| Zambia ((in)Zambia) | |
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| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Lusaka |
|---|---|
| Area | 752 614 km² |
| Population | 9 959 037 hab. (2002) |
| Density | 13,23 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | presidential regime, representative democracy |
| Other languages | English (official), Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and others |
| Cash | Zambian kwacha (ZMK) |
| Telephone prefix | 260 |
| Internet suffix | .zm |
| Flow direction | Drive to the left |
| Spindle | UTC 2 |
| Location | |
 14 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ S 28 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
The Zambia is a country ofSouthern Africa, about the size of the France or Texas. Zambia is a landlocked country bordering theAngola, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, of the Tanzania, from Malawi, from Mozambique, from Zimbabwe and some Namibia at the level of Caprivi Band. Zambia offers travelers the world's best safari opportunities, a glimpse of the "Heart of Africa" and Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Understand
Story
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the British South African Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. In the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The territory gained independence in 1964 under the name of Zambia. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, falling copper prices and a prolonged drought affected the economy. The 1991 elections put an end to one-party rule, but opposition parties suffered harassment in the following elections in 1996.
In accordance with the Constitution, after two terms of office, Chiluba could not stand for re-election and was replaced in January 2002 by Levy Mwanawasa who, having taken the head of the MMD, was elected president. Following the deterioration of Mwanawasa's state of health, Vice-President Rupiah Banda is acting. After the president's death in August 2008, Banda was elected the country's fourth president until September 2011. Opposition leader Michael Sata succeeds him and becomes Zambia's fifth president.
Population
As can be seen from the country's bizarre shape resembling a flattened peanut, Zambia is one of the strangest legacies of colonialism, agglomerating a large number of different tribes (73, according to the official count) and languages ( 20, plus many dialects). Fortunately, thanks to a long history of coexistence, significant internal migration and similar languages of the Bantu family, they all seem to get along quite well which has spared Zambia the violent intertribal conflicts that have decimated countries like the Rwanda.
Economy
Much of Zambia remains desperately poor, with a GDP per capita in the order of US $ 600 / year, and a majority of the Zambian population living on subsistence agriculture. The economy continues to be oriented around copper, after decades of mismanagement the industry is recovering thanks to rising ore prices on world markets and investments made after privatization. Another recent success has been tourism, taking advantage of the instability of its Zimbabwean neighbor which has driven tourists to the north side of Victoria Falls and takes the opportunity to go on safaris in Zambia.
Weather
If you look at a map, Zambia appears to be squarely in the tropics, but thanks to its landlocked position and elevation, the seasons are quite distinct.
- Dry season - May to August. The coolest time of the year, with temperatures of 24−28 ° C during the day, can fall to 7 ° C the night. Probably the best time of year to visit Zambia: come early in the dry season for bird watching or to see Victoria Falls at its fullest, or later when the bush has dried up for wildlife viewing during summer. 'a safari.
- Hot season - September to November. Temperatures rise to a scorching 38−42 ° C and the swirling dust clouds make driving on dirt roads a nightmare for an asthmatic. If you can handle the heat, however, it's a good time for game drives when wildlife congregates around the few remaining waterholes.
- Rainy season - from December to April. Temperatures cool to 32 ° C and as the name suggests, it rains a lot - sometimes just an hour or two, sometimes for days. Unpaved roads become impassable muddy nightmares, and many safari lodges are closed because they are inaccessible.
The temperatures vary according to the altitude, if you are in a valley like that of the Zambezi, it will be warmer than if you are higher like in Kasama where it will be cooler.
Regions
Zambia can be divided into five geographic regions.
 The regions of Zambia |
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Cities
- 1 Lusaka – the capital and largest city of the country.
- 2 Chingola – in the industrial region of the Copperbelt.
- 3 Chipata – provincial capital of the Eastern Province, on the way to Malawi.
- 4 Kabwe – large city halfway between Lusaka and Ndola.
- 5 Kasama – capital of the northern province.
- 6 Kitwe – Zambia's Copperbelt mining town and the country's second largest city. -
- 7 Livingstone – near Victoria Falls
- 8 Mufulira – another town in the Copperbelt region.
- 9 Ndola – administrative capital of the Copperbelt province.
