The duty-free allowances are: 400 cigarettes or 500 g cigarette or pipe tobacco, 2.5  litres of wine, one litre of spirits or other alcoholic beverages, 50 ml perfume, 250 ml Eau de Toilette, and gifts, souvenirs and other goods with a value of R500 or less.  Customs charges are payable before leaving the customs hall.

A yellow fever certificate is mandatory if you are travelling from an infected area. Vaccinations for cholera, tetanus and yellow fever are advised. Malaria is virulent in the low lying areas of the country which include most of the good wildlife destinations. Take prophylactics two weeks before arrival and continue two weeks after leaving. Your chemist or doctor can advise you of the most suitable drug available as certain drugs lose their effectiveness. Tap water in the major towns is purified and perfectly safe to drink. In the more remote areas always boil it first, except if you’re staying at a lodge or hotel where drinking water is boiled already. Bottled water is readily available in the bigger towns.

General speed limit on national highways is 100km/h, secondary roads 100km/h and in urban built up areas 65 km/h unless otherwise indicated.

Public telephones are available in most public buildings, ie. post offices, and most use tokens. International calls can also be made from a private home or large hotel.

Cell phones have been booming in recent years but coverage in rural areas can be spotty. Check first to see if your home operator has made any roaming agreements.

There are several Internet Cafes in Livingstone and Lusaka and time on line is very reasonable.

Operational hours are 08h15 to 14h30 hours Mondays through to Fridays and 08h15 to 10h30 on the 1st and last  Saturdays of the month.

The Zambian currency is the Kwacha and it fluctuates quite regularly. It's best to come into the country with either travellers cheques or dollars or pounds which can be exchanged at any of the many Bureaux de Change in the main Towns. The international symbol for the currency is ZMK.

The official language is English. All media and business is in English and most Zambians speak it fairly well. Bemba is the next most commonly understood language.

Left hand drive. Visitors must be in possession of a valid international driver's license.

There are scheduled flights available to Chipata, Kitwe,  Livingstone, Mfuwe and Ndola. Most of the areas worth visiting are accessible by air.

There are frequent services to and from Lusaka and a limited number to Mfuwe International Airport in Luangwa Valley.

Though located in the tropical latitudes, the general height of the land gives Zambia a more pleasant climate with relatively low humidity. There are three seasons - cool and dry from May to August, hot and dry from September to November, warm and wet from December to April. Only in the valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa is there excessive heat.

Government offices are open from 08h00 to 17h00, Monday to Friday. Closed from 13h00 to 14h00.

01 January - New Year's Day  /  12 March - Youth Day  /  Beginning April - Good Friday & Easter Monday  /  01 May - Labour Day  /  25 May - Africa Freedom Day  /  02 July - Heroes Day  /  03 July - Unity Day  /  06 August - Farmer's Day  /  24 October - Independence Day  /  25 December - Christmas Day

As in most countries of the world, travelers are advised to take the necessary safety precautions.  It is not advisable to walk alone in deserted streets, especially after dark, and only taxis booked through a reputable taxi company should be used.  Visitors should try to avoid attracting unnecessary attention by not carrying bulky camera bags or wearing expensive jewellery.  All valuables should be locked in the hotel's safety deposit box.  Ideally, traveler's cheques or credit cards should be used, to avoid carrying around large amounts of cash.  By exercising reasonable care, visitors can ensure an enjoyable stay in the country.