Travel to Zambia
Flying to Zambia
Most international visitors arrive in Zambia by air, with Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka serving as the main gateway. The airport handles the majority of long-haul and regional flights and provides onward connections to other parts of the country. Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) in Livingstone is another important entry point, particularly for travellers visiting Victoria Falls.
Zambia does not have extensive direct long-haul connections, so most journeys involve a stop at a regional or international hub. Airlines serving Zambia include Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, South African Airways, Airlink and Proflight Zambia. Common transit points include Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Doha and Dubai, depending on the airline and route.
Flight times:
From London to Lusaka: 13 hours (including layovers).
Departure tax:
Zambia levies a departure tax on domestic and international flights. This charge is often included in the cost of the airline ticket.
Travel by rail
International travel to Zambia by train is limited and not commonly used by visitors. The most notable rail link is the TAZARA Railway, which connects Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with Kapiri Mposhi in central Zambia. This historic line offers an overland route between East Africa and southern Africa, passing through rural areas and national parks along the way. While the journey can be scenic, services are infrequent and subject to delays, and comfort levels are basic by international standards.
Driving to Zambia
Zambia can be entered by road from all its neighbouring countries, and overland travel is a common option for visitors exploring southern and eastern Africa. The country shares borders with Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Mozambique to the east, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and north-west. Major border crossings are generally well established, though processing times can vary depending on traffic, season and time of day.
Popular entry points include the Victoria Falls crossings from Zimbabwe near Livingstone, which are widely used by tourists visiting the falls and surrounding national parks. From Tanzania, travellers often enter via the Tunduma–Nakonde border, which links Zambia with East Africa by road. The Kazungula crossing from Botswana provides access to southern Zambia and connects directly with the road network around Livingstone.
Road conditions on main international routes are generally good, but travellers should allow extra time for border formalities and ensure they have the correct visa, vehicle documentation and insurance.
Getting to Zambia by boat
Zambia is a landlocked country and does not have seaports or international cruise ship terminals. That said, river crossings do exist at certain border points, particularly on the Zambezi River, where small ferries or boats may be used locally to cross between Zambia and neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe or Mozambique.
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