Need to Know | Zambia | Sanctuary Retreats

TIPPING

Tipping is not obligatory but general suggestions are as follows:
$15 per guest per day for the guide and $15 per guest per day for the rest of the staff.

MONEY MATTERS

Zambia's currency is the kwacha. Notes come in the following denominations: 20 (rarely used), 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000. There will be little access to ATMs or banks while on safari. We suggest guests travel with some cash in small denominations for tipping. USD, GBP and Euro are accepted - however, change will be given in the local currency. All credit cards, except for Diners and American Express, are accepted in camp.

PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION

For most passports, a visa is required. Please check with local authorities for details. Two blank passport pages are required when travelling to Southern Africa. Check the number of days given on arrival at the immigration desk as there are steep fines for overstaying the number of days given. Departure tax is dependent upon which airline you are travelling with.

This information serves as a guide only. Travellers should check for visa requirements pertaining to their citizenship, as entry requirements can vary.

Visas Not Required:
Foreigners from some Commonwealth countries are not required to obtain visas for entering Zambia except in cases where Zambia government has directed otherwise.

Visas Required:
Foreigners from most Commonwealth and European Union countries, as well as the United States, are required to obtain visas for entering Zambia. Please visit http://www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm for a full list of nationalities which require visas for entry.

TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN

Below are the new South African immigration regulations concerning travelling with children:

Where parents are travelling with a child, such parents must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents of the child.
In the case of one parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an unabridged birth certificate as well as consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child authorising him or her to enter into or depart from the Republic with the child he or she is travelling with.
A court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate.

TIME ZONE

GMT + 2 hours.

LANGUAGE

The official language is English, but there are over 70 recognised regional languages including Nyanja and Bemba.

WEATHER

Zambia has three distinct seasons: the dry season (May to August), when temperatures drop at night, but the landscape is green and lush; the hot season (September to November), the best time to see wildlife as flora is sparse; and the wet season (December to April) which is ideal for bird-watching. October is the hottest month, temperatures can reach over 40°C.

For more information on Zambia travel please visit http://www.zambiatourism.com/