Chipata, Zambia
General Information
Chipata, formerly Fort Jameson, is in Southern Africa, and is a city found in Eastern Province of Zambia. It is located -13.63 latitude and 32.65 longitude and it is situated at elevation 1147 meters above sea level.
Chipata is a tidy, busy town that is more than just a gateway to South Luangwa; it is also a border town just 19km from Malawi. Chipata stands in a valley, surrounded by quite a fertile area of subsistence farms with low bush-covered hills around.
Weather
The seasons in Southern Africa are reversed from those in the US.
Winter months are May – September. Winter days are invariably sunny and cool to warm however, evening and night temperatures can drop below freezing point in some areas.This is also the dry season when virtually no rainfall occurs.
Summer months are from November to the end of March, which can be very hot. It is also the rainy season – cloud coverage and rain can cool things down but only for a short period of time.
The in-between periods – April/May and September/October – still tend to be dry, but the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.
Currency and Time Zone
ZAMBIA’S unit of currency is the Kwacha, denoted by the symbol ZMW. There are ATMs in the country, but may or may not be working, and most certainly favor VISA cards. For up to date rates of exchange click on the following link www.XE.com
Local time in ZAMBIA is GMT +2 Which means it is always 6 or 7 hours ahead of us in the eastern United States depending on the time of the year and daylight savings time. www.WORLDCLOCK.com
Language
The official languages of Zambia are English together with seven vernacular languages which include Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga, Kaonde, Luvale and Lunda. There are 72 tribal languages spoken in Zambia.
Health Concerns
Malaria, Cholera, Dysentary and other tropical illnesses are potential risks when traveling to Zambia, especially during the Rainy season. There are no required vaccinations to enter Zambia, and general hygiene practices are the best defense against illness.
For further information: CDC.gov and/or WHO.int/en/
Electricity and Water
All electrical appliances in ZAMBIA run on 220V.
Water is supplied by public municipalities, and may be unreliable both in supply and safety. A back up water supply is recommended.