Practical Information for visiting Zambia

Money & Payments

The currency is the Zambian kwacha, code ZMW, issued by the Bank of Zambia and redenominated in 2013. US dollars, British pounds and South African rand can be exchanged at any exchange bureau; major credit and debit cards are accepted in the larger supermarkets, restaurants, shops and hotels of the big urban centres; ATMs are available in the main cities and should be used with care; carry kwacha when travelling to rural places. The departure tax, if not in the ticket, is payable only in cash kwacha. Power cuts take down banks and ATMs with everything else, so do not arrive in a town with no cash.

Stay Safe (2026 security update)

Canada's advice is to take normal security precautions in Zambia, with a high degree of caution within 20 kilometres of the borders with Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique because of landmines and, on the Congolese border, crime. Britain says travel in the larger cities and the major game parks is generally safe in daylight, but serious crimes happen: pre-arrange transport to avoid walking at night, keep vehicle windows closed and doors locked, ignore hitchhikers and anyone flagging you down, and watch for carjackers at locked gateways after dark or where an object blocks the road. Use cars arranged by a hotel or tour operator, and carry a copy of the passport's photo page and entry stamp rather than the original.

Demonstrations in Lusaka and other towns can disrupt transport and turn violent; do not cross protesters' roadblocks. Terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out. Women travelling alone may face harassment or verbal abuse. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and carries long prison sentences, up to life; avoid public displays of affection.

The bush: wild animals are unpredictable and do kill; adventure sports at the falls have caused serious accidents and deaths; medical care outside Lusaka is basic, and evacuation insurance is essential.

Health Considerations

Malaria is a risk to travellers, and antimalarial medication is recommended for most; the other risks the advisories list are yellow fever, dengue, cholera, mpox, schistosomiasis in fresh water, sleeping sickness from the tsetse fly of the game parks, and rabies. A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival from a transmission-risk country. HIV prevalence in adults was estimated at 11 per cent in 2020. Medical care is generally good in some private facilities in Lusaka and very limited or unavailable in rural areas; facilities usually demand a cash deposit or insurance confirmation, only cash outside the big cities, and a serious emergency means air evacuation abroad, so insurance must cover it. Medicines: Zambia's import rules are strict and some common prescription and over-the-counter drugs are controlled substances -- travellers have been jailed for trafficking -- so check the list and apply for an import permit through the medicines regulator at least two weeks ahead, carry medicines in original containers with prescriptions, and bring enough for the stay. Do not swim in lakes or rivers.

Local Laws & Etiquette

Photography of sensitive installations is prohibited -- airports, ports, military sites, government buildings, people in uniform -- and it is illegal to photograph army barracks or government buildings; if in doubt, do not. Ask before photographing people. Drones need authorisation from the Zambian Civil Aviation Authority.

Identification may be requested at any time; carry a valid ID or a certified photocopy. Wildlife: buying, selling, killing or capturing any protected animal or trading its parts without a licence is a crime, prosecuted with fines or prison. Minerals need a permit from the Ministry of Mines to import or export.

Drugs, including marijuana, are illegal to possess or use, with long sentences and deportation; pornography is illegal to possess; same-sex sexual activity is illegal. Dress conservatively, avoid kissing in public, behave discreetly and respect religious and social traditions. On the road, keep left, do not turn left on red, and carry two metal triangles and reflectors.

Verified against Global Affairs Canada, September 2026.

Emergency Information

Emergency numbers: there is no centralised number outside Lusaka. In Lusaka, police 991, medical assistance 991 or 995, firefighters 993. Elsewhere, research and carry the contacts of the local police and medical facilities before you travel.

Road accidents: there are no ambulances to assist; police and emergency help is limited or unavailable in rural areas. Medical evacuation abroad may be necessary in a serious emergency and must be insured.

