Social ConventionsAfrican culture and traditions remain prominent and there are various customs, folklore and traditional crafts in the different regions. Traditional dancing is popular and there are many colorful annual ceremonies that take place throughout the country. Visitors to the outlying areas should expect to be met with curiosity. Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Gifts are often offered to visitors as a sign of gratitude, friendship or honor. One should never refuse a gift but accept it with both hands. Homosexuality is illegal; those caught engaging in homosexual
acts can be sentenced to several years imprisonment.
Photography: Visitors are able to take photographs in most places but are advised to avoid military installations.
International Travel:Getting There by AirZambia’s airlines are
Aero Zambia (Z9) and
Zambian Airways (tel: (1) 271 230; website:
www.zambianairways.co.zm).
Departure TaxUS$25. Transit passengers and children under two years are exempt.
Main AirportsLusaka (LUN) is 26km (16 miles) east of the city (journey time – 30 minutes).
To/from the airport: Airport and city bus services are available. Taxi service is also available to the city. Return is by prior arrangement with taxis (taxi fares are negotiable).
Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change, restaurant and post office.
Mfuwe (MFU) is situated in the South Luangwa National Park, 1 hour 15 minutes’ flight from Lusaka International Airport.
To/from the airport: Lodges and camps within the park provide airport transfers by prior arrangement.
Getting There by WaterThere is a
ferry crossing from Mpulungu across Lake Tanganyika to Kigoma in Tanzania and to Bujumbura in Burundi; and a service across the Zambezi from Kazungula to Botswana.
Getting There by RailThere are two major rail routes linking Zambia with Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
Zambia Railways serves Livingstone and has a connection across the Victoria Falls to Bulawayo and Harare in Zimbabwe. There are two trains daily in either direction (journey time – 9 to 12 hours depending on whether the ordinary or express service is used). The trains have first-, second- and third-class carriages.
Tanzania–Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) operates trains from Kapiri Mposhi to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Services are often suspended and it is advisable to check at the tourist office in Lusaka for details.
Getting There by RoadCoach and
bus services are available to Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The main routes are from Zimbabwe via Chirundu or Kariba and Livingstone; from Botswana via Kasane and Kazungula; from Mozambique via Villa Gambito and Zumbo; from Tanzania via Nakonde; from Malawi via the Mchinga/Chipata border or further north at Nyika Plateau; and from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Lumbumbashi - Chingola road. Opening hours for road borders are from 0600-1800 (except for Victoria Falls which closes at 2000). As yet, there is no border crossing from Angola. A Temporary Import Permit is needed to bring a vehicle into Zambia.
OverviewThe following items may be imported into Zambia by persons over 18 years without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 450g of tobacco;
one opened bottle of alcoholic beverages.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirZambian Airways (website:
www.zambianairways.co.zm),
Airwaves Zambia (website:
www.airwaves.com.zm),
Avocet (website:
www.avocet-charters.com) and
Proflight (website:
www.proflight-zambia.com). Charters operate domestic routes to destinations including Chipata, Kasaba Bay, Kasama, Kitwe, Livingstone, Lusaka, Mangu, Mfuwe, Ndola and Victoria Falls. There are over 120 other airports, aerodromes and airstrips in the country.
Departure tax: ZMK12,000 (US$5).
Getting Around by WaterLocal ferries operate on all waterways. Contact local authorities for details.
Getting Around by RailZambia has three main internal train lines, one from Livingstone to Lusaka, from Lusaka to the Copperbelt, and from Kapiri Mposhi to the Northern border with Tanzania. The main train station is in Dedan Kamathi Road in central Lusaka, one road east of Cairo Road. There is a daily Kitwe – Lusaka – Lir stopping train. There is also an express train (
The Zambezi Express) leaving Livingstone on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, arriving in Lusaka the next morning.
Children under three years of age travel free, children between three and 15 years pay half price. There is first- and second-class accommodation and light refreshments are available on some services.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. There is a fairly good network of roads (38,763km/24,087 miles in total, of which 8200km/5095 miles is tarred), although they are often in poor condition.
Bus: The network of intercity bus services is run by private operators and
Zambia Telecommunications (Zamtel). The service used to be unreliable but it is much better nowadays. The buses provided are clean, cheap and frequent.
CR coach, linking Lusaka with Livingstone, Chipata, Ndola and Mongu (twice a day, leaving from
ShopRite in Cairo Road) should be booked well in advance. Other coach services are available, including
Giraffe.
Car hire: Several firms operate in main centers. Information is available from the Zambia National Tourist Board (see
Top Things To Do)
or the
Lusaka Bus Terminus on Dedan Kimathi Road, Lusaka. Firms can also provide chauffeur-driven cars.
Regulations: It is an offence to use a mobile phone whilst driving. The Government is also planning to introduce fines for anyone found smoking, eating or drinking whilst driving.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. UK driving licenses may be used for up to 90 days.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesBus services in Lusaka are provided by private minibuses and shared taxis. The buses are somewhat basic, and can become very crowded. Taxis are not metered and fares should be agreed in advance. It is also advisable to negotiate a fare.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from
Lusaka to other major cities/towns in Zambia.
| Air | Road | Rail |
| Livingstone | 1.20 | 6.30 | 11.00 |
| Ndola | 1.00 | 4.00 | 6.30 |
| Kitwe | 1.00 | 4.30 | 7.00 |
| Mfuwe | 1.30 | - | - |
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