ZAMBIA
- General Information
SITUATED:
Zambia is situated in south central Africa bounded in the north by Tanzania and Zaire, on the east by Malawi, on the south-east by Mozambique, on the south by Zimbabwe, Botswana, Caprivi Strip (Namibia) and in the west by Angola. The country has a surface area of about 750 000km².
CAPITAL:
Lusaka
TIME:
GMT +2
COMMUNICATIONS:
Telephone country code: 260
Internet country code: .zm
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LANGUAGE:
English is the official language and all media and business is conducted in it. There are over 73 tribal dialects of which the main languages are Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Luvale, Lozi, Mambwe and Tumbuka.
ELECTRICITY:
220volts, 50Hz. Plugs are 3-pin square.
CURRENCY:
1 Kwacha = 100 Ngwee. Foreign exchange is at authorized banks and bureaux de change. US$ can be exchanged throughout the country, as can Euro and pounds sterling although US$ generally receives a better rate.
CREDIT CARDS & TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:
Traveller’s cheques can also be changed in banks and most accommodation establishments accept credit cards, mainly Visa or MasterCard, although this should be checked before arrival. Fuel cannot be purchased with credit cards, and in the more remote areas most places only accept cash.
CLIMATE:
There are three distinct seasons:
August - October is warm to hot and dry offering the best time for game viewing as water is scarce;
November - March is hot with thundershowers, but excellent bird watching season as migrants come from the north;
April - July when days are dry and warm and evenings and early mornings are cold - also good for game viewing.
BUSINESS
HOURS:
(Times may vary) |
| Shopping |
Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
08:30 - 13:00 |
| Banks |
Monday to Friday 08:30 - 14:30
Saturday
only a few are open |
Automatic teller machines (ATMs), situated in all towns, shopping centres
and malls are available 24 hours a day.
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| PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS |
| 01 January |
New Year's Day |
| 12 March |
Youth Day |
| * (See below) |
Good Friday |
| * (See below) |
Eastern Monday |
| 01 May |
Labour Day |
| 25th May |
Africa Freedom Day |
| 2nd July |
Heroes Day |
| 3rd July |
Unity Day |
| 6th August |
Farmers Day |
| 12th August |
Defence Day |
| 24th August |
Independence Day |
| 25th December |
Christmas Day |
| *
Easter weekends from 2006: |
| Year |
Good Friday |
| 2006 |
14 April |
| 2007 |
06 April |
| 2008 |
21 March |
| 2009 |
10 April |
| 2010 |
02 April |
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SOCIAL CONVENTIONS:
The majority follow traditional animist beliefs and this is reflected in their social culture and customs. Hand shaking is the common form of greeting.
HEALTH:
You are advised to take pre-arrival precautions against hepatitis A, polio, typhoid, malaria (risk throughout the year in the whole country) and yellow fever. Other health concerns are dysentery, diarrhoeal diseases, cholera (avoid street vendors; filter and boil water), influenza (risk extends throughout year), limited medical facilities and AIDS. The climate aggravates chronic sinusitis. Dust in the dry season, molds in the rainy season and pollens much of the year can affect allergies.
WATER:
Outside of urban areas and major resorts, drinking water should be boiled and filtered or treated with purification tablets.
SAFETY:
Petty crime can be a problem. It is not advisable to walk alone in the larger cities and it is better to make use of the taxis to get around unfamiliar areas.
The vast majority of tourist destinations, including South Luangwa National Park and Victoria Falls, are visited by large numbers of tourists without incident and safety in most rural areas is not an issue.
SHOPPING:
ebony carvings; woven baskets; copper, brass and malachite objects d'art; printed cloth; masks; drums; thumb pianos; xylophones; conical fish traps; clay pots. Souvenirs may be exported without restriction, but game trophies e.g. tooth, bone, skin, feather, etc. are subject to export permits.
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CLOTHING:
Clothing for game areas should be neutral or earth colours, sensible walking shoes should be included and a jumper or jacket is also useful for the cooler times of day such as early morning or late evening game drives. Rain wear is advised for visitors in the December to April season.
Smart casual wear is accepted in almost all resort venues for evening functions and formal attire is unlikely to be needed.
TIPS & GRATUITIES:
Tipping in hotels has been abolished by law, but a 10 percent tip may be expected or included in bills elsewhere.
· First hand, first rate Information
· Efficient travel consulting & booking services
· Excellent value for money
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Zambia
click the map to enlarge ...
| SERVICES &
SUPPORT |
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Itinerary Planning |
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Quotations & Preparations |
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Bookings & Confirmations |
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Ground Handling |
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Invoicing & Administration |
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Vouchers & Documentation |
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Meet & Assist Services |
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24/7 Emergency Support |
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