WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below you will find answers on questions we often get from our guests.
If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
The best time to visit is during the dry season, especially September when animals gather around water holes and rivers.
This period is also the easiest time to travel – winter nights (in June and July) are cool, sometimes even cold, with warm, pleasant temperatures during the day. October is the hottest month in Zambia, so be prepared for temperatures of over 40°C.
December to April is our rainy season and due to an abundance of water, wildlife is scattered. The peak of the rainy season occurs from January to the end of March, with short heavy rainstorms, mainly at night. Dirt roads become difficult to travel and this is why we close from January to March.
Highlights per season in South Luangwa National Park
January–April
Weather: The peak of the rainy season, with brief, heavy rainstorms.
Highlights: bird safaris, most predators to be found near the roads, breeding season for impala. Less visitors in the park, so most sightings are exclusively for you. Downside of this period is the limited accessibility in the park, all dirt roads are a no go!
May–August
Weather: Cool and dry (coolest month is June).
Highlights: High concentrations of wildlife around lagoons and river.
Downside: The park is getting busier around this time especially during the holiday season.
September–October
Weather: Warm and dry.
Highlights: High concentrations of animals around the lodge and the Luangwa River, breeding season for carmine bee-eaters. Most actions seen around this time between predator and prey.
Downside is the heat and animal activity slows down after 08:00am, especially predators will go into an early siesta when the temperature rises.
November–December
Weather: Warm, with occasional showers.
Highlights: Migratory birds season , peak birthing season for many antelope species and other mammals. Interesting time of year, after the first rains the whole scenery changes into a lush green environment. The skies can look amazing and the smell of the bush is alive!
Downside: After the first rains, most water depending animals have spread around. Since this is the peak of the birth season of young animals, you see less actions as food for predators is plentiful.
Mfuwe International Airport facilitates charter- and scheduled flights that connect with major international airline companies from Lusaka and Lilongwe.
From Lusaka the flight is around 1 hour and from Lilongwe about 35 minutes.
Our camp is a 35-minute drive from the airport and we can come and collect you.
We can also assist with your flight arrangements within Zambia or from Malawi.
If you want to drive to us from Lusaka it takes around nine to ten hours and from Lilongwe around five to six hours. The road conditions have improved considerably over the last few years and roads are tarred all the way.
The baggage limit for flights from Lusaka with Proflight Zambia (www.proflight-zambia.com) is max. 23 kg check-in luggage -depending on the category of ticket purchased-, plus 5kg hand luggage. Extra 15kg luggage can be bought at an extra charge.
If you arrive by charter flight please check baggage limits with the airline.
We offer a laundry service, so there is no need to pack too much.
At the moment, people traveling from Europe/America and some other counties are not required a visa to visit Zambia. Visitors are allowed to stay in the country for one month before applying for extension from an immigration office. Visit the website of the Zambian Department of Immigration for full visa information.
It is important to always travel with a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry and with more than 3 full blank pages.
Zambia is regarded as a malaria area and an anti-malaria preventive course is recommended. There are many different strains of malaria requiring specific medication, so please consult your GP or local travel clinic for the correct type.
Although you don’t need any specific vaccinations, your local travel clinic can advise on those as well.
For Zambia, a yellow fever vaccination is not required unless you are coming from a country that is affected by Yellow fever.
We are very fortunate to have a medical program in the area, sponsored by the camps and if necessary we can call out a GP for our guests.
Guests are required to have an adequate travel insurance including a full medical evacuation insurance cover.
For direct bookings our reservation and cancellation policy is as following:
To confirm a booking a deposit of 25% is required within 21 days or the booking will be released. Balance payment is due 30 days before arrival date unless otherwise arranged. If a booking is made less than 30 days before arrival date a 100% payment is required to confirm a booking.
Cancellation fees: 10% non-refundable, 90-31 days: 50% cancellation fees 30-0 days: 100% cancellation fees.
If you book through a travel agent please check with your agent for specific conditions as they might vary.
The local currency is Zambian kwacha. You can change Euros and US dollars at any bank or bureau de change. Credit cards are accepted within Lusaka, Livingstone and at most safari camps. However, outside these areas it is best to use cash. In general Visa and Master are more widely accepted. ATM machines can be used for cash withdrawals.
At Track and Trail River Camp we have credit card facilities and can accept Visa and Mastercard payments. Card payment attract a 3%, handling fee.
Yes, unfortunately Zambia is experiencing power cuts this can be due to an electric fault, maintenance or load shedding. Zambia is heavily depending on Hydro power and a certain amount of rainfall in a year. We however have an inverter/battery back-up system and a generator to provide electricity in case needed.
Generally, casual comfortable preferable cotton clothing is suitable throughout the year, and layers are most practical for the fluctuating day and night temperatures in Zambia.
Further we recommend:
- Neutral colors clothing that blend with the surroundings. Bright colors like royal blue, black or white are not recommended as they will attract tse-tse flies and other wild animals
- Long-sleeved shirts and trousers to protect you from the sun and mosquitoes and for evenings and cooler days
- Comfortable walking shoes and casual footwear
- Windproof jacket, jumper or fleece for morning and evening drives. Before sunrise and after sunset it might be chilly in the open safari vehicle.
- Light compact raincoat during the rainy season
- Swimming costume or short
- Toiletries, insect repellent and any medicines you might need as well as anti-malaria phropylaxis
- Hat with a brim or scarf to protect you from the sun. A buf during the dry season to protect you from dust.
- High SPF sun-cream and UV sunglasses
- Camera/video camera, extra batteries, memory cards and charging devices
- Adaptor (three-pin square British-style plug is used in Zambia)
- Torch and binoculars
In case you have space left and you would like to pack something extra for our Katemo school sponsor project please get in touch so we can assist with suggestions what is most needed at the time.