Essential info for Zambia
Time: In Zambia the local time is Zambia is GMT +2.
Electricity: The country has an electrical current of 220 volts, 50Hz. Typically, square three-pin plugs and two-and three pin round plugs are in use.
Language: Though the official language of the country is English, there are over 73 dialects spoken in Zambia. English is also the language of the professional world, and for the most part, is widely spoken and understood in a social context.
Health: Expats relocating to Zambia should make sure they receive vaccinations for polio, typhoid, rabies and Hepatitis A. Prophylaxis for malaria is essential, and outbreaks of cholera and dysentery are common especially during the rainy season.
Those planning on visiting game parks should be cautious of contracting African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), which is carried by tsetse flies; insect repellent is ineffective against tsetse flies. Zambia still has a high rate of the HIV/Aids infection.
Bilharzia is present in some bodies of freshwater, so avoid swimming or wading in lakes, ponds, streams, or rivers.
Medical facilities in the country are well below standard. In many cases even the most basic prescription drugs and medical equipment are unavailable. In the capital of Lusaka some of the small clinics are superior to the large and often overcrowded hospitals, but in the rural parts of the country there is rarely more than stocks of aspirin or plasters.
Full travel insurance, including cover for medical evacuation by air, is therefore essential and it is vital to bring a good first aid kit. Drinking water should be boiled, filtered or purchases in bottles.
Tipping: There is no need to tip in Zambia, in fact, it is actively discouraged. In hotels, tipping is against the law. If you feel compelled to do so, the standard is 10 %.
Safety: Expats moving to Zambia should not feel threatened by a fear for their safety, though there have been reports that car hijackings and armed robberies are increasing. In downtown areas mugging, bag-snatching and theft from parked cars is becoming more and more common.
Cairo Road in Lusaka has an especially bad reputation and should be avoided due to dangerous and violent robberies. Additionally, avoid the border areas where Zambia meets Angola and the DRC; cross-border raids are frequent and landmines are a potential danger. Many roads can become difficult to navigate or completely impassable in the rainy season (November to April).
Communications: The international dialling code for Zambia is +260. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. 1 for Lusaka. Operator assisted calls can be booked by dialling 090 or 093. Public telephones are widely available, most requiring tokens, but card phones are now available from where international calls can be made. Connections tend to be bad, particularly outside of Lusaka. There are GSM 900 cell phone networks in operation, but coverage is limited mainly to urban areas. There are several Internet cafes in Livingstone and Lusaka, and secretarial services in Lusaka offer full telephone, fax, telex and email facilities. Postal services are fairly reliable.
Electricity: The country has an electrical current of 220 volts, 50Hz. Typically, square three-pin plugs and two-and three pin round plugs are in use.
Language: Though the official language of the country is English, there are over 73 dialects spoken in Zambia. English is also the language of the professional world, and for the most part, is widely spoken and understood in a social context.
Health: Expats relocating to Zambia should make sure they receive vaccinations for polio, typhoid, rabies and Hepatitis A. Prophylaxis for malaria is essential, and outbreaks of cholera and dysentery are common especially during the rainy season.
Those planning on visiting game parks should be cautious of contracting African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), which is carried by tsetse flies; insect repellent is ineffective against tsetse flies. Zambia still has a high rate of the HIV/Aids infection.
Bilharzia is present in some bodies of freshwater, so avoid swimming or wading in lakes, ponds, streams, or rivers.
Medical facilities in the country are well below standard. In many cases even the most basic prescription drugs and medical equipment are unavailable. In the capital of Lusaka some of the small clinics are superior to the large and often overcrowded hospitals, but in the rural parts of the country there is rarely more than stocks of aspirin or plasters.
Full travel insurance, including cover for medical evacuation by air, is therefore essential and it is vital to bring a good first aid kit. Drinking water should be boiled, filtered or purchases in bottles.
Tipping: There is no need to tip in Zambia, in fact, it is actively discouraged. In hotels, tipping is against the law. If you feel compelled to do so, the standard is 10 %.
Safety: Expats moving to Zambia should not feel threatened by a fear for their safety, though there have been reports that car hijackings and armed robberies are increasing. In downtown areas mugging, bag-snatching and theft from parked cars is becoming more and more common.
Cairo Road in Lusaka has an especially bad reputation and should be avoided due to dangerous and violent robberies. Additionally, avoid the border areas where Zambia meets Angola and the DRC; cross-border raids are frequent and landmines are a potential danger. Many roads can become difficult to navigate or completely impassable in the rainy season (November to April).
Communications: The international dialling code for Zambia is +260. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. 1 for Lusaka. Operator assisted calls can be booked by dialling 090 or 093. Public telephones are widely available, most requiring tokens, but card phones are now available from where international calls can be made. Connections tend to be bad, particularly outside of Lusaka. There are GSM 900 cell phone networks in operation, but coverage is limited mainly to urban areas. There are several Internet cafes in Livingstone and Lusaka, and secretarial services in Lusaka offer full telephone, fax, telex and email facilities. Postal services are fairly reliable.
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