Other destinations
- See as well: Intangible cultural heritage in Zambia
- 10 Luangwa South National Park
- 11 Luangwa North National Park
- 12 Lukusuzi National Park
- 13 Blue Lagoon National Park
- 14 Kafue National Park
- 15 Kasanka National Park
- 16 Lower Zambezi National Park
- 17 Liuwa Plain National Park
- 18 Lochinvar national park
- 19 Sioma Ngwezi National Park
- 20 Victoria Falls – According to some characteristics, the largest falls in the world.
- 21 Lunga West National Park
To go
Formalities
Zambia visa policy cannot be better summed up by the confusing word: there is a bewildering package of visa rules to determine who needs a visa, whether visas can be obtained on arrival, and how much they cost. . Local border posts also have their own interpretations. Due to the political turmoil in Zimbabwe, Zambia suffered an unexpected boom in the tourism industry, with visa fee collection and the previous visa waiver program canceled: you should now expect to pay cash at home. arrival at immigration kiosks.
The upside is that once the border police figure out which category you are in, getting the visa is very rarely a problem and a rule of thumb is that most western visitors can get a visa. visa on arrival. Visa-free entry is possible for some nationalities, includingIreland, Malaysia, Singapore, the Zimbabwe and theSouth Africa.
- Department of Immigration – See the website for the full list of visa-exempt nationalities.
The going price for a visa is 50 $ US for a single entry and 80 $ US for a multiple entry visa for all nationalities and is valid for 3 months. Holders of passports Americans cannot apply for a Visa multiple entry, but it is then valid for 3 years.
An entry visa valid for 24 h is available to all nationalities at US $ 20, transit visas have the same cost as a single entry visa, valid for 7 days.
Checking with the nearest Zambian Embassy for the latest information, obtaining the visa before arrival will reduce the uncertainty factor.
If you need a visa to enter Zambia, you can apply for it at the British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you are legally residing if there is no Zambian diplomatic post. For example, the British embassies in Amman , Belgrade , Budapest , Damascus , Guatemala , Helsinki , Jakarta , Kiev , Prague , Pristina , Rabat , Riga , Riyadh , Rome , Sofia , Tallinn , Vienna , Warsaw and Zagreb accept Zambian visa applications. This list is not exhaustive. British diplomatic posts ask 50 GBP to process a Zambian visa application and an additional 70 GBP if the Zambian authorities demand that the visa application be submitted to them. The authorities in Zambia may also decide to charge additional fees if they correspond with you directly.
Lusaka Airport Customs and Immigration are unprepared for an influx of tourists. There are four paths, divided into: holders of passports Zambians, residents, tourists and diplomats. Tellingly, the route for tourists is sometimes unmanned. Although immigration employs a large staff, the tourist route is often unmanned. Be prepared to wait for all other channels to empty before being processed.
For those who prefer to leave the hassle to someone else, safari travel agencies can arrange immigration for you.
- Zambia
- Exemption from Visa
- Visa on arrival
By plane
Zambia's main international gateway is Lusaka, which has direct flights to London by British Airways and good regional connections. Emirates Airlines operates direct flights departing from Dubai bound for Lusaka. To access the eastern part of the country (for example Chipata), it will be faster to get to Lilongwe to Malawi neighbor and cross the border (which is quite simple by African standards). Livingstone, near the spectacular Victoria Falls, and Mfuwe, near the South Luangwa National Park, have small international airports serving regional destinations.
Livingstone International Airport has daily direct flights from Johannesburg with carriers: South African Airways, British Airways, and Kulula. Direct flights from The cap to Livingstone are now possible with Zambezi Airlines and direct flights from Nelspruit / Kruger are possible with Airlink on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
On a boat
Zambia is a landlocked country, but has a border on Lake Tanganyika with the Tanzania and there are regular international ferry services on the lake sometimes a week. The ship, M / S Liemba was built in Germany in 1914, cut into pieces, shipped to Tanzania, transported by train to Kigoma in Tanzania where it was reassembled. This is a Titanic era ship, sank twice but still a lovely ship with reasonable service. This trip should only be undertaken if you are not short on time.
If you enter Zambia by the caprivi strip in Namibia, you will have to cross the Zambezi River. You will have 2 options:
- You can get on a ferry to 1 $.
