Zambia travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary section (overstaying your visa and removal of reference to elections). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

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Travel Summary

Any non-Zambian national overstaying their visa, not renewing their residence permit or working without a permit, including volunteer workers, risk arrest, imprisonment and deportation. A number of British nationals have recently been arrested and charged with immigration offences.
We understand that, as a precautionary measure, South African authorities have placed temporary restrictions on medical evacuations from Zambia to South Africa (which is the usual route for medical evacuations). This action was taken in response to a case of undiagnosed illness in a Lusaka resident who had been evacuated to South Africa. Three further cases, two of which were fatal, have been reported in paramedics and nurses who provided medical attention in South Africa. Preliminary laboratory evidence suggests the illness is due to a virus of the arenavirus family. We do not believe there is any reason to be unduly concerned. You should, as always, ensure that your medical insurance is up to date and appropriate for travel to Zambia. We understand that all patients needing a medical evacuation to South Africa (and anyone accompanying patients) must travel with a valid yellow fever certificate.
You should exercise caution when travelling in the rural parts of North Western, Copperbelt, Central and Luapula provinces close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly after dark. You should also be aware that there is a risk of landmines on the Angola side of the Zambia/Angola border, as well as on the Zambia/Mozambique and Zamiba/DRC borders.
Around 100,000 British tourists visit Zambia every year (Source: Zambia Tourist Board). The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Zambia in 2007 were for: replacing lost or stolen passports (23 cases); deaths, mostly from natural causes (6 cases); and dealing with arrests or detentions (4 cases), mainly for drugs or immigration offences.
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

There are incidents of armed robberies and vehicle hijackings. Gangs target luxury four wheel drive vehicles; on occasion attacking stationary vehicles as they wait to enter gated properties. You should be particularly careful when approaching locked gateways at night. Lusaka, the Copperbelt towns and tourist centres are the main targets of criminals but attacks can happen elsewhere in Zambia. There have been reports of car-jackings by Congolese gangs on the Mufulira to Ndola road that runs parallel with the Congo border. Stay alert and do not, for example, stop to give lifts to people flagging you down at the roadside. Exercise caution where objects appear to have been placed to block the road. When driving keep windows closed and doors locked.

Muggings, bag snatching and theft from parked cars are common in down town areas, particularly near bus and railway stations and in some shopping areas. Keep large amounts of money, expensive jewellery, cameras and cell phones out of sight. Do not change large sums of money in busy public areas. Keep originals of important documents in a safe place and carry copies of passports and immigration permits in a separate place to the documents themselves.

Walking after dark, particularly in tourist or down town areas, can be dangerous. Avoid the Cairo Road area of Lusaka, including Chachacha, Freedom Way and Lumumba Roads, as there are often violent robberies in this area, sometimes resulting in fatalities.

Tourists are occasionally attacked in remote locations. You should be particularly careful when overlooking the abseiling point on Victoria Bridge from the road which leads to Songwe Village. Tourists have also been attacked in remote areas in Northern Province.

In Lusaka you should use reputable banks and Bureaux de Change to exchange money or use ATM's, as counterfeit US$100 and Zambian Kwacha 50,000 notes are in circulation.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Zambia Country Profile

Zambia held Presidential elections on 30 October and the new President was inaugurated on 2 November. We advise that you avoid any political rallies, demonstrations or large gatherings.

Avoid large crowds, demonstrations and obvious political gatherings. Trouble on the streets can be spontaneous. There are occasional student demonstrations, which can lead to violence, at the University of Zambia on the Great East Road, which is the main route to and from Lusaka International Airport.

Local Travel

For visitors to the border area between Zambia and Zimbabwe, including the Victoria Falls area, you should be aware that (as of 27 August 2008) we advise against all travel to high-density, low income areas at any time and against all but essential travel to rural Mashonaland, rural Manicaland and farming areas in Zimbabwe. The situation remains unpredictable and could deteriorate further, without warning. Incidents of violence across the country continue.

You should exercise caution when travelling in the rural parts of North Western, Copperbelt, Central and Luapula provinces close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly after dark. The use of legitimate border crossings in these areas is safe, though Congolese officials may request payments to cross these borders.

Travel in the bush for hunting or prospecting along this border is not advised.

Risk of landmines is high in Zambia's border areas, particularly those neighbouring the DRC and Mozambique. There is also the risk of landmines on the Angola side of the Zambia/Angola border. You should exercise caution when venturing off the main roads in these areas.

Wild animals in the bush, including poisonous snakes, are unpredictable and do kill. Whether travelling on land or water, you are at risk of potentially fatal animal attacks. Always observe local regulations and follow your tour or safari guide’s instructions.

Adventure sports, such as those on offer in the Victoria Falls area, carry inherent risks. Serious accidents and deaths occasionally occur. The medical care available in such emergencies varies greatly in quality. Participants should follow operators’ safety instructions closely. Your insurance policy must cover any adventure sports you may wish to undertake.

Road Travel

The Zambian Road Traffic Commission allows holders of UK driving licences to drive in Zambia for up to 90 days. If you intend to stay longer than 90 days you need to obtain an International Driving Permit or a Zambian driving licence.

Drink driving is against the law, as is driving while talking on a mobile telephone.

Road travel at night in rural areas can be hazardous. Abandoned vehicles, pedestrians and stray animals are a danger to road users. Many roads are severely pot-holed or otherwise unsafe, especially during the rainy season (November-April) when bridges and roads risk being washed away by sudden floods. There are frequent fatal crashes.

