• Same-sex relations are illegal and can face some pretty large penalties.
• Respecting elders is very important in Zambia. If you ignore, disagree or contradict them, they will see you as not well-mannered and will be dismissive of you.
• When greeting Zambians, greet them in order of age from oldest to youngest. If someone doesn’t greet you first, it may be because they are older than you and are waiting for you to greet them first.
• Always as permission before taking a picture of someone or their property as a sign of respect. It is also illegal to photograph airports, military establishments, government offices, the President’s residence and security forces.
• There are a number of different cultures and ways of life throughout Zambia. Go with an open mind and learn something new from the fantastic guides and locals.

Electrical Socket type: European, British and Indian.
Voltage: 220-240 volts.
Modem Plug: European (Plug C), Indian (plug D) and British (plug G).

There are many different ways to get around Zambia, making it easy for you to get from one point to another.
Air: There are small charter flights to help cover large distances or when traveling between national parks.
Road: Zambia has a mixture of tarred and gravel roads. If a self-drive is something you choose you will need at least 2 spare tires and a good range of tools to survive the journey. Alternatively, we can arrange private or shared transfers.
Trains: There are trains between Livingstone, Lusaka, Copperbelt, Kapiri Mposhi and the northern border of Tanzania. Keep in mind Zambia is not as small as it seems so train journeys can be quite long. 

Zambia has around 8 official languages with English widely spoken. The other languages are Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga, Luvate, Lunda and Kaonde. 

Country Code for Zambia: +260
Emergency Services: All - 999 Ambulance - 992 Fire - 993 Police - 991 International Operator - 090
The emergency services should have English speaking staff. Emergency response, particularly outside major cities, may be delayed due to a lack of vehicles and other resources.

From local markets offering arts and crafts to modern everyday goods, Zambia has what you are looking for. Lusaka and Livingstone are the best places for western shopping with a wide range of bespoke clothing brands. In most of the hotels and major attractions, you will also find curio shops selling souvenirs. Markets can be found scattered throughout Zambia offering arts and crafts such as wood carvings, bright traditional clothing, woven baskets, and more. Double check with Border Forces before purchasing to see if you are allowed to bring it back into the country.

Tipping in Zimbabwe helps the economy and is dependent on your satisfaction levels but is never compulsory but always greatly appreciated. Here is a tipping guide on who to tip and how much:
Who: Safari guides, waiters, hotel staff, drivers, or any activity guide.
When: A few options are; after an activity, at the end of the day, or at the end of your stay. As a general rule of thumb, tip just the once. For example, if you know you will have the same guide for the whole day, they do not expect you to tip after each activity.
How much: This is of course up to the person tipping and satisfaction levels, however as a guide; tip a group guide US$10 per guest per day, a private guide US$20 per guest per day, and general staff US$5 per guest per day.
Tipping can definitely be a sensitive issue, no need to be embarrassed by it. It is a normal part of the industry in Zimbabwe and they are informed of tipping practices from different international guests. Always best to carry around small bills wherever you go. 

The Travel Corporation has partnered with the company Sherpa to provide travelers with the latest government and health restrictions. Simply enter the country you want to travel to for information on safety regulations, border closures, quarantine requirements, your travel visa, and more using the Sherpa travel tool.
 

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