I'm planning a trip around Southern Africa and have been trying to get my head around visa fees - and looking to minimize costs whilst maximising the experience.

I have a UK passport. The visa fees for Zambia are GBP 75 single entry and GBP 240 double entry. There is also mention of a day tripper visa for USD 10 which allows entry for 24 hours - I guess aimed at day trippers from Zimbabwe. The difference in price for single and double entry is significant and makes it worth looking at options.

Now I have a flight booked that lands in LVI at 12:30 on 22 September. On 23 September I had hoped to travel to the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, returning that day to Zambia and then travelling onward. That looks like a double entry Zambian visa and a single entry or day visa for Zimbabwe.

But I wonder whether I can get a day tripper visa on arrival at LVI airport and make sure I hit Zimbabwe before 12:30 the next day and then get a full single entry visa when I get back that evening, or whether the 24 hour visa actually means in and out on the same date. Do they even issue 24 hour visas at LVI?

Any advice gratefully received.