General Information:

Zambia is a landlocked country located between the southern rim of the Zaire Basin and the Zambezi River. Zambia has land borders with Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to the southeast, Botswana and Namibia to the south, Angola on the west and Zaire to the northwest. Zambia’s outstanding natural attractions and friendly people make it a tranquil and beautiful place to see the "real" Africa. It is a sparsely populated, large and diverse country lying below the equator in south central Africa. Most of the country is a high plateau with a temperate climate. Zambia is especially rich in scenery and wildlife. Two of Africa’s greatest rivers begin here: the Congo and the Zambezi.

Climate:
Although Zambia lies within the tropics; much of the country has a pleasant climate because of high altitude. Both temperature and rainfall are closely affected and moderated by the altitude of the terrain. Temperatures are highest in the valleys of the Zambezi, Luangwa and Kafue rivers and by the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Mweru and Bangweulu.

There are wide seasonal variations in temperatures and rainfall. The highest temperatures come before the rains. October is the hottest month, being humid and cloudy with thunderstorms caused by moist air from the east. The main rainy season starts in mid-November, with heavy tropical storms lasting well into April. The Northern Province has a rainfall of from 30 - 36 inches. May to middle of August is regarded as the cool season, after which temperatures rise rapidly. September usually is very dry.

For weather updates for your specific area of travel, please go to the following website: http://zambia.embassyhomepage.com/zambia_weather_zambian_embassy_london_uk.htm

Entry Requirements:

Passports:

To travel internationally you must be in possession of a passport. To obtain a passport please visit www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.php for instructions and an application form. Alternatively contact your local post office and they will advise you of your nearest passport issuing office.

U.S. Passport must be valid 3 months beyond intended stay. Also you will need Tickets and Documents for return or onward travel as well as a visa (see below) and vaccinations - International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever required if arriving from infected area within 5 days.

Visas:

All persons who have confirmed booking/reservation through tour operators in conjunction with Zambian registered tour operators must purchase a visa upon arrival currently costing US$135.

Customs/Duty Free:
Traveling into Zambia you will be allowed to bring Tobacco 400 Cigarettes Or 450g Tobacco, Liquor 1 Opened Bottle of Alcoholic Beverages, Perfume 1 oz., Cameras No Restrictions, Film Reasonable For Personal use, Gifts No Duty Free Allowance, Other Up To The Value Of US$150.

NOTE: Souvenirs may be exported without restriction but game trophies such as tooth, bone, horn, shell, claw, skin, hair, feather or other durable items are subject to export permits.

Departure Tax:
International Departure tax of USD20.00 is payable in cash before departure from Zambia. Please ensure that you have the exact amount in cash in the currency specified.

Currency:

The monetary unit is the Kwacha (K), which equals 100 Ngwee. While currency conversions fluctuate daily, an approximate USD to ZMK is 4675.

A visitor may import foreign currency without restriction but the amount must be declared upon arrival in Zambia for the purpose of re export. A visitor may export Zambian currency no exceeding K100.00. American Express cards are widely accepted with more limited use of MasterCard, Diners and Visa. Travelers’ checks can be changed at banks and Bureau du Changes. Banks hours are 08:15 - 12:45 Monday to Friday. The banks also have banking agencies at the airport for the convenience of passengers arriving or departing on inter-continental flights. These banks do not convert local currency into foreign currency, you are therefore, advised to convert local currency in town banks prior to your departure.

Further to the use of credit cards, we advise that before you depart the US, call your credit card company to advise them you will be traveling and to expect to see charges from the destination/s in which you will be using your credit card.

Vaccinations and Health:

Zambia is a high-risk malaria area during the rainy season. Yellow fever immunization is required if visiting Northern and Western Zambia, Hepatitis A and B and Tetanus immunization is recommended.

It is important to take anti malaria precautions. Please check with your physician as to the correct prophylactics to be taken. An insect repellent cream or spray during the summer months is a good idea. Swimming should be confined to swimming pools where the water is safe.

