Packing list for Zambia

The first thing to do when preparing for Zambia is to book an appointment with a local travel clinic and go and speak to a doctor. The internet is full of African health and safety horror stories, but for safari holidays the risks are generally very low and/or easily manageable. If you’re at all concerned, speak to a professional. They’re likely to advise you to get your immunisations up to date and will be able to prescribe appropriate anti-malarial drugs. They’ll also have the latest information on the yellow fever vaccine. Regulations are constantly changing and have relaxed somewhat in recent years.

If you have any allergies or require chronic medication, then be sure to bring it with you. If it’s anything exotic, then also check whether it’s legal in Zambia or you might run into trouble at customs. Finally, make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance that includes full evacuation and repatriation cover. Familiarise yourself with all the small print, and the procedures to follow should the worst happen.