Welcome to Zambia!
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Zambia is the real Africa …..
a country renowned for its beauty, diversity, culture and
friendliness.
Introduction Zambia is a land-locked country occupying an area slightly smaller than UK and France combined (750,000 square kilometers). It lies in central Africa between 9 and 18 degrees south of the equator and takes its name from the Zambezi River which rises in the northwest corner of the country and forms most of its southern boundary. Climate Zambia has three definable seasons: cool and dry from May to August, hot and dry from September to November, and warm and wet during the rainy season from December to April. Average rainfall is 32cm and temperatures vary between 32 and 10 degrees C (90 and 50 degrees F). In the cool season the nights are often chilly enough for a jacket. The high altitude (1,000 – 1,350 metres above sea level) tempers the humidity so that the climate is generally pleasant. The People Zambia has a population of about 10 million, with an annual growth rate of 3.7%. It is a very young country with nearly half the population being under 15 years old. There are 73 language groups amongst the indigenous people, each with its own cultural identity. However, English is the official language and is spoken by the majority of Zambians in urban areas. Money The unit of currency is the Kwacha (approx K3,600/US$). The Kwacha is a convertible currency, though cash dollars can sometimes be scarce. The rate of exchange has remained stable for the past few years, though in previous years it has moved considerably over short periods of time. There are bureau de change available for converting currency which generally give a better rate than the banks. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, travel agents and in some of the larger shops. Lusaka Lusaka , the capital of Zambia is an attractive city about 1280 metres above sea level. For many years it was a small agricultural and trading center. In 1935 the capital was moved from Livingstone to Lusaka as it is a more central location along the rail line. It is now located at the junction of the main highways to the north, east, south and west. Currently, there are around 2 million inhabitants in Lusaka and it is one of the fastest growing cities in Southern Africa. The city still retains much of its colonial-era lay-out with three distinct areas. The main street is Cairo Road, a broad tree-lined double roadway, which is the main business center; the industrial area is at the northwest end of Cairo Road, and the Government administration center is about 5km from Cairo road The city is now quite spread out. There are 3 main affluent residential areas, Kabulonga/Woodlands, Roma, and Makeni. The school is situated on the outskirts of the city, approximately 6kms from the main residential area, Kabulonga. Approximately 80% of Lusaka’s residents live in shantytowns, known as compounds, on the outskirts of the city. Health Info Provided that necessary precautions are taken, health is not generally a concern in Zambia. However, the standard of the local health care is poor and caution must be taken when traveling around Zambia. Although there are pharmacies in Lusaka, it is recommended to bring a supply of any special medications taken. The following immunization/vaccinations are recommended, though please consult your medical practitioner for further details:
Malaria Malaria is one of the most common and serious of the tropical diseases endemic in Zambia. Prophylaxis are recommended and bed netting, window screens and insect repellant are encouraged. Malaria is rarely caught in the affluent residential areas of Lusaka, but care must be taken when traveling out of the city. Antimalarial tablets are available in Lusaka. The most common prophylaxis used in Zambia are proguanil (paludrine), fansidar, halfen and mefloquine (lariam). Aids Zambia has a very high incidence of HIV infection and AIDS. However, there is no risk of acquiring HIV infection from casual contact in the workplace and there is no evidence that mosquitoes or other insects spread HIV. Occasionally HIV can be spread through blood transfusions, and for this reasons, the main clinics and the school maintain a “walking blood bank” of persons who have tested negative for HIV antibodies.
