Travel Essentials › Zambia
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types C, D and G, 230 V. Emergency: One number for everything 999 (mobile 112), Ambulance 992, Fire 993. Tipping: About 10% in restaurants and tips for safari guides and lodge staff are customary. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water..
Types C, D and G, 230 V
| One number for everything | 999 (mobile 112) |
| Ambulance | 992 |
| Fire | 993 |
About 10% in restaurants and tips for safari guides and lodge staff are customary.
Greetings. Greetings are important and unhurried; a handshake with the right hand (sometimes supporting the right forearm with the left hand) is standard, especially with elders.
Respect for elders. Age and authority are highly respected; use titles and greet older people first in a group.
Modest dress. Dress is fairly conservative outside lodges and cities; cover shoulders and knees in rural areas and when visiting local communities.
Zambia is one of the more relaxed and safer countries in the region for tourists, though petty crime, occasional armed robbery on highways, and after-dark risks in cities warrant normal caution.
Online romance/meet-up scams. Scammers pose as online acquaintances and lure victims to Zambia; verify identities thoroughly before any in-person meeting arranged online.
ATM and card fraud. Card skimming and ATM fraud occur; use ATMs at banks, cover the keypad and monitor statements.
Highway robbery on the Great East Road. Armed robbery targeting vehicles has increased on the Lusaka-Malawi road; travel this route by day and check current conditions before driving it.
Women travelers. Women travel Zambia with a generally low risk of serious crime, though catcalling and unwanted attention can occur; sticking to mid-range or higher lodges, hotel-arranged taxis and group activities reduces hassle.
Criminalized
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Zambia and can carry long prison sentences; enforcement against foreign visitors is rare but LGBTQ+ travelers should avoid public displays of affection and be discreet.
| Coffee (café) | K35 | $1.50 |
| Local bus or metro ride | K15 | $0.65 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | K180 | $8 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | K300 | $13 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | K1,800 | $80 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | K4,000 | $175 |
2026-09
The dry season, May to October, is best overall for wildlife viewing as animals gather at limited water sources, with June-September the most comfortable weather; February-May gives the fullest, most dramatic Victoria Falls but with more rain.