Money and payments
Cards and cash
ATMs may be found in all major towns and cities.
Tipping
Tipping is not required – indeed, it was at one point illegal – but often expected.
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Africa · Eastern AfricaUsable guideCountry in Southern Africa
Photo: Globe-trotter, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Zambia offers travelers some of the world's best safari opportunities, a glimpse into "real Africa", and Victoria Falls, one of the World's Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Zambia.
Cards and cash
ATMs may be found in all major towns and cities.
Tipping
Tipping is not required – indeed, it was at one point illegal – but often expected.
English
Thanks to its former colonial status, English is Zambia's official language and the language most often spoken in schools, on the radio, in government offices, etc.
You can pick up a local SIM card for as little as 5,000K (US$1).
Drinking tap water in the cities is potentially risky, unless either (a) you have a strong stomach, or (b) you are at a restaurant or hotel that caters to foreigners.
Drinking tap water in the cities is potentially risky, unless either (a) you have a strong stomach, or (b) you are at a restaurant or hotel that caters to foreigners.
Zambians follow a strict patriarchal society – men are afforded more respect than women, and older men are respected more than younger men.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the capital and largest city of the country
in the industrial Copperbelt region
provincial capital of Eastern Province
large town midway between Lusaka and Ndola
capital city of the Northern Province
mining city in the Copperbelt and Zambia's second largest
gateway to the Victoria Falls
administrative capital of the Copperbelt
Kafue National Park is in the Kafue River Basin of Zambia. It is approx.
Lower Zambezi National Park is in Zambia.
North Luangwa National Park is a national park in Eastern Zambia, a short flight away from South Luangwa National Park. It was until 2005 the domain of a limited number of safari operators who held a government concession.
Considered to be one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, South Luangwa National Park is one of Zambia's main draws. This 9,050 km2 (3,490 sq mi) park is centered on the Luangwa River and is home to one of Africa's largest concentrations of wildlife.
Victoria Falls is a town in the western portion of Zimbabwe, across the border from Livingstone, Zambia, and near Botswana. The town lies immediately next to the falls, and they are the major attraction, but this popular tourist destination offers both adventure seekers and sightseers plenty of opportunities for a longer stay.
Places in Zambia on the World Heritage List.
Victoria Falls
Listed 1989
Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The central region of Zambia includes Lusaka Province with the capital city Lusaka, and Central Province with notable towns such as Kabwe and numerous national parks.
The Copperbelt Province is situated in Northern Zambia, a region which is very rich in minerals. It was the backbone of the Northern Rhodesian economy during British colonial rule, but its economic importance was severely damaged by a crash in global copper prices in 1973 and the nationalization of the copper mines by the government of Kenneth Kaunda.
The Luangwa Valley, largely covered by the Eastern Province of Zambia is, arguably, the least developed. Some say this is because it's simply the most inaccessible.
The Northern Plateau is a region of Zambia
The Zambezi Basin is a region in Western Zambia, consisting of Western, Northwestern, and Southern Provinces.
Public transport and paid services in Zambia.
By minibus
Minibuses — meaning vans outfitted with seats — are popular, but they are often irregular, dangerous, and uncomfortable.
By bus
Larger, more sophisticated "luxury coaches" exist, too Power Tools, Juldan Motors, UBZ.
By train
You can catch TAZARA trains between Kapiri Mposhi and Nakonde at the Tanzanian border.
By plane
Domestic flights on Proflight connect Zambia's major cities and tourist destinations.
By car
Vehicles drive on the left side of the road in Zambia – at least most of the time.
By taxi
In the south the use of private taxis or cabs is easy enough. Cabs are a distinctive light blue, though not all have a taxi sign on top.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Zambia.
Finding apps for Zambia…
Other ways to travel:By thumb
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Lusaka · International · LUN
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Lusaka
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 27° | 27° | 27° | 28° | 27° | 26° | 25° | 29° | 32° | 34° | 32° | 28° |
| Avg. low | 18° | 18° | 17° | 15° | 13° | 10° | 10° | 12° | 16° | 19° | 20° | 19° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 207 | 149 | 94 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 81 | 205 |
| Humidity | 81% | 82% | 78% | 67% | 53% | 49% | 47% | 39% | 33% | 36% | 52% | 75% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$40
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$105
Per person, per day
Luxury
$260
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $20 | $60 | $155 |
| Food and drink | $10 | $20 | $45 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $40 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precaution in Zambia. Exercise normal precautions in Zambia. Read the Travel Guidance for additional information about travel to Zambia.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Zambia.
Nature & adventureSafaris are perhaps the greatest tourism draw in Africa and the highlight for many visitors. The term safari in popular use refers to overland travel to view the stunning African wildlife, particularly on savanna.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThe MV Liemba is a freight and passenger ferry that runs along the eastern side of Lake Tanganyika. The route goes from Kigoma in Tanzania to Mpulungu in Zambia, with many stops between.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThis Alexandria to Cape Town by train and bus itinerary covers the overland route from Alexandria, Egypt, to Cape Town, South Africa, and is one of the very few land routes from north to south in Africa available to…
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureMany of these parks are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They can be visited for safaris, to see the African flora and fauna.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsA solar eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon in which the sun is obscured by the moon. In a total solar eclipse, the moon precisely covers the sun's bright orb, leaving the normally invisible solar corona glowing all…
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsOverland travel or overlanding refers to a journey performed without the use of flights. This may include: Travel to relatively distant or inaccessible points (such as the Australian outback) with vehicles designed to…
Wikivoyage
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