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Hospitals and Clinics There are a few hospitals and many clinics in Lusaka. The quality of these varies considerably. The main clinics used are Corpmed Clinic and Care for Business clinic (CFB). These clinics have general practitioners and some part time specialists. They also have small pathology laboratories, X-ray facilities, treatment rooms, and physiotherapy rooms. There is a small hospital at CFB, which can perform surgical operations up to a moderate level. For some medical procedures patients may be sent to South Africa. Both clinics have high care facilities to stabilize emergency patients before they are evacuated. Dentists There are a couple of trained dentists available who can assist with basic dental care. It is advisable to have more complex work done out of the country. Security While petty crime is a factor of life in Zambia, these are generally not violent incidents, and can be avoided by practicing certain basic rules of self-protection, such as avoiding certain areas at night; keeping car doors locked and windows up; and not leaving money or jewelry lying around. Transport The international airport at Lusaka has scheduled flights daily to South Africa and three times a week direct to London. There are no direct flights to USA. Flights are also available internally to Livingstone, the Copperbelt and various game parks. Chartering of small planes to game parks and other tourist destinations is easy and relatively cheap. Vehicles Taxis and buses are available in Lusaka, but the cars and buses are old and of questionable reliability and safety. Most people own their own car and many have 4 wheel drive vehicles. The majority of cars in Zambia are manual, though there are a few automatic transmission cars available. New cars are available for purchase though they tend to be expensive due to the high import duty. Many people prefer to purchase secondhand. There are a considerable number of secondhand vehicles which are imported directly from Japan which are cheaper than other locally purchased cars. The quality of these cars is generally good. Most secondhand cars are either advertised in shops or local publications. There are also companies which specialize in selling imported secondhand vehicles. It is advised that cars are purchased on arrival in Lusaka to ensure that they are mechanically sound. The roads in Lusaka are generally good, but there are some with large potholes. The city council is in the process of renovating the major roads in Lusaka, but the heavy rainfall Lusaka receives in the rainy season means that the roads do disintegrate rapidly. The major roads outside of Lusaka are also in the process of being renovated, but some are still very poor and 4 wheel drive vehicles are needed, particularly for driving to game parks. Motor vehicle accidents are probably the greatest health risk in Lusaka as the standard of driving is not good and many vehicles are in poor repair. Seat belts are recommended and it is not advisable to drive outside the city at night as many vehicles have no lights. Driving in Zambia is on the left and requires an International Driving Licence. Fuel is usually plentiful in Lusaka, and there are fuel stations in most towns outside Lusaka. Shopping The quality of shopping has improved dramatically in the past few years with the building of “Manda Hill”, a shopping center situated approximately 15 minutes drive from the school. This center offers a large supermarket, a large all purpose store which sells everything from camping equipment to jewelry, and various small specialist shops. Recently opened is “ Arcades” which has a large supermarket and various smaller shops selling items such as books, jewelry, clothes and food. The quality of goods available in Lusaka is variable, and for this reason many people choose to do some of their shopping (except consumables) overseas. Food – Cost of living – Prices Most foodstuffs are available in Lusaka, but there is little variety. The majority of foodstuffs come from South Africa. However, meat and vegetables are available from Zambia, and are inexpensive. There are quite a few supermarkets in Lusaka, but the ones frequented the most are Shoprite and Spar, which are large supermarket chains from South Africa, and Melissa, which Is smaller, but closer to the school. There are also a few co-operatives near to the school where less common fruit and vegetables and home made items can be purchased. Open-air markets are available for fruit and vegetables, but it is advisable to have a rough idea of the price of the goods you would like to purchase, as the price given will always be an inflated one and you will need to bargain. Handicrafts / Clothes / etc Clothes and shoes are available to purchase in Lusaka, but the quality is generally not good, and most people purchase their clothes and shoes overseas. There are a considerable number of shops selling material and tailors are available, good, and cheap. Some people choose to purchase clothes from “Salaula”. These are bales of used clothing sent out from Europe and America and are then sold in open markets. For those who enjoy hunting out bargains, there are some well known makes available and some can be virtually new. There is a wide range of handicraft items for sale, mainly to the tourists. These include carved wooden items from spoons and bowls, to ornaments; malachite items, copperware, silver jewelry and gemstones. Chitenge cloth, a locally produced brightly coloured cloth and baskets are particularly popular. These are sold in all the tourist areas, but the best place is the popular monthly market at the Dutch Reformed Church. The market also offers various stalls selling a wide variety of goods from food, to plants, to animals. Books are available, though there are only a couple of good
bookshops. The range of books is limited, so many people buy
books online and have them sent out. There are libraries at