There are also dangers in urban areas, including in Lusaka - vehicles are often poorly lit, inadequately maintained and badly driven. There have been incidents of road rage. No matter the provocation, do not retaliate, particularly by gesticulating.

Travel by long-distance public transport can be hazardous owing to poor standards of driving, lack of rest periods for drivers on long journeys, dilapidated vehicles and poor road conditions. Minibuses used in urban areas are usually severely overcrowded, poorly maintained and badly driven.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Air Travel

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm.

For more general information see Airline Security.

Local laws and customs

The possession or use of narcotics, including soft drugs such as marijuana, is strictly prohibited. Customs may ask to see prescriptions for any medication brought into the country. Drug taking and smuggling are offences. Punishments can be severe. Prisons conditions are very poor.

The possession of pornographic material is illegal in Zambia and offenders may be jailed and/or deported.

Homosexuality is illegal in Zambia and those caught engaging in homosexual acts can be sentenced to several years’ imprisonment.

It is an offence to drive after drinking alcohol and to use a mobile telephone whilst driving.

The Zambian authorities do not always inform the British High Commission when British Nationals have been arrested. If you are detained, you may insist on your right to contact a British consular officer.

You should avoid taking pictures of sites deemed sensitive by the Zambian government. This includes power stations, explosives factories, pumping stations, army barracks, government buildings, river junctions, road and rail bridges, the Ndola Oil refinery, mining areas and airports. If in doubt, do not take pictures.

For more general information see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Entry requirements

Visas

British passport holders require a visa to enter Zambia. It is best to obtain visas prior to travel in order to avoid any potential problems with the airlines or with the Zambian Immigration Authorities – see volunteer workers below. Visas can be obtained from the Zambian High Commission in London. Single entry visit visas are also available at all ports of entry. The Zambian Government has confirmed that the visa fees for British nationals have been reduced from £75 to US$50 for a single entry visa and from £240 to US$80 for a multi-entry visa, although the latter is not available at ports of entry and must be applied for before travelling. The Zambian immigration website still has the old fees advertised but we are told it will be updated shortly. It is important to carry the exact amount with you, as change may not be available.

For further information on Zambian visa requirements, you should contact the Zambian High Commission in London or visit: www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm, rather than relying solely on advice from sponsoring organisations and local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). On leaving Zambia, non-residents pay a departure tax of US$25. This is now normally included in the cost of an air ticket but you will be asked to pay this separately in US Dollars if it is not.

Volunteer workers should obtain business visas from the Zambian High Commission in London prior to departure. Any non-Zambian national overstaying their visa, not renewing their residence permit or working without a permit, including volunteer workers, risk arrest, imprisonment and deportation. Agents claiming to be able to obtain residence and work permits from the Immigration Department for foreign nationals may be bogus and the documents they provide may be forged.

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months and have at least two blank pages. Zambia does not recognise dual nationality. So it is important to be able to produce a passport bearing the exit stamp from the country from which you have travelled.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Zambian High Commission in London.

Health

Medical facilities and communications in Zambia are poor, especially in rural areas. Even basic drugs and clean needles may not be available. Emergency services are limited. You should know your blood group and carry a sterile medical kit including needles, dressings etc.

On arrival in Zambia, customs officials may ask to see prescriptions for any medication brought into the country.

Malaria, rabies and TB are common to Zambia. Cholera and dysentery are also common, especially during the rainy season (November-April). You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. You should only eat food, which has been thoroughly cooked, and for which basic hygiene precautions have been taken. Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Zambia you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 980,000 adults aged 15 or over in Zambia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 15.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Zambia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel at: NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

General

Insurance

We strongly recommend that before travelling, you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance, which should include cover for medical evacuation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Long-term visitors and residents should register on arrival with the British High Commission in Lusaka, either in person or by email (LusakaConsularEnquiries@fco.gov.uk). You may also register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Money

ATMs are available within Lusaka and some of the major towns in Zambia. The major credit cards are increasingly accepted by the larger shops, hotels, restaurants and tour operators though paper rather than electronic transactions are the norm. You should ensure that credit cards are swiped no more than necessary and that all carbons are destroyed. In Lusaka you should use reputable banks and Bureaux de change to exchange money or use ATMs, as counterfeit US$100 and Zambian Kwacha 50,000 notes are in circulation.

Contact Details

Office hours:

GMT: Mon-Thur: 0600-1100/1200-1430; Fri: 0600-1100;
Local: Mon-Thurs: 0800-1300/1400-1630; Fri: 0800-1300.

Out of hours, High Commission will give contact number.

Address:
British High Commission
5210 Independence Avenue
PO Box 50050
15101 Ridgeway
Lusaka
Zambia

Telephone: (260) (211) 423200

Facsimile:
(260) (211) 253798 (Management/Press and Public Affairs/ Development
(260) (211) 251923 (Consular)
(260) (211) 252848 (Chancery)

E-mail:
General Enquiries - LusakaGeneralEnquiries@fco.gov.uk
Consular Enquiries - LusakaConsularEnquiries@fco.gov.uk
Visa Enquiries - LusakaVISAEnquiries@fco.gov.uk
Press Enquiries - LusakaPressEnquiries@fco.gov.uk
Projects - LusakaProjects@fco.gov.uk

Office hours: GMT: Mon-Thurs: 0600-1100 / 1200-1430; Fri: 0600-1100; Local Time: Mon-Thurs: 0800-1300 / 1400-1630; Fri: 0800-1300.
Out of hours: The British High Commission answer machine gives an emergency contact number.

Website: UK in Zambia