Health
Use safe water and careful food hygiene; cholera transmission has been reported, and travelers should avoid unsafe food/water. Malaria risk exists throughout Zambia; prevent mosquito bites day and night. Avoid swimming/wading in untreated freshwater because schistosomiasis is present. Heat, strong sun, dusty dry-season air, safari insects/ticks, and moderate plateau altitude can affect comfort; hydrate, use sun protection, and plan rest.
Vaccinations
Before travel, consult a doctor or travel clinic. Be up to date on routine vaccines, including MMR, polio, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, flu, varicella, shingles where appropriate, and COVID-19. CDC lists hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, malaria prevention, and risk-based rabies/cholera considerations for Zambia. Yellow-fever vaccine is not required for direct travel from the U.S.; a certificate is required for travelers age 1+ arriving from, or transiting more than 12 hours through, a yellow-fever-risk country.
eSIM / connectivity
eSIM is not as reliably local-carrier-supported as in some destinations. Zambia’s main mobile networks are MTN, Airtel and Zamtel; visitors should expect prepaid physical SIMs and data bundles to be easier to verify locally. International travel eSIMs may work by roaming on Zambian networks, but check supported network, device bands and hotspot rules before purchase. Coverage is best in Lusaka, Livingstone and the Copperbelt, and can drop in parks and remote lodges.
Health/vaccine info is reference only, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic; defer to CDC/WHO and official sources (as of 2026-06-22).