Zambia Visa & Entry Requirements: What Rafters and Safari-Goers Need to Know

So you've booked your rafting trip on the Zambezi, or you're piecing together a few days of Victoria Falls, safari, and adrenaline activities in Livingstone. Before you get to the fun part, there's one practical question nearly every guest asks us first: what do I need to actually get into the country?

The good news is that entry into Zambia is straightforward for most travellers, especially if your trip — like many of ours — crosses between Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the same few days. Here's what to know before you fly.

The KAZA Univisa: one visa, three countries

If you're visiting both sides of the Victoria Falls, or combining your rafting trip with a Chobe safari, the KAZA Univisa is the one to know about. It's a joint visa arrangement between Zambia and Zimbabwe that lets you cross back and forth between the two countries — say, sleeping in Livingstone but popping over to see the Zimbabwean side of the Falls — on a single visa, valid for up to 30 days.

It also covers day trips into Botswana through the Kazungula border, which matters if you're joining us for a Chobe safari or the rhino walk in Mosi oa Tunya National Park as part of a longer itinerary. Just note: if you stay overnight in Botswana rather than doing a day trip, you'll need a fresh Univisa to re-enter Zambia or Zimbabwe.

Eligibility varies by nationality, and pricing and terms can change, so we always recommend confirming directly with Zambian immigration or your embassy before you travel rather than relying on older blog posts (including this one) for the exact fee.

Where you can get it

For most travellers flying in, the easiest route is applying on arrival:

• Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (Livingstone)

• Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (Lusaka)

• Victoria Falls Border and Kazungula Border Control

Livingstone and Victoria Falls airports both have dedicated counters for processing the Univisa, so if you're flying directly into Livingstone for your rafting trip, you can generally sort your visa on arrival without much of a queue. If your nationality qualifies for online application, applying in advance is worth doing simply to save time at immigration.

If you're not eligible for the Univisa

Not every nationality qualifies. If yours doesn't, you'll need to apply for standard individual visas for Zambia and Zimbabwe separately if you plan to visit both. This is worth checking well before your trip — not the morning of your rafting adventure — since it affects how you plan your itinerary across the two sides of the Falls.

A few things guests often forget

• Passport validity. Most Southern African countries expect at least six months of validity remaining, plus a blank page for stamps. Check this before you book flights, not after.
• Bring your documents to the river. We'll ask you to leave passports and valuables at your hotel on rafting day (more on that in our safety info) — but you'll still need that passport handy for border crossings before and after.
• Yellow fever certificates. Depending on where you're flying from, some travellers are asked for proof of yellow fever vaccination. If your journey routes through a country with yellow fever risk, check current requirements before departure.
• It can change. Visa policy across Southern Africa has shifted more than once in recent years — new e-visa systems, adjusted fees, added nationalities. Treat any online guide, including this one, as a starting point, and verify specifics with official sources close to your travel date.

Sorting logistics so you can focus on the river

We know the paperwork isn't the exciting part of planning a Zambezi rafting trip — but getting it right means one less thing to think about once you're standing at the top of the Batoka Gorge. If you're combining rafting with a Chobe safari, a Mosi oa Tunya visit, or time on both sides of the Falls, talk to us when you book. We can help you sequence border crossings sensibly around your activities, and our pick-up and drop-off service across Livingstone, Victoria Falls and Kasane takes some of the guesswork out of moving between the three.

Ready to plan the adventure itself? Get in touch and we'll help you build the itinerary — visas included.