Africa - Any recent travelers to/from Zambia?

We're a little more than a month out from our first trip to Livingstone/Vic Falls. We've been told that single-entry Zambian Visas are available once we land at border control/customs for $50. Does anybody have recent experience traveling there that can fill us in regarding whether or not there were any forms to complete or any other documentation required other than our passports?

If there are forms, are these downloadable from a website for this type of single-entry visa? We downloaded a form, but it's asking us to supply additional passport photos, etc and we think this is intended more for a longer stay or multiple entry type of visa.

Any info/ help is appreciated!

My husband and I flew to Livingstone on a South African Airways flight this past July.
If memory serves: we were handed a Zambian visa form on the plane and had it filled out by the time we landed.
On a previous trip to Livingstone there were forms available inside the airport ( and there may have been last year, too, but we didn't have a need to look for them.)

In Livingstone airport, you can pick up the form. It's very brief, takes about 3 mins. Nothing else needed. Just your passport. We flew in/out of Livingstone. Easy process overall. Nothing to worry or plan for.

If you plan to walk across to Zim, its better to get the double-entry for $80 - or you ll have to fork over the money again on the bridge walking back.

If you plan to walk across to Zim, its better to get the double-entry for $80 - or you ll have to fork over the money again on the bridge walking back.

Ditto that. I got the multi-entry 10 year visa for $100 bucks from the Zambian embassy here in DC, which saved me countless troubles if you are darting between Zim and Zam on a daily basis.

I'm flying from Nelspruit to LVI in October. Upon arrival, I'll be picked up and driven into Botswana. After a couple of days, I'll be taken back to Livingstone where I'll be staying for a few days. Do I need to a double or multiple entry Visa? I work in DC; am I better off going to the embassy before I leave and take care of the visa then?

I'm flying from Nelspruit to LVI in October. Upon arrival, I'll be picked up and driven into Botswana. After a couple of days, I'll be taken back to Livingstone where I'll be staying for a few days. Do I need to a double or multiple entry Visa? I work in DC; am I better off going to the embassy before I leave and take care of the visa then?

You'll need the double entry for sure but just go and get the multiple entry 10 year visa for $100.

I went to LVI for 3 days then drove over to VFA and left Zimbabwe which was much easier for the Visa on Arrival.

I'm flying from Nelspruit to LVI in October. Upon arrival, I'll be picked up and driven into Botswana. After a couple of days, I'll be taken back to Livingstone where I'll be staying for a few days. Do I need to a double or multiple entry Visa? I work in DC; am I better off going to the embassy before I leave and take care of the visa then?

I just did Nelspruit to LVI to Botswana to LVI to JNB. Agree that since you are in Bethesda, do yourself a favor and get a multiple entry visa at the embassy. This will enable you to view the falls from the Zimbabwe side (in addition to double entry to Zambia already in your itinerary.)

I hope you have arranged a private river crossing from Zambia to Bots. The public ferry is unreliable.

Also, try to sit as far forward on the SAA flight MQP-LVI. immigration can take forever.

Enjoy!

<snip> I hope you have arranged a private river crossing from Zambia to Bots. The public ferry is unreliable.


My husband and I crossed from Zambia into Botswana last July.
Our safari company had made the arrangements for us to be picked up at LVI & driven to the border. We knew that once we arrived at the border a boat would be the next step of the journey. The safari company had made our river crossing arrangements, too.

I was expecting to cross the Zambezi on a ferry; never really gave it much thought , actually.

Well, when we reached the river our van driver introduced us to the man who was going to transport us across the Zambezi...in a small aluminium skiff...with an outboard motor. Our own private "ferry." :D

We could see the docked, public ferry and many, many people waiting around to board.
I don't know how many people could be tranported at one time, but I got the impression that there might be quite a wait.

(There were also many, many trucks waiting to cross the river via the public ferry.
Our boat driver told us that the trucks sometimes have to wait in line on both sides of the river for weeks before there was a slot open on the ferry.)

Luckily for us our river crossing was quick...from one shore to the other is a distance of about 1/4 mile.
Once on the Botswana side we were met by our next van driver and driven a very short distance to the passport control building.
After we'd cleared passport control we had to walk through a solution of something that was meant to clean our shoes of any hoof and mouth disease contamination. The van also had to drive through a similar solution in order to clean its tires.

Then we were on our way to Chobe.

If you plan to walk across to Zim, its better to get the double-entry for $80 - or you ll have to fork over the money again on the bridge walking back. Can you get the double entry on arrival?

Can you get the double entry on arrival?

Yes