Money
The official currency in Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha. If you need to use an ATM, both Visa and MasterCard work.
Electricity
The electricity supply is 230v but plugs and appliances designed for 220v to 240v (50HZ) will work.
Confusingly, there are three different plug types used in Zambia, although the primary socket is Type G, the same plug used as the United Kingdom. However, Type C and Type D are also used, so we strongly recommend travelling with a universal travel adaptor.
Health & Safety
It is always recommended to get good travel insurance before your trip. Most visitors comment on how warm, welcoming and tourist-friendly Zambian’s are.
There are, of course, health concerns when travelling to any developing country, and Zambia is no exception. You will however find a high standard of medical care in Lusaka. Guests travelling out of the city, especially those travelling into more isolated game parks, should ensure they find out more about malaria risk, prevalent diseases and options in case of a medical emergency.
Time Zone
Zambia is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
Plastic bag ban?
In 2019, numerous African governments, including Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, banned plastic bags in an effort to curb single-use plastic use and to protect the country’s rich environmental resources. All travellers arriving at a Zambian airport could face heavy fines for using plastic bags in any way, shape or form. These include shopping bags, garbage bags and “zip-lock” plastic bags used for transporting liquids and cosmetics.
We recommend that you avoid packing any plastic bags in your suitcase or carry-on luggage before travelling to Zambia. If you do purchase any items at your departure airport, be sure to take them out of their plastic bags. Double-check your hand luggage before disembarking and leave any plastic bags on the plane.