Travel to Zambia

Flying to Zambia

There are no direct flights to Zambia from the UK. Indirect options include flights with Emirates (www.emirates.com) via Dubai, Ethiopian Airlines (www.ethiopianairlines.com) via Addis Ababa, Kenya Airways (www.kenya-airways.com) via Nairobi, and South African Airways (www.flysaa.com) via Johannesburg. The quickest route from the USA is via Johannesburg.

There are also international airports at Mfuwe, near South Luangwa National Park, and Ndola, in the copper-mining region. Fares are usually lowest in the rainy season, December to March, excluding Christmas and New Year.

Airport Guides

Flight times

London - 13 hours (including stopover); New York - 19 hours (including stopover).

Departure tax

US$25 for international flights and US$8 for domestic flights. This is usually included in airline ticket prices; if not, it is payable at the airport in US Dollars. Transit passengers and children under two years are exempt. An additional airport tax is about K60 (approx US$7) per person for international flights, payable in cash on departure.

Travelling to Zambia by Rail

Tanzania-Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) (tel: +255 787 099 064; www.tazarasite.com) operates trains from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Kapiri Mposhi in central Zambia. The train, the Mukuba Express departs Tanzania on Tuesdays and Fridays, arriving in Zambia two days later. There are first-, second- and third class berths, with a dining car on board. Tickets should be booked in advance.

Rail note

Zambia’s railway lines and trains are in poor repair and services are often suspended. It's advisable to check at the tourist office in Lusaka before travelling. There are currently no scheduled passenger trains between Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Livingstone in Zambia.

Driving to Zambia

The easiest overland routes into Zambia are to and from Zimbabwe, which in turn is well connected to South Africa. It’s also straightforward to drive to Livingstone from the Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, northern Botswana, Malawi and southwest Tanzania. Border crossings are generally open 0600-1800 except for the Victoria Falls crossing which closes at 2000.

Driving note

Zambia’s land borders with Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique are open, but border controls here can be slow. There is a risk of landmines on the Angola side of the Zambia/Angola border and on the Zambia/DRC and Zambia/Mozambique borders.

Getting to Zambia by boat

There is a ferry service to Mpulungu in northern Zambia across Lake Tanganyika from Kigoma in Tanzania which runs twice a month. It’s provided by the MV Liemba, a historic steam ship. It is often subject to long delays.

River Routes

A pontoon ferry crosses the Zambezi River from Botswana to southern Zambia at Kazungula. It runs daily but departure depends on how full the ferry is and there is no strict departure schedule.