Plan Your Trip to Zambia

Zambia has one of Africa's most open visa policies. As of 2025, nationals of 167 countries do not require a visa to enter Zambia at all. If your country does require a visa, it can be obtained on arrival at the airport or major border posts, or applied for in advance through the official Zambia e-Visa portal at evisa.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm.

For all visa types, you will need a valid international passport with at least six months' validity beyond your travel dates, and at least three blank pages.

Tourist Visa Options (effective January 2026)

Visa Type

Fee (USD)

Notes

Single Entry

$50

Valid 90 days from date of first entry

Double Entry

$80

Valid 90 days from date of first entry

Multiple Entry

$80

Valid 90 days; online application only

KAZA UniVisa

$50

Covers Zambia & Zimbabwe; valid 30 days

Transit Visa

$25

Overland transit only; valid up to 7 days

Day Tripper Visa

$10

Less than 24 hrs; Victoria Falls & Kazungula only

Note: Fees are set by the Zambia Department of Immigration and subject to change. Always verify the latest fees at zambiaimmigration.gov.zm before travel.

The KAZA UniVisa — Our Top Tip

If you are combining Zambia with Zimbabwe — which most visitors to Victoria Falls do — the KAZA UniVisa is excellent value at $50. It allows unlimited movement between the two countries for up to 30 days and can be obtained at Livingstone Airport, Lusaka's Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, and at the Victoria Falls and Kazungula border posts.

Working & Volunteering in Zambia

If you are planning to volunteer, work, or undertake a business trip during your stay, you will likely need a visa plus a work permit. The visa costs around $50 and work permits can cost up to $800 depending on the nature of the work. We recommend contacting the Zambia Department of Immigration well in advance.

Entry Requirements

Beyond your visa, there are a few things to have ready when you arrive in Zambia:

A valid passport with at least six months' validity and three blank pages

A return or onward travel ticket

Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, lodge confirmation, or a letter from your host)

Sufficient funds for your stay — immigration officers may ask for evidence

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from a Yellow Fever endemic country

Zambia is generally straightforward to enter. Immigration officers at Livingstone's Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Simon Mulenga Kapwepwe International Airport and at the land borders like Victoria Falls border post, Kazungula Border post and Katima Mulilo Border post among many others, are experienced with tourists and the process is usually quick.

Important: Before travelling to Zambia, you must consult your doctor or a certified travel health clinic — ideally at least four to six weeks before your departure date. The information on this page is a general guide only and does not constitute medical advice. Nekacheya Travel and Tours accepts no liability for any health-related matters arising during or after your trip.

You must also have comprehensive travel insurance in place before you depart. Your policy should cover medical evacuation, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and loss of personal belongings. Nekacheya Travel and Tours cannot be held responsible for any costs arising from inadequate or absent travel insurance cover.

Zambia is a malaria zone. This is the single most important health consideration for travellers and should not be taken lightly. Your doctor will advise on the right anti-malarial medication for you based on your personal health profile and travel itinerary.

Recommended vaccinations

Hepatitis A and B

Typhoid

Tetanus and Diphtheria

Yellow Fever (required if arriving from an endemic country)

Malaria precautions

In addition to anti-malarial medication, we recommend:

Using a DEET-based insect repellent, especially at dawn and dusk

Sleeping under a mosquito net — provided at all lodges we book

Wearing long sleeves and trousers in the evenings

The currency of Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha (ZMW). As a visitor, you will find that US Dollars are widely accepted at lodges, tour operators, national parks, and major hotels — particularly in Livingstone. However, for local markets, taxis, and smaller purchases, Kwacha is preferred and you will get better value.

Practical tips

ATMs are available in Livingstone, Lusaka and other towns and accept most international cards

US Dollars should be crisp, undamaged notes — torn or marked bills are often refused

Notes dated before 2009 may also be refused; bring recent bills

Credit cards are accepted at most lodges and hotels but carry cash for activities and markets

Inform your bank of your travel dates to avoid cards being blocked

Packing well for a Zambia safari means balancing practicality with comfort. Here is what we recommend:

Clothing

Neutral, earthy tones for game drives — beige, khaki, olive, grey. Avoid bright colours and white

Light, breathable fabrics for hot days — linen and cotton are ideal

A warm fleece or jacket for early morning game drives and cool evenings (May to August especially)

Long-sleeved shirts and trousers for evenings — essential for mosquito protection

Comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes or boots for bush walks

Sandals or flip-flops for evenings at the lodge

A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses

Essentials

High-SPF sunscreen — the Zambian sun is intense

DEET-based insect repellent (50% DEET recommended)

Personal medications plus a small first aid kit

Reusable water bottle — staying hydrated is important

Binoculars — a game drive without them is a missed opportunity

Camera and extra memory cards / batteries

Power bank — some camps have limited charging facilities

Adapter for Type C/D/G plugs (Zambia uses Type C and G)

Most lodges offer same-day or next-day laundry. You do not need to overpack — lighter bags also make small charter flights much easier.

Zambia has four international airports. For most visitors coming to Livingstone and Victoria Falls, Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) is the most convenient — it sits just a short drive from the town centre and the falls themselves.

International airports

Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Livingstone (LVI) — closest to Victoria Falls

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka (LUN) — main hub for international connections

Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport, Ndola

Mfuwe International Airport, South Luangwa National Park

Airlines flying to Zambia

Airlines currently serving Zambia include Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Rwandair, Emirates, and Ethiopian Airlines, connecting through Lusaka to major international hubs. From Lusaka, domestic connections to Livingstone take under an hour.

The Victoria Falls border post between Zambia and Zimbabwe is now open 24 hours, making cross-border transfers by road straightforward at any time of day.

We can assist with airport transfers, domestic flight arrangements, and cross-border logistics as part of your booking. Just ask.

The land that is now Zambia has been home to Bantu-speaking peoples for centuries, with the Tonga, Lozi, and Bemba among the groups who established kingdoms and cultures of enduring richness. The region first entered European written records in the mid-1800s through the journeys of Scottish explorer Dr David Livingstone, who travelled extensively through central and southern Africa and became the first European to see the great waterfall on the Zambezi — which he named Victoria Falls in honour of the British queen. The city of Livingstone, where we are based, bears his name to this day.

In 1890, King Lewanika of the Lozi Kingdom entered into an agreement with the British South Africa Company (BSAC), ceding rights over the land in exchange for what he hoped would be protection from neighbouring threats. It was a decision with consequences that lasted generations. The territory became known as Northern Rhodesia and was governed as a British protectorate, with its vast copper reserves drawing settlers and shaping the economy — and the inequalities — of the colonial era.

The town of Livingstone itself grew from an 1898 settlement called 'The Old Drift' on the banks of the Zambezi. In 1905, with the completion of the Victoria Falls Bridge linking Northern and Southern Rhodesia, the town relocated to higher, healthier ground and became the capital of Northern Rhodesia — a status it held until 1935, when Lusaka took over.

Independence came in 1964, when Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia under its first president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda. It was a peaceful transition, and Zambia went on to play a significant role in the wider liberation of southern Africa — hosting the African National Congress and other movements fighting apartheid and colonial rule. Today Zambia is a stable, multi-party democracy and one of Africa's most welcoming destinations.