Zambia Humanitarian Trip

May 20 - 27, 2023

The total price includes humanitarian trip expenses, supplies, most meals, transportation (not flights), and hotel stay on clinic days.

With the help of our partners, Hearing the Call, and generous donors, we are able to make our humanitarian trips more affordable and accessible to our members, students, and volunteers.

Humanitarian Trip Price: $4,870

Entheos members, please contact us directly for discounted pricing.

* All prices are for double rooms and are subject to change *

May 20 - Arrive Lusaka

May 21 - Market // Training Day

May 22 - Clinic Day

May 23 - Clinic Day

May 24 - Clinic Day

May 25 - Fly to Livingstone // Sunset Cruise on Zambezi River

May 26 - Victoria Falls // African Safari

May 27 - Travel Home

Please note if you wish to go on the African Safari that is an additional charge and let Entheos know you wish to participate.

Flight Information

What You Need to Know to Book Your Flight

  1. Confirmation from Entheos that you are on the humanitarian trip.
  2. Arrive Day 1 into Lusaka, Zambia (airport code: LUN).
  3. Book your return flight from Livingstone, Zambia (LIV). We sometimes recommend you stay the extra day in Livingstone and Victoria Falls for two reasons.  First, it is magical, and it gives you time to do more exciting things there. Second, return flights on Sunday arriving in the U.S. on Monday are usually cheaper. If you decide to stay longer, you will be responsible for an extra night in the hotel (under $200), but likely you will save more than that on airfare.
  4. Try to arrive midday or earlier to allow for the possibility of delayed flights.
  5. Please enter your flight information by clicking the button to your right that says “Flight Info”.
  • After the market on Sunday and prior to training, we will travel to the lodge in Chimbombo. This can take 2 hours on the bus.
  • The Entheos team usually arrives a day early. If you decide to arrive a day early, you will be responsible for an extra night in the hotel (under $100).

Tips / Additional Info

  • Give yourself plenty of time at the airport to check in. The FAA recommends that you arrive 2 hours prior to international flights. Don’t forget to pack any scissors, pocketknives, or liquids over 3 oz. in your checked baggage. For any liquids less than 3 ounces that you will be carrying on, please make sure you put them in 1 quart size Ziploc bag. Whatever liquid items that do not fit in 1 quart size Ziploc bag will be thrown away. Please visit the TSA website for the most up-to-date restrictions prior to packing:
    http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm.
  • Make sure you have a name-tag with a current name, address, and phone number attached to each luggage item.
  • If you use luggage locks (highly suggested on ALL bags to avoid tampering), make sure all locks are TSA approved (it will say on the lock and/or package).
  • Please check at the web site of the Airlines that you are flying the Policy on Checked Luggage
  • For luggage that weighs over 50 pounds due to personal items, the overage fee is the responsibility of each delegate.
  • Entheos may ask to use some of “your space” to transport supplies and we thank you in advance for your willingness to help transport needed project supplies to Ecuador.
  • Your carry-on bag should contain all your essentials in case your check-on baggage is lost in transit. Include at least one change of clothes and all necessary medicines and toiletries.

VISAS

Zambia requires a visa to enter and three blank page in your U.S. passport. You may purchase your visa upon entering Zambia.  At last check, they do take US dollars and credit cards.  There are three types of visas.

  • Single Entry allows you to enter Zambia only once during the validity of the visa. The cost is $50 US.
  • Double Entry allows you to enter Zambia twice during the validity of the visa. The cost is $80 US.
  • Multiple Entry allows you to enter Zambia multiple times during the validity of the visa.  The cost is $80 US.

We recommend that if you are going to Livingstone that you get a Multiple Entry Visa especially if you go on the full-day safari which is in Botswana or you want to walk across the bridge into Zimbabwe.

Disclaimer: Submitting an application for a humanitarian trip does not guarantee a spot on the trip. A completed application enters your name into the selection process. You will be notified if you are selected.

Entheos Audiology Cooperative is not a registered 501(c)(3) exempt organization, therefore the trip fee is not deductible as a donation or a charitable contribution. 

Please consult your tax advisor if you are deducting any portion of the trip as a business expense. There are limitations as to the deductibility of expenses associated with meals and entertainment.

General Dress Code Rules

Clinic Dress Code
  • Please wear long pants and the team t-shirts provided by our partners. We have found that breathable type pants by Eddie Bauer or Columbia are a good option for hot clinic days (jeans are fine). You will receive TWO clinic t-shirts on the first day of the trip. You may be able to do laundry (for a small fee) at the hotel; we also recommend bringing a mini bottle of detergent (can be purchased at the travel section) to do laundry in your room.
  • Bring comfortable shoes to wear. No open toe shoes for clinics.
  • No shorts in the clinic.

Before/After Clinic

  • There will be time for recreation (going out, dinner, etc.) after clinic days.
  • Bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and evenings when it could get cool. Days will be fairly warm.
Day-Off
  • On our day off, it is fine to dress like an American tourist.  Please keep jewelry to a minimum.

One Week Recommended Packing List

Clothing

  • 4 – Pants
  • 5 – Shirts
  • 8 – Pairs Socks
  • 2 – Clinic Shirts (will be provided)
  • 2 – PJ’s
  • Walking Shoes
  • Windbreaker or Light Jacket
  • Swimsuit (if needed)
  • Sandals

Toiletries

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Razor
  • Hair Things
  • Brushes
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug Spray
  • Lotion
  • Sunglasses
  • Kleenex
  • Imodium
  • Advil
  • Any Medications Needed

Misc.