- You can hire a boy for 0,5 $ with a canoe to transport you to the other shore.
By train
TAZARA trains run between Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Depending on the schedule, the trip lasts 38 h , but these trains are regularly late. If you have a tight schedule, the train might not be the best choice. On the other hand, a train ride between Dar es Salaam and Zambia is a nice way to get around the countryside at a reasonable price (approx. 55 $ for a first class bed and 40 $ for the second).
Several important things to note about this trip, however:
- Bring water.
- Immigration officers stamp passports as soon as the train crosses the border - probably in the middle of the night. Of course, this is also the time when thieves work. If you are traveling in a first or second class cabin, you have to be extra careful when opening your door.
- If you miss the immigration official, they will either send you back to the border or try to arrange to get the entry stamp, upon payment of a "special fee".
- Immediately after crossing the border, staff no longer accept the currency of the country you have just left. In other words, if you are traveling from Lusaka to Dar es Salaam, by the time you cross the border your Zambian Kwachas are no longer legal, you have to use Tanzanian shillings. It is therefore advisable to change the money before the trip - the money changers along the tracks offer an unfavorable exchange rate.
- Do not leave valuables near windows, especially at bus stops.
- Normally the train has a dining car in the middle of the train and at the end or a bar car. However, the restaurant and bar are operating until they are sold out.
- Reservations are not always respected, someone may already be sleeping on your bed if you boarded halfway.
- In the first class cabins, women and men can be accommodated in the same compartment, but in 2nd class, the compartments are not mixed.
- Tazara (Tanzania Zambia Railways) was built by the Chinese in 1970. The wagons were imported from China, therefore, they are high end.
- The last stop in Zambia is in the middle of nowhere, in the small town of Kapiri Mposhi. Lots of minibuses will be eager to transport you to Lusaka at 2-3 h of road. The first city encountered in the direction of Lusaka direction east Kabwe (It is ranked among the 5 most polluted places on earth due to mining!)
Coming from Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls, trains run from Bulawayo To Victoria falls. You can take a taxi or walk 13 km to the border at the Victoria Falls Bridge at the Livingstone in Zambia and take a Zambia Railways train to Lusaka with connection to the Copperbelt and the Tazara railway to Kapiri Mposhi.
By bus
International bus lines exist. You can take a bus crossing the border to the Malawi, the Zimbabwe, or the Tanzania. The formalities at the border post could be laborious, given the large number of people being processed simultaneously.
By car
Vehicles drive on the left in Zambia.
There are several ways to enter Zambia by car, the main ones are:
- by Livingstone (in the South) from the Zimbabwe.
- via the Chirundu Bridge (in the South) from the Zimbabwe.
- via the Kariba dam (in the South) from the Zimbabwe.
- by Chipata (at theis) from the Malawi.
- by Chingola (Copperbelt) since the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- via the bridge Katima Mulilo since the Namibia.
- via the Ferry from Kazungula of Botswana.
- by Tunduma and Nakonde of Tanzania.
Crossing international borders by car is subject to a tax depending on the size of the vehicle. The process can also take some time because you will have to pay at different offices, often in good locations. For a standard sedan, you can expect to pay the following:
- Carbon tax of 50Kw, payable in kwachas only.
- Civil Liability Insurance at around 46 $ US, payable in rand, US dollars or kwacha.
- You will also have to pay a flat-rate road toll of 10 $ US, payable in dollars, there are no toll barriers on the roads of Zambia. You can get a pass at the reduced rate of 5 $ if you only go to certain places with in the country, for example the road to Kazungula To Livingstone.
- Ferry fees from Kazungula are based on the size of the vehicles. It is about 10 $, payable in Kwacha. There are black market changers on the ferries, but the rates are bad.
Border crossings often do not go without corruption and you are particularly vulnerable when traveling by car. Try to avoid arriving early in the day to avoid having to choose between paying a bribe or spending the night in the car at the border crossing.
Circulate
Zambia is big and the distances long, so plenty of time to get around.