the American Center, British Council and Alliance Francaise. Places of Interest Zambia has a wide range of places to see and things to do. However, distances to get to these places are great and can take a long time due to the quality of the roads. Around Lusaka Lusaka National Museum; Art Galleries for exhibitions of local art; and Kabwata Cultural Village are places to visit in Lusaka. There is also “ Adventure City”, opposite the school, which offers a variety of water slides, pools “paint-ball” and other recreational activities. Just outside Lusaka there is a reptile farm and a botanical garden / zoo which are within easy driving distance for an afternoon. Slightly further afield are game farms/lodges which are good for a days outing. Around Zambia Livingstone is around 6 hours drive from Lusaka and has a considerable amount to do for those of an energetic nature. Aside from visiting the famous Victoria falls, canoeing, jet boating, river surfing, white water rafting, bunji jumping and abseiling are available. There are many hotels and lodges available on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean side of the river. Closer to Lusaka (approximately 3 hours drive) is Lake Kariba. This is a popular weekend destination. Hotels, chalets and lodges are available on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean side of the Lake. Houseboats are also popular and the fishing in the area is good. Swimming is not recommended on the Lake due to the large crocodile population. There are many game parks and lodges throughout Zambia. Zambia boasts abundant wildlife and is one of the best countries in Southern Africa for game viewing. The parks are not commercial and therefore the visitor sees “The Real Africa”. South Luangwa National Park is probably the most well known game viewing destination. It is considered to be one of the most abundantly stocked game reserves in Africa. The park is approximately 10 hours drive from Lusaka and 4 wheel drive vehicles are definitely needed. There are also commercial flights available to Mfuwe, the airport for the park. The lodges available range from basic to luxury and from self-catering to full board. Camping is also available in the park. Closer to Lusaka is the Lower Zambezi. This
is only 3 hours drive from Lusaka and is very popular for those
who wish to game view and fish on the Zambezi river. Entertainment/Activities Evening Entertainment There are plenty of restaurants in Lusaka which range from small cafes to smart restaurants. Chinese and Indian restaurants are particularly plentiful, as are steak restaurants. The hotels offer more elegant eating, and the shopping malls have some fast food restaurants such as Subway, Steers and Debonairs pizzas. Some of the pizza restaurants will deliver to your home. There are various nightclubs in Lusaka and one Casino. The newly opened ‘Arcades’ offers a cinema with recently released movies, as well as a ten-pin bowling alley, restaurants and bars. There are also video rental shops around Lusaka where both videos and DVDs can be hired. Activities A wide range of activities are available in Lusaka. Due to the climate, sport is very popular. There are several sports clubs in Lusaka which offer tennis, squash and swimming. However, the school has 2 tennis courts and a 25 metre solar heated pool which can be used by the school community after school and weekends. Golf is very popular in Lusaka and there are 3 golf courses around the city. The quality of the courses is fair, and green fees very cheap. Also popular is horse riding. The school is close (10 minutes drive) to 2 equestrian centers where you can learn to ride and play polocrosse and polo. Riding and stabling horses is cheap. There are a few gyms in Lusaka which offer weight lifting, workout machines, and aerobics classes. For those interested in running, the Hash House Harriers get together once a week. There is also a Music Society, the Kennel Club, a Wildlife Conservation Society and Ornithological Society in Lusaka. Duplicate bridge is played at the Bridge Club, and occasionally the amateur theatre group produce their own plays. Organisations such as Rotary Club, Lions Club and Round table are in Lusaka, as is the Alliance Francaise. Worship The majority of Zambians are Christians, with a minority of traditional beliefs and some Muslims and Hindus. There are Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches in Lusaka. Press/Broadcasting There are 2 main daily newspapers, Times of Zambia, and the Zambia Daily Mail. These papers provide economic, political and social analysis of Zambia. There is a monthly magazine called The Lowdown which has interesting articles on Zambia and gives details of events taking place in Lusaka and elsewhere. For a more international view of events, imported English language newspapers and magazines are sold in the supermarkets. Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is the official government controlled broadcasting agency which transmits approximately 7 hours of programs nightly. The quality of these programs is poor, and out of date. Many people opt for DSTV, a South African pay for Satellite TV service which offers a variety of channels, including CNN, BBC and Discovery Channel, as well as 3 movie channels. Domestic Help Domestic help is readily available in Lusaka, and most people have a worker in their house and a gardener if necessary. Salaries for such workers are very low (approx US $100 per month). Pets Pets imported from any country require an import permit from the Director of Veterinary and Tsetse Control Services, which must be shown at the time of entry. A rabies certificate and international sanitary certificate must also be presented. If your pet cannot travel with you, copies of these documents must accompany the animal. There is no quarantine in Zambia. If possible, avoid transiting through South Africa if you are bringing a pet as the regulations there are cumbersome and may delay your arrival. Electricity The electricity in Zambia is 220 volts, 50 cycle and outlets require British-style square pin plugs. Transformers may be needed for some American appliances and these are available from the school. Most televisions in Lusaka operate on the British PAL system and the video libraries do not have NTSC videos. The American Embassy video library does. The supply of electricity can be erratic and surge protectors are advisable, particularly for TV/stereo, fax and computer equipment. Power failures are common in the rainy season. Internet There are several internet service providers in Zambia. Due to the nature and poor quality of most landline connections, the internet does tend to be slow. There are also internet cafes in the shopping malls. Interesting Websites The following websites may be of interest: www.zamazing.com This website for teenagers, was produced by Lotte van Dixhoorn, a student at the school, for her Personal Project. Information taken from Welcome to Lusaka, a Guide for Newcomers, published by the American Canadian Women’s Club. Page updated 27 August, 2008 |
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