  • Cash
  • Passport
  • Passport Holder
  • Bank Card
  • Credit Card
  • Pen (to fill out forms)
  • Neck Pillow
  • Phone Chargers

Electricity in Zambia

In Zambia, the power sockets are of type C, D, and G. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Which power plugs and sockets in Zambia?

  • Type C: also known as a standard “Euro” plug. This socket also works with plug E and plug F.
  • Type D: mainly used in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and some African countries. This socket only works with plug D.
  • Type G: this type is of British origin. This socket only works with plug G

Most sockets in Zambia are Type C

Hotel Information

Radisson Blu

10101 Great E
Lusaka, Zambia 

Phone: +260 211 368 900

Click Here for More Info (you do NOT need to book any rooms)

This is the hotel you will stay at when you first arrive to Zambia. 

Ibis Gardens

86km north of Lusaka on the Great North Road (T2) 

Phone: +260 979 200 400

Click Here for More Info (you do NOT need to book any rooms)

This is the hotel you will stay during clinic days in Zambia.

Avani Victoria Falls

Mosi-oa-Tunya Road
Livingstone 20100, Zambia

Phone: +260 978 777 044

Click Here for More Info (you do NOT need to book any rooms)

This is the hotel you will stay at when you are in Livingstone.

Zambia Itinerary

Money / Currency / Expenses

  • Most expenses will be prepaid for you including: ground transportation, medical evacuation insurance, hotel room accommodations, translators and team meals.
  • Each volunteer is financially responsible for paying for and obtaining a passport and visa, receiving any necessary immunizations, all food/beverage items in all airports and outside team meals, and any other personal expenditures/shopping during the trip.
  • You will want to take enough cash with you for personal shopping. Bring U.S. currency that is as new as possible and undamaged. Traveler’s checks and credit cards (VISA or Master Card) will be good in airports, major hotels and many shops, but cash is the easiest and most convenient method of payment.
  • You will be able to exchange money locally.
  • To find the most up-to-date currency conversions, please go to http://www.xe.com/ucc/. The currency in Zambia is typically around $1 USD to K13.50 = Kwacha- local currency exchange.

Safety / Security

Here are some helpful guidelines concerning the safety and security of your personal items:

  • Be mindful of how you carry your purse or where you place your wallet. Men, keep your wallets in a front or zippered pocket, as keeping it in your back pocket will make it susceptible to pickpockets. Ladies, keep purses across your chest or use a fanny pack (keeping your hands free is also wise).
  • An under garment money belt worn around your waist is a safe way to carry your personal cash or passport.
  • Stay with a group of people at all times – always go somewhere in pairs.
  • Take a minimal amount of jewelry with you – nothing flashy.
  • Be a confident traveler even if you are unsure or uneasy in a certain situation; confidence and calmness is key.
  • We also suggest that you make copies of all flight itineraries, wallet contents, passport, visa, etc. and carry copies in a separate, secure location. It would also be a good idea to leave copies of everything with someone at home also, just in case. These copies could prove invaluable should your personal documents be lost or stolen.

Food

We hope you will enjoy the local cuisine. Most meals will be eaten at a hotel or local restaurant. All foods that will be provided to you should be well prepared and safe for you to eat.

Meals are supplied on clinic days, but not on travel or recreation days.

  • As far as drinking water is concerned, to be on the safe side, always drink bottled water and brush your teeth with bottled water at the hotel. Avoid ice. Bottled water will be available.
  • You may want to take some personal snack items with you – good items to take include granola bars, dried fruit, and trail mix.

Time Zone / Weather

WEATHER:
June is the winter for Zambia but it can be warm during the day and cool at night.  The average morning temperature can be low to mid 50Fs while the afternoons can be mid 70Fs and sunny. There are times the temperature will push into the 80Fs so dress in layers. Livingstone can be a bit cooler in the morning and night but warmer during the day.

TIME ZONE:
Zambia is in the Central Africa Time zone and does not observe daylight-savings time. Zambia is 6 hours ahead of the East Coast and 9 hours ahead of the West Coast of the United States.

Vaccines

IMPORTANT VACCINE UPDATE:  Zambia requires a Yellow Fever vaccine ONLY if you travel through countries considered a high risk. For example if you travel through Nairobi in Kenya, you will need a yellow fever card. This vaccine can be difficult to get from your local health department, so contact them immediately. The Yellow Fever vaccine is currently valid for 10 years. Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana are not Yellow Fever Risk zones.

One of the first things you have to be aware of on any international trip is the necessary vaccines.  Some of the vaccines are hard to get in a quick time frame. Please make sure you read and check the CDC website for information on vaccines immediately.

As we travel internationally, we may be exposed to certain diseases that are rare in the United States. Fortunately, the risk of catching these diseases is still quite low since we will be on site for only a short time and will be eating properly prepared food, etc. However, since it is impossible to eliminate all risk, there are a variety of vaccines and immunizations that provide prevention against many of the most serious infectious diseases in the world that we ask each delegation member consider receiving.

Please consult the Centers for Disease Control website for vaccines and immunizations that are recommended for Zambia. The CDC recommends most travelers be up-to-date on measles as well as your routine vaccines such as MMR. In addition, most travelers get Hepatitis A and Typhoid and some take a Malaria prophylactic.

Humanitarian Trip Interest