake in Africa and offers a wide range of activities such as houseboat trips, big game viewing, fishing, and watersport.
1 – The Victoria Falls & Livingstone
The Victoria Falls and Livingstone are still the number one tourist attractions for visitors to Zambia. Attractions include the Victoria Waterfall, the water spray, the Devil’s Pools, bungee jumping, and helicopter flights. The town of Livingstone in itself has its own set of historic tourist attractions.
Other Noteworthy Tourist Attractions in Zambia
Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage – The Chimpanzee sanctuary is located on the Kafue River some 60 km west of Chingola. The orphanage needs the support of tourists for its ongoing existence.
TanZam Railway Tour – This the rail link between Zambia and Dar-Es-Salaam. It’s important to note that the TanZam Railway Tour is not a comfortable or luxurious tourist attraction. Still, you’ll be sure to experience some breathtaking scenery through the Mikumi National Park and Selous Game Reserve.
Solwezi – Should you have an interest in archeology, Solwezi is the place to visit. Solwezi is known for its Stone Age rock carvings in the adjacent canyons and caves.
Lake Bangweulu and Samfya Beach – Not your ordinary coastal beach, but a beautiful place to visit never the less. The adjoining extensive wetlands offer game viewing and excellent bird watching opportunities. The water is so pure you can drink it.
Sindabezi Island and the Tongabezi Resort – Close enough to the Victoria Falls, the small resort offers a discerning experience of nature and the accompanying river wildlife. Romantic dinner trips on a ‘sampan’ (flat bottom wooden boat) will appeal to visitors with love in the heart.
Lake Kashiba (‘Small Lake’) – Lake Kashiba in Zambia is located in the Ndola copper belt. Although it’s known as a scuba divers nightmare (because no one has ever reached the bottom), it is a must-visit for diving enthusiasts.
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Located along the upper Zambezi River, the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park game reserve is a UNESCO world heritage site. It offers excellent opportunities to those armed with a camera only.
Kitwe – Is the capital of the copper belt Provence, and Zambia’s third-biggest city with a buzzing one million-plus mostly Bemba inhabitants. Kitwe is the main access point to the Mindolo Dam, the Chembe Bird Sanctuary, and the Mwekwera Falls.
Ndola – The city is also located in the copper belt is the mercantile center of Provence. Places to visit include the Slave Tree with its termite damage, and Lake Chilengwa with its unique absence of a feeding source.
Sioma Ngwezi National Park – Although heavily depleted by ruthless poaching, the Sioma Ngwezi National Park is on an upward curve. Facilities are being upgraded, and the park offers game drives, game walks, and bird watching.
The Top 3 Tours in Zambia
Falcon Safari is one of the leading and most trusted tour operators in Africa. Have a look at any of the Falcon Safari tour packages operated by Falcon Safari to Zambia listed below:
Falcon Safaris Blog 