By plane
Domestic flights on Proflight connect Zambia's major cities and tourist destinations. While undoubtedly the fastest and most comfortable way to get around, it's quite expensive, an hour-long flight (for example, Lusaka-Mfuwe) usually costs around 150 $ US the go. Also note that the planes are small and the frequency of flights is irregular, but if you can manage to find enough people, you can also charter charter planes for not much more.
On a boat
By train
You can take TAZARA line trains between New Kapiri Mposhi and Nakonde in the northeast (on the border with the Tanzania) and the Zambia Railways line between Livingstone and Kitwe via Lusaka and Kapiri Mposhi (To 2 km from TAZARA station). They are relatively reliable and safe, but slow.
By minibus
Minibuses - vans equipped with seats - are very popular, but they are often irregular, dangerous and uncomfortable. To maximize profits, a "driver" will cram as many paying customers into the bus as possible and with their luggage called. Katundu (ka-TOUN-dou); customer comfort is not important. To meet the locals, however, this method is among the best, and it can provide the traveler with a truly "authentic" experience. Payment is made on the trip - banknotes are passed on the bus to the driver up front, and the change comes back through the same route.
By coach
Bigger and more sophisticated “luxury coaches” also exist. These tend to be more reliable and secure, they depart on time, they have space reserved for customers, and luggage and tickets can be purchased in advance. Luxury coaches are much more comfortable and are almost guaranteed to reach their destination, but can appear "sanitized" to a seasoned traveler.
By car
Vehicles drive on the left side of the road in Zambia, at least most of the time.
Car rental agencies exist in Zambia, but the costs are potentially high. Not only are rental prices high (100 $ per day), but some of the main roads in Zambia are in very poor condition. Potholes often take up the entire road, and during the rainy season large sections of the road are washed out. As you move away from downtown Lusaka (only one kilometer is enough) you will come across dirt roads. Although they may seem solid, the chances of an accident are great if you don't keep at a reasonable speed. While you are not likely to get lost while driving in Zambia (there are only a few roads), you are likely to underestimate the destructive power of these roads and damage the rental vehicle, or worse, you- same ! 4WD vehicles are recommended at all times and necessary on dirt roads during the rainy season, when some roads will become impassable.
There is no roadside assistance, and very few ambulances, tow trucks, emergency vehicles of any kind in Zambia. Considering the circumstances, a bush mechanic can do a surprisingly good job patching up your vehicle, but patching up humans in an accident isn't that easy!
By taxi
In the south the use of private taxi is quite easy. Taxis have a distinctive light blue color, but not all have a taxi sign. Most drivers negotiate the fare and will often be very happy to be able to drive you between two cities and often switch to Zimbabwe since Livingstone.
By hitchhiking
Hitchhiking in Zambia is popular, but the traffic density is low. Also note that, if you are picked up by a local, you will be required to pay for the ride.
In Zambia, travelers don't use their thumbs to stop cars. The correct method to signal your transport request is to place your luggage close to the road, sit in the shade, once you see / hear a vehicle, jump, grab your luggage, with your shoulder, wave your whole arm up and down, palm open and facing the ground, hope that the vehicle comes to a stop.
To speak
Thanks to its former colonial status, theEnglish is the official language of Zambia and the language spoken most often in schools, on the radio, in government offices, etc. However, there are over 70 Bantu languages that are spoken throughout the country, the most important of which are bemba, talk to Lusaka (a little), in the Copperbelt and the north, the nyanja (or chewa), spoken inis as well as in Lusaka, where it is the main language, tonga , spoken in the south and in Livingstone, the lozi, which predominates in the province ofWhere is, the Monday and the Kaonde are spoken in the North West Province.
Many Zambians in urban areas will speak at least passable English. However, when you move to rural areas, it is to be expected that communication will become more difficult. Still, don't be surprised to find a rural Zambian who speaks impeccable English.
The most important thing to do when talking to Zambians is to greet them. When you first approach a Zambian, always start by asking, "How are you?" "Even if you don't care, they'll see you as very respectful. Sport, especially football, is a great topic of conversation with men and religion with women.
Wherever you go in the country, it's a good idea to learn the local way of greeting, asking something politely, and thanking someone. These simple sentences will help make your life easier.
The use ofAfrikaans is increasing slowly but steadily, mainly due to immigration to South Africa and the ease of learning the language.