Immigration: the Department of Immigration's public relations office is on +260 211 255282.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Photography of airports, ports, military sites, government buildings and people in uniform is prohibited; drones need Civil Aviation Authority authorisation; ID may be requested at any time; dress conservatively and avoid kissing in public; mineral import and export needs a Ministry of Mines permit; drug penalties are severe, Fatal road accidents are common, especially on the Great East, Great North and Kafue roads; there are no ambulances for road accidents and rural emergency help is limited; a foreign licence is valid 90 days; traffic keeps left, left turns on red are prohibited, two metal triangles and reflectors are compulsory; rainy-season flooding from December to April closes rural roads, Malaria is a risk and antimalarial medication is recommended for most travellers; medical care is good in some Lusaka private facilities and very limited or unavailable in rural areas, with cash deposits required and air evacuation possibly necessary; Zambia's medicine import rules are strict and some common drugs are controlled substances, needing a permit applied for at least two weeks ahead, Zambian law prohibits sexual acts between people of the same sex, with up to life imprisonment; women travelling alone may face harassment; wild animals often enter camps and swimming in lakes and rivers should be avoided, There is no centralised emergency number outside Lusaka; in Lusaka police 991, medical assistance 991 or 995, firefighters 993, Fatal road accidents are common, especially on the Great East, Great North and Kafue roads; there are no ambulances for road accidents and rural emergency help is limited; a foreign licence is valid 90 days; traffic keeps left, left turns on red are prohibited, two metal triangles and reflectors are compulsory; rainy-season flooding from December to April closes rural roads, Malaria is a risk and antimalarial medication is recommended for most travellers; medical care is good in some Lusaka private facilities and very limited or unavailable in rural areas, with cash deposits required and air evacuation possibly necessary; Zambia's medicine import rules are strict and some common drugs are controlled substances, needing a permit applied for at least two weeks ahead, Canada advises normal security precautions in Zambia, and a high degree of caution within 20 km of the borders with Angola, the DRC and Mozambique because of landmines and, near the DRC, crime, Zambian law prohibits sexual acts between people of the same sex, with up to life imprisonment; women travelling alone may face harassment; wild animals often enter camps and swimming in lakes and rivers should be avoided, The currency is the kwacha; US dollars, pounds and rand exchange at any bureau; major cards are accepted in larger shops, restaurants and hotels in big urban centres; ATMs are in main cities; carry local currency in rural places; drought-driven power cuts affect banks and ATMs (September 2026).
Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Photographing sensitive sites such as army barracks or government buildings is illegal; same-sex sexual activity is illegal with long prison sentences; possessing pornography and possessing or using drugs including marijuana are illegal; buying, selling, killing or capturing protected wildlife or trading its parts without a licence is prosecuted, Health risks include yellow fever, malaria, dengue, cholera and mpox; adult HIV prevalence was estimated at 11% in 2020; medical facilities are of a lower standard, rural facilities basic and emergency services limited, Passport valid six months beyond arrival with two blank pages; British passport holders need no visa but must show a return or onward ticket and funds and may stay 90 days in any 12 months; departure tax US$25 international and US$3 domestic security charge, normally in the ticket, otherwise cash kwacha; yellow fever certificate if arriving from a risk country, Cities and major game parks are generally safe by day but serious crime happens: pre-arrange transport rather than walk at night, keep windows closed and doors locked, ignore hitchhikers, watch for carjackers at gateways after dark, use hotel- or operator-arranged cars, carry a copy of the passport photo page and entry stamp, Wild animals in the bush, including venomous snakes, are unpredictable and do kill, on land and water; adventure sports in the Victoria Falls area have caused serious accidents and deaths; medical care varies greatly, Photographing sensitive sites such as army barracks or government buildings is illegal; same-sex sexual activity is illegal with long prison sentences; possessing pornography and possessing or using drugs including marijuana are illegal; buying, selling, killing or capturing protected wildlife or trading its parts without a licence is prosecuted, Passport valid six months beyond arrival with two blank pages; British passport holders need no visa but must show a return or onward ticket and funds and may stay 90 days in any 12 months; departure tax US$25 international and US$3 domestic security charge, normally in the ticket, otherwise cash kwacha; yellow fever certificate if arriving from a risk country (September 2026).