What to pack for Zambia

Luggage and bags: If you are small like me, bring something to sit on to get a better view.

Miscellaneous: The collar full of air that I have around my neck is very good, it prevents my head from dropping to the side when I fall asleep!

My mother put this picture on her Zimbabwe page, but I am sure it was taken after we crossed into Zambia!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Most likely you'll go in the summer so bring the usual summer gear.. shorts, tshirts. If you go during the rainy season, bring a good rain jacket. When it rains in Zambia, it pours!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: You most likely won't see the same type of toiletries there that you are used to from wherever you are. So make sure you bring enough of your own stuff. Same thing with medical supplies. And yes, bring mosquito repellant. I hope you got all the necessary shots, you don't want to get malaria. Its not a good experience... trust me.

Photo Equipment: Bring the necessary converters if you have a digital camera that needs to be charged. The voltage is most likely different from your own country.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: If you going camping... bring all ur stuff. Camping should be fun here. Bring a mosquito net too.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Because of its ~4000 foot elevation, Zambia has a very pleasant climate. There is no humidity to speak of and the daytime temperatures are great year-round (hotter than usual in October-November). In the winter months of June-July, it can get down to freezing at night. Photo of the beach at Samfya on Lake Bangweulu in northern Zambia, not far from where Dr. David Livingstone died.

Miscellaneous: Books for game- and bird watching. There are small ones, like 'Southern African Birds' by Ian Sinclair, and 'Southern, Central and East African Mammals' by Chris and Tilde Stuart.
A good and complete guide for bird watching is Newman's Birds of Southern Africa.

Binoculars are a 'must' too!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Be sure to enjoy very hot and rainy conditions in spring / summer.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: See a doctor for Malaria medication especially in spring/summer, Malaria is the worst from around Sept to Apr ! Then take good sunscreen, the worst danger is the sun ! And obviously mosquito repellant.

Photo Equipment: Most lodges will have thier own power generators to recharge batteries, but it is advisable to take enough new ones, shops are quite scarce around there.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Camping not a problem at the lodges, and there are very good huts too.

Miscellaneous: For beer drinkers, tri the South African and Namibian brands, the Zambian Mosi Lager wasn't my favourite, but taste differs.

Luggage and bags: Take only what you can carry

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Adventure Travel

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Anti - mosquito tablets

Photo Equipment: If you're going into the bush, take everything you might need with you from home - batteries, films, etc.There are no power points in the bush!

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Not applicable -Zzambia is a land-locked country. But do take good sun creams and insect repellants.

Miscellaneous: My first night in camp in Luangwa game park: after a lovely meal under a star-lit sky such as i have never seen before, to bed to the deafening sound of the buzz of Africa. Bed is in a camp in a bamboo hut. Sleep. Wake up to a thrashing noise, seems close by. Get out of bed, walk to the door of the hut. Look up. Can't see anything, no stars. Noises, very close. A bit of sky appears.Then some more. More noises, very close by. As your eyes adjust to the darkness you begin to realise that there's something alive, moving out there, and its very close by. Now the game park thing starts to work - fear versus excitement. You realise its an elephant, right outside your hut. (i could have taken a step forward and touched it if i wasn't shaking so much) . There's several - in your camp, feeding on the trees by your hut, pulling the fruits of the sausage trees (like salamis) down onto your roof (gets pretty loud). Its a very special, peaceful experience - at one with nature. You will find on a walking safari that you begin to appreciate how insignificant we are in such an the animal's environment. Sometimes other animals wander thru camp - lions, hyena, snakes. I'd love to go back there.
Tip: do not get into a sleeping bag without turning it inside-out first, there are scorpions about. And shake out your shoes in the morning too. Its all part of the experience, you'll enjoy it.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Any time of the year you will want to bring shorts and sandals. Between November and March is the rainy season - bring rain gear.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: 1 - Malaria pills - of which there are may different brands. The net has a lot of information to read up on this subject. Check - http://www.pol-it.org/malaria.htm.
Larium, which is apparently good a prophalaxis has numerous side affects which I have been warned about. I took a proguanil - chloroquine combo - did the trick.
My girlfriend, who grew up in Zambia, and her family, don't take any perventative medication - they also get malaria frequently.

Also bringing some good mosquito repellent can save you from getting bitten in the first place. Check the 'DEET' % on the bottle, the higher the deet level, the better the protection.

High UV protection sunscreen and a hat are also a good idea - especially for the fair skinned.

Photo Equipment: It is probably best not to get any of your photos developed in Zambia. The processing chemicals are often old and as a result the quality of the negatives and the prints will not be great. The negs may also fade over time, so wait until you get home before developing. Athough it will be possible to find standard 35mm film in any large town, it is a good idea to bring all your film with you - incase they dont have the brand or ASA you are looking for.

For obvious reasons, it is always a good idea to carry your photographic equipment in a bag that doesn't look like it is carrying expensive photographic equipment.

Don't worry too much about bringing your camera out in public places, just be smart.

Upon landing at the airport, they will ask you to register your expensive equipment. It's not a bad idea to undervalue its worth on the form. The more money you seem to have the more chance you will find somebody asking for some sort of a customs tax.

Miscellaneous: If you smoke, you will find that a lot of people will ask for cigarettes. I believe it's a courtesy to oblige people, within reason, so stock up at duty free.

Luggage and bags: Roller suitcase, backpag and bumbag

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Strong walking shoes, a colour which won't show up the dust!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Malaria tablets a must! Make sure you have all your injections before you go - there are lots of diseases in Zambia!

Photo Equipment: Take as much film with you as you can. Because Zambia doesn't have a lot of tourists, you might find out of date film, and expensive.

Miscellaneous: Take your own towels. Some guest houses supply them - but they might be dirty, worn, or used!