To buy
Originally, the kwacha - meaning 'sunrise', so named to celebrate Zambia's independence, was linked to the US dollar. However, in the late 1990s, the kwacha devalued rapidly. Since mid-2005, the kwacha has again appreciated strongly, due to international debt relief and rising copper prices. The old Zambian kwacha (ZMK) is obsolete. It was replaced by the New Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) on January 1, 2013. One ZMW is equivalent to 1000 ZMK.
US dollars are commonly used for large purchases, although this is illegal, and will be accepted by anyone who deals with tourists. It is not uncommon to see all prices printed in a hotel restaurant in local currency, and then receive the bill in US dollars. Only the new series of so-called “big heads” banknotes are accepted in banks and exchange offices. Tickets 50 $ US and 100 $ US because it changes at a better rate, for other denominations, allow 5 to 10% less.
| Current ZMW exchange rate | |
| XE.com: | CADCHFEURGBPUSDZAR |
| OANDA.com: | CADCHFEURGBPUSDZAR |
| fxtop.com: | CADCHFEURGBPUSDZAR |
Eat
- N'chima (nshima Where ubwali) – It's the go-to dish, thick corn porridge to eat hot with your fingers. N'chima goes well with meats such as fish and vegetables.
Have a drink / Go out
Tap water in Zambia is generally not drinkable unless it is boiled. Bottled water is widely available in cities, but not necessarily in rural areas. It is advisable to have chlorine pills to purify the water, in an emergency.
Soft drink
A traditional local drink worth tasting is maheu, it is a slightly grainy drink that vaguely resembles yogurt. It is refreshing and made from corn flour. the maheu factory produced is sweet, it comes packaged in plastic bottles and is available in a variety of flavors including banana, chocolate and orange, while the homemade versions are generally flavorless and less sweet.
Coca-Cola products are affordable and inexpensive, but beware of the emptying system: in rural areas you might have to return an empty bottle before they sell you a new one!
Housing
Accommodation in Zambia runs the gamut. You can sleep in an upscale hotel for a few hundred dollars or you can stay in an independent hotel, for around 50 $. It is also possible to opt for a more backpacker budget and spend only about 5 to 8 $ at camping; 10 to 15 $ in a dormitory or 30 $ for a double room in one of the 12 youth hostels in Zambia. These are just a few of the possibilities, there are also a lot of Cheap Lodges in many cities from 70 ZMW the night.
Outside of large cities or tourist areas, however, you might have a hard time finding quality accommodation. If you have a taste for luxury - or if you only require constant electricity - you might have to reconsider venturing too deep into the bush. However, if you are looking for an enjoyable, memorable, and authentic evening at a local hotel, you might be pleasantly surprised.
To learn
To work
Communicate
Job
Zambia's postal service is slow and unreliable especially outside of Lusaka, but not totally desperate. The use of a private mail service is always recommended if one wishes to send something important.
Telephone
The country code for Zambia is "260". The city code for Lusaka is "211". The mobile telephony market is dominated by three main operators: Airtel (prefix: 0976,0977,0979), Cell Z (prefix: 0955) and MTN (prefix: 0966,0967). Generally speaking, Airtel has the largest network. You can get a local SIM card from 5 ZMW (1 $). Prepaid airtime is sold in “units” corresponding to dollars. As everywhere, the precise prices are of a disconcerting complexity. If you plan to roaming with a non-Zambian SIM card, first check if your home operator has roaming agreements; Zambia is usually not at the top of their priority list. Also note that roaming rates are often very high and coverage in rural areas can be spotty.
Currently, stalls labeled "public telephone" most often consist of a guy renting out his cell phone. The usual prices are 5 ZMW / min (1 $) for indoor and 15 ZMW / min (3 $) for international calls.
Internet
Internet cafes are mushrooming in Zambia, but again, connections can be sporadic and very slow. Also, because constant electricity is not a guarantee, some Internet cafes run back-up generators, which can be extremely expensive. Connection costs can reach up to 0,25 $/minute. Most hotels offer internet connections to their guests for a fee, normally around ZMW 5 per charge. 15 min.
Security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:999 |
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
As in much of southern Africa, AIDS is very common, more than elsewhere, take precautions.