You can check with the Center For Disease Control - CDC for up to date information on health concerns in countries you are traveling to.
Phone: 1-800-311-3435
Website: http://www.gov/healthservices/immunize

Time Zone:
Zambia is two hours ahead of GMT.

Language:
English is the official language of Zambia. There are well over 73 tribal dialects in the country.

Tipping:

Many restaurants include a service charge on the bill. However if you wish to tip, 10% is acceptable. It is usual to tip hotel and railway porters, waiters, taxi drivers, room attendants, golf caddies, game rangers, tour guides and trackers. Generally speaking, gratuities should amount to around 10-15% of the cost of the service. Parking and petrol station attendants should be given whatever small change you have available. This is always appreciated, even though it may seem a small amount.

Telecommunications:

Direct dialing within Zambia is limited. International communications by telephone and telegraph are adequate but expensive. Direct international dialing is available to Europe and North America. Country Code is 260.

Electricity:
Electric Power is 230V running at 50Hz. The Plug types used include Round pin attachment plug, Round pins with ground, and Rectangular blade plug.

Business Hours:
As a general rule of thumb, business hours in Zambia is Mondays to Fridays, 8am-5pm. Banks are open Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm. On Saturdays shops are open from 8am to about 1pm.

Travel Insurance:

We highly recommend travel insurance to protect you and your travel investment if you need to cancel your trip for covered reasons prior to departure, or if other covered unforeseen circumstances arise during your trip.The cost of transportation from a remote area to a local hospital, or in extreme cases, repatriation, is high and generally not covered by your regular medical insurance.

Clothing/Packing List:

Depending on the area you are traveling and the activities you are planning. Jeans and shorts are accepted everywhere but in fine dining restaurants and at some formal lodges, where trousers and a button down shirt or sweater would suffice.If you use the layering system (several layers that can be worn alone or in combination, rather than taking one heavy jacket for cold weather) you’ll be ready for any conditions and won’t have to over-pack.

Clothing:

Neutral colors are more suitable for safari, white is not practical. It is best to pack hardy, durable clothing

T-shirts; Shorts or a light skirt

Jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days

Blouses with long sleeves (even in summer; they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes)

Bring an elegantly casual outfit for dinner at the smarter hotels.

Swimsuit, as most hotels/lodges have swimming pools
Comfortable walking shoes

Layers:

Fleece or sweater and a windbreaker for game drives (necessary, even in summer)

Light, compact raincoat is a good idea for the summer

Layers are most practical for the fluctuating day and night temperatures: warm-up suit/sweats— good for sleeping in during winter months

General Items:

Sun block, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent - essentials!

Binoculars and a camera are a must

Towel, flashlight and sleeping bag for camping safaris (sleeping bags can be hired from most safari operators)

Important:

Packing space is limited on all modes of safari transport so you will need to restrict your baggage to 12-15kg (preferably packed in a soft bag) plus a reasonable amount of camera equipment. All else is optional, and most of it is superfluous!

Indigenous People:

Most of the nearly six million inhabitants of Zambia are African, Bantu in origin, with Asians and Europeans comprising the minor communities. African culture and traditions remain prominent. Traditional dancing is popular and there are many festivals that take place year round. Interaction with the locals can lend much to your trip, but in your enthusiasm to learn, please be sensitive to local customs. If you are asked to dress or behave in a particular way to attend an event hosted by indigenous people, please abide by the request. As a general rule, discussing indigenous politics is a tricky thing even for residents of the country; travelers do so at their own risk!

Some last tips:

* Change your foreign money at banks or registered bureaux de change.

* Use registered taxis (blue in color) – their numbers are usually painted on the vehicle in red.

* Shop around before you finally buy and bargain for a good price

Speak with the local people, preferably in English. You will find them most welcoming.

GREAT EXPEDITIONS / 6142 HYGIENE ROAD/ LONGMONT CO 80503

720-494-1530 / TOLL FREE 1-888-SNORKEL / FAX 720-494-1542

INFO@GREATEXPEDITIONSTRAVEL.COM / WWW.GREATEXPEDITIONSTRAVEL.COM