What you need to know about travelling to Zambia

On the whole, Zambia is a safe country, and locals are generally very welcoming and friendly toward visitors. That said, it’s still very poor, and there’s a moderate risk of pick-pocketing and opportunistic theft in busy urban areas. Tips for Visiting Zambia You can minimize the risks to almost zero with a few simple precautions...

Zambia’s official language is English, but there are more than 70 different languages and dialects spoken throughout the country. Almost everyone will speak or understand some English, and most Zambians living in the urban centers speak it fluently. Signs and official documentation are almost always in English and/or Bemba and Nyanja, the country’s two most...

Many safari operators include emergency medical insurance in their rates, but this may only cover the immediate situation and exclude further treatment and/or repatriation. In any event, it’s essential to be fully insured, especially if you’re headed into Zambia’s more remote regions. Every travel insurance policy is different, so make sure you know how yours...

The first thing to do when preparing for a Zambia safari is to book an appointment with a local travel clinic and go and speak to a doctor. The internet is full of African health and safety horror stories, but the risks are generally very low and/or easily manageable for safari holidays. If you’re at...

Zambia contains a rich mix of cultures with nuances and social norms that differ between regions. Practically speaking, however, there are just a handful of social conventions you need to be aware of, and a friendly attitude and a dose of deference will smooth out most faux pas. The first thing to note is that...

The most common vaccinations for Zambia are against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, polio, typhoid, and hepatitis A. Check the latest regarding the yellow fever vaccine and if required, don’t lose the little yellow booklet that comes with it. Regulations have relaxed recently, but that yellow booklet has been something of a passport...

Technically, Zambia has all the Big Five, but rhinos are extremely rare and confined to the Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) and North Luangwa National Parks. Elephants, buffalo, and lions are common across multiple parks; however, Kafue, South Luangwa, and the Lower Zambezi are all well-known for leopards. Look beyond the Big Five, and you’ll find Zambia...

When choosing between a safari in Zambia or Botswana, it’s clear that both are incredibly protected and have outstanding wildlife and national parks. Still, each is tailored to a very different style of traveler. Botswana is possibly the best self-drive safari destination in Southern Africa, with decent connecting roads, plentiful wildlife, plenty of inexpensive campsites,...

Deciding between Zambia vs Namibia for your southern Africa safari? Find out what sets these two magnificent safari destinations apart here.