 Airfares
and flight tips
International airfares
Regional access to Zambia
Zambia's main airports
Domestic hubs in Zambia
Airlines and charters in Zambia
Alternate travel options in Zambia
International airfares to Africa
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Regional access to Zambia
Zambia's primary international airports are in Lusaka (LUN), Livingstone
(LVI) and Mfuwe (MFU). Best direct international links are via Gatwick
into Lusaka. Livingstone is likely to develop into a major international
hub in Zambia over the next few years. Best regional access is from
Johannesburg, Harare, Lilongwe (Malawi), Nairobi (Kenya) and Dar es
Salaam (Tanzania).
Zambia's main airports
• Lusaka International (LUN)
• Livingstone (LVI)
• Mfuwe (MFU)
• Lunga
• Jeki
Domestic hubs in Zambia
Note that private air charters cover the domestic routes in Zambia
and it's often more sensible to leave charter planning in the country
to the individual camps and safari operators. |
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Lusaka (LUN) itself is the primary
safari hub offering access to Mfuwe and the Luangwa Valley plus Jeki
and the lower Zambezi in the east plus the Kafue and Livingstone in
the west. Charters are available between Lusaka and Kariba in Zimbabwe.
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Mfuwe (MFU) is the secondary
safari hub in the west and serves as both the North and South Luangwa.
Served from both Lusaka and Lilongwe on scheduled services, Mfuwe
is an important hub for private charters into outlying safari camps
and the strips at Lukusi (Nsefu Sector) and Mwaleshi (North Luangwa).
Charters operate directly between Mfuwe and the Kafue and lower Zambezi.
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Livingstone (LVI) is an important
secondary safari hub serving the greater Victoria Falls area from
Zambia. Livingstone is an air charter hub serving the Kafue, Lower
Zambezi and Kasane in Botswana.
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Lunga is a secondary hub serving
as the Kafue gateway with access onward access to the strips at Lushimba
and Moshi.
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Jeki is the only regularly used
strip serving the Lower Zambezi National Park. Regular charter access
is available from Lusaka, Mfuwe and Livingstone.
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Victoria Falls (VFA) in Zimbabwe
is currently a better option for both international and regional access
and is very easily connected by road to Livingstone. Development in
Livingstone over the next few years may change this.... |
Airlines and Charters in Zambia |
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The national airline, Zambia
Airways went bankrupt several years back and its routes are now covered
by private charter companies providing reliable scheduled services
between Lusaka, Livingstone and Mfuwe.
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These flights are not integrated into
Global Distribution Systems for reservations so it's best to arrange
your flights into the country and then leave the rest with the local
tour operators.
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The main air charter bases are in Lusaka,
Mfuwe, Lunga and Livingstone. |
Alternate travel options in Zambia
Travel by road: |
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Zambia has a poor road
infrastructure with some notoriously bad roads and equally bad drivers.
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If you're planning a self-drive safari,
the more remote areas in particular require a 4x4 vehicle and a current
and accurate update on road conditions is essential (a road report
from the previous season is no guarantee that the given route is still
passable) - certain areas should only be tackled in 4x4 convoy fashion.
Many areas are totally inaccessible in the rainy season.
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Coach services are available between
Livingstone and Lusaka but companies come and go so advance planning
should be done with caution.
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Local bus services are cheap, uncomfortable
and dangerous. |
Rail options in Zambia: |
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The TAZARA link between
Kapiri Moshi and Dar es Salaam provides a relatively reliable connection
between the two countries. |
Zambia's own
rail network doesn't provide any reliable and meaningful access to
the safari destinations.
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