Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist Information
The regional tourist office in Livingstone is worth visiting for specific inquiries, but the
main office in Lusaka is of little use.
www.zambiatourism.com
)
The official website provides links to dozens of lodges, hotels
and tour agencies, but you're unlikely to recieve a reply to an email query.
Travellers with Disabilities
Although wildlife safaris are ideal for those in wheelchairs or on crutches, you'll need to
be intrepid in Zambia, as there are very few facilities for the disabled - even though there
are more disabled people per head of population here than in the West. It has to be said
that most travellers with disabilities find travel in Zambia much easier with the assistance
of a companion.
Part of the whole safari ethos in Zambia is being adaptable and flexible, so most camps
and lodges in national parks have no problem catering for travellers with disabilities,
provided they have some notice. Safari lodges are single storey, and getting around is
fairly easy, although gaps in slatted wooden decking can easily trap a wheel or walking
stick. Another great advantage at upmarket lodges is the roomy outdoor bathrooms.
In cities and towns, midrange and upmarket hotels have lifts, ramps and private bath-
rooms attached to the room. A few of the smart hotels in Lusaka and Livingstone have
rooms with specific disabled facilities. Getting around urban areas is much harder for
people with wheelchairs or walking difficulties. Footpaths (where they exist at all) are of-
ten in bad condition with cracks or damaged sections, and crossing the road can be hard
because curbs don't have ramps and traffic rarely stops for pedestrians anyway.
Visas
Tourist visas are available at major borders, airports and ports, but note that you should
have a Zambian visa
before
arrival if travelling by train or boat from Tanzania.
All foreign visitors - other than Southern African Development Community (SADC)
passport holders who are issued visas free of charge - pay US$50 for single entry (up to
one month) and US$80 for double entry (up to three months; which is good if you plan on
venturing into one of the bordering countries). Applications for multiple-entry visas
(US$80) must be made in advance at a Zambian embassy or high commission. If staying
