Zambia & Zimbabwe

Zambia At A Glance

For visitors, Zambia has a lot to offer. Blessed with 17 waterfalls including the spectacular Victoria Falls, the country is a fine destination for nature lovers and thrill seekers. Massive lakes, rich wetlands and breathtaking African sunsets contribute to the country's scenic splendour. The wild Zambezi River is perfect for adrenaline rush activities such as river rafting, canoeing safaris, river surfing and tiger fishing.

The Zambian government has long recognised the economic importance of its wildernesses and is acutely aware of environmental concerns: almost one-third of the country is given over to national parks and game reserves. Zambia is the land of the legendary African walking safari: big game, abundant birdlife, and raw, pulsating wilderness are what visitors can expect to find in Zambia. The Zambia safari and tourism infrastructure are still relatively undeveloped; however, there is a small but sophisticated safari industry with excellent safari lodges and seasonal bush camps and some of the best African safari guides. African safaris in Zambia are ideally suited for "old Africa hands" or those seeking a remote and more exclusive African safari. A vast grassy plateau dominates the country, with the prime wildlife regions being concentrated around the Luangwa, Kafue and Zambezi water systems. While not sharing the game diversity of some of its neighbours, Zambia's wildlife concentrations are impressive and a safari to Zambia is ideal for specialists seeking specific African game species or birdlife on a brilliant scale.

Climate

Most of the country falls into a plateau region, which gives Zambia a moderate, pleasant climate, despite the fact that it is within tropical latitudes. The valley of the Zambezi River is a low-lying area, which runs the length of the western and southern borders with a hotter and more humid climate. In the river valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa, it can become very hot in the month of October. The extreme northern areas have a more usual tropical climate as they reach the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Despite the tropical location, the altitude of the Zambian plateau ensures a comfortable climate throughout the year except in the river valleys where it is markedly hotter. There are three main seasons: April to August is cool and dry; September to October is hot and dry; and November to March is warm and wet. Only during the wet season is there noticeable humidity.

Currency

The local currency in Zambia is the Kwacha (ZMK) which is divided into 100 ngwee but the coins are now worthless and seldom used. In the small villages facilties may be limited; it is advisable to change money at the airport or in major towns. We suggest you carry USD in cash for tipping and small purchases.

Travellers Cheques:

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. These can be easily changed at the beau de change or banks.

Credit Cards:

Most hotels, restaurants and bigger shops accept credit cards. ATMs are available within Lusaka and some of the major towns in Zambia. Standard Chartered and Barclays Bank have ATMs which accept Visa.

Departure Tax

Airport departure tax is levied for all local and international flights in Zambia. International departure tax is at time of printing US$25 payable in cash. Traveller's cheques are not accepted. Please ensure that you have the correct amount in cash available on departure.

Health

There is a risk of malaria especially in the low lying areas of the country which include most of the good wildlife reserves. If you are travelling to a risk area we strongly suggest you take the necessary precautions against Malaria. Anti-malaria medication should be taken according to your physician recommendations. A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for travellers arriving from an effected country. Please check with your doctor or Traveller's Medical & Vaccination Centre as they will determine what is needed.

Passport

Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond intended stay.

Visa information

Visas are required by Australian passport holders as Zambia has revoked all visa waivers. Visas are obtained on arrival, at the airport.

ZIMBABWE AT A GLANCE

For a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe offers an astounding variety of natural beauty and spectacular scenery. The country holds great appeal for active adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts and those with an appreciative eye for exquisite beauty - from the majesty of the famous Victoria Falls to the giant marble-like boulders of the Motopo Hills and the verdant mountains of the Eastern Highlands, from National Parks teeming with wildlife, to the Great Zimbabwe ancient ruins.

The Victoria Falls are Zimbabwe's most popular tourist destination and one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Their mile-wide (2km) curtain of water plunges deep into the Zambezi Gorge creating a cloud of mist that can be seen up to 20 miles (32km) away. The area is renowned for being the 'adventure capital of Africa', offering a variety of high adrenaline activities, including one of the wildest days of white water rafting on earth, and a 364ft (111m) bungee jump into the Zambezi River gorge from the bridge linking Zimbabwe to Zambia.

Climate

Summer:

From October to April days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunder storms. Day temperatures average between 25°C - 35°C and night temperatures drop to 14°C - 20°C. Low-lying areas such as Lake Kariba, Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Mana Pools National Park, Hwange National park, Gonarezhou National Park, Limpopo Valley and the Zambezi Valley can also be considerably warmer all year round (35°C - 50°C). The rainy season is from November to March while the Eastern Highlands experience rainfall all year round.

Winter:

From May to September days are dry, sunny and cool to warm (20°C) while evening temperatures can drop sharply to 5°C - 10°C. Exceptionally cold spells can occur so we recommended to bring appropriate clothing.

When to visit Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe is a year round destination. However there are certain seasons for special interest groups to take note of:

• For Victoria Falls adventure enthusiasts, white water rafting is most exciting when the Zambezi waters are low, generally from August to December (although rafting is cancelled when the water levels are too low or high)
• Best wildlife months are May to September, minimum rainfall forces the wildlife to the main watering holes, and the bushveld is dry i.e. grass is short

Currency

The local currency in Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwe Dollar. Notes are in denominations of Z$200,000, 100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Z$5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The government of Zimbabwe devalued the Zimbabwean Dollar in 2006 and deducted three zeros from the currency. 1,000,000 old Zimbabwean Dollars (issued as bearer cheques) are now worth 1,000 new Zimbabwean Dollars (bearer cheques). Since August 2006, only the new money (bearer cheques) has been valid.

For convenience it is recommended to carry travellers’ cheques, South African Rand or US Dollars, which are accepted as a means of payment. Avoid local moneychangers. Instead it is strongly advisable to exchange money or travellers cheques at commercial banks, hotels or registered bureaux de change

Credit Cards:

American Express, Diners Club and Visa are all accepted, whilst MasterCard is not accepted. However, credit cards should not be relied upon as a main source of funds and should be used as a back up only, as there are some places where cards cannot be used, therefore it is suggested you carry cash in smaller dominations in USD at all times especially for smaller purchases such as curios, food and drink. In some cases a surcharge will be added to credit card payments – 5% being average.

Health

There is a risk of malaria all year round in most of Zimbabwe, particularly in the Zambezi Valley, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and in the Eastern Highlands; the risk is very small in Harare and Bulawayo. If you are travelling to a risk area we strongly suggest you take the necessary precautions against Malaria, please consult with your physician. A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for travellers arriving from an effected country. Please check with your doctor or Traveller’s Medical & Vaccination Centre as they will determine what is needed.

Passport

Your passport must have a validity of at least 6 months beyond your stay.

Visa information

Visas are required by Australian passport holders. Visas are obtained on arrival, at the airport.

Visa fees are as follows:

SINGLE ENTRY: USD30.00 or GBP20.00
DOUBLE ENTRY: USD45.00 or GBP30.00
MULTIPLE ENTRY: USD55.00 or GBP35.00

These fees can only be paid in cash and no change will be given so please have the correct money available.