Private jet to Zambia

Private flights to this country follow two lines. Mining and finance teams fly to Lusaka, the capital, and to Ndola in the Copperbelt, the source of most of the country's copper exports. Leisure guests head for Livingstone and Victoria Falls, and for South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi, national parks known for walking and boat safaris.

Four airports have customs. Lusaka is listed as open round the clock; Livingstone, Ndola and Mfuwe work in daytime, so arrivals are timed to their hours. None of them has a separate business aviation terminal, and handling is arranged through the ground services company present at all four.

Send the route, dates and number of passengers, and we check the airports, hours and permits for your plan:

Flight times and prices

Each fare covers the whole aircraft one way, flown by a jet based close to where you start; the fuel stop, Zambian landing permit, handling and passenger charges appear as quote lines. Lusaka is about 7,200 to 8,300 km from the western European hubs: a Gulfstream G550 flies there from Nice in 8:45 h and from London Farnborough in 9:59 h. The Praetor 600 stops once for fuel from the western hubs and covers Larnaca - Lusaka without a stop, with the passenger and baggage load confirmed for the date.

From Europe

Non-stop in the G550, Lusaka costs EUR 110,000 from Nice or Vienna and EUR 125,000 from London; Livingstone is EUR 110,000 from Milan or Madrid. With a fuel stop the Praetor 600 starts at EUR 75,000 from Nice, and Larnaca - Lusaka is EUR 53,000 without a stop, close to the type's practical range.

From southern and eastern Africa

Johannesburg in South Africa is 2:06 h from Lusaka in a Phenom 300. Maun in Botswana and Harare in Zimbabwe are short hops, and Lilongwe in Malawi is 47 minutes from Mfuwe by light jet. Flights between two Zambian airports, such as Lusaka - Livingstone or Lusaka - Mfuwe, are normally flown by Zambian operators and quoted separately. On the European side, the French tax on business-jet departures rises with distance, so a flight this long pays about EUR 2,100 per passenger, against about EUR 420 for a European hop; Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger at these distances, and the UK levies Air Passenger Duty at the band and rate that fit the aircraft.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Two trips priced

Price per passenger

Calculator

The calculator sends a first estimate by e-mail:

Airports for business jets

The Lusaka airport lies about 20 km north-east of the city at about 1,150 m and has jet fuel and a high fire and rescue category. Livingstone is about 5 km from the town and a short drive from the falls. Mfuwe's lower fire and rescue category is checked before a large jet is proposed. Every flight needs prior permission: the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority issues landing and overflight approvals without a published lead time, so we apply early, and the crew's visas are arranged together with the permit.

Aircraft and onward flights

A Gulfstream G550 or Global 7500 flies non-stop from every European hub; the Praetor 600 trims roughly a third off the fare in exchange for a refuelling stop. For the parks the jet stays at Lusaka or Livingstone, and Zambian operators fly turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 to Mfuwe and to the bush strips of the Lower Zambezi and Kafue. Over the falls, helicopters and microlights fly scenic flights from Livingstone, in daylight and weather permitting.

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Where to land for each region

Seasons and events

The cool dry season from May to August and the hot dry months of September and October are the main safari period. Rains run from November to April and peak in December, when floods can wash out bush roads and bridges. At the falls the flow is highest around April, when spray can hide the view, and lowest in October and November; trips to Livingstone Island and the Devil's Pool on the lip of the falls run only at low water, on dates the operators set. Empty Legs back to Europe are most likely at the end of August and in September, after the European holidays.

Empty Legs

Legs are rare on routes this long. They appear when a jet drops a party at Lusaka or Livingstone and flies back to Europe empty, or repositions from elsewhere in Africa. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the airport and a flexible window, and we match it against the jets heading that way.

Entry rules and pets

Flying with a dog or cat

• An import permit from the Department of Veterinary Services, applied for well before travel.
• A 15-digit microchip, a rabies vaccination 30 days to 12 months before entry and a health certificate issued within 10 days of entry and endorsed by a government vet.
• The entry point for animals is Lusaka, and the published rules describe animals arriving as cargo, so we obtain written confirmation that the pet may travel in the cabin; the operator must also approve it.
• Coming back to the EU or UK: Zambia is not on the lists with simplified rules, so the pet needs a rabies antibody blood test at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before re-entry, easiest arranged before leaving Europe. For the UK, dogs also get a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before landing.

How to book

1. Tell us the route, dates, group size and the lodges or offices you are visiting.
2. We match the airport to the plan and check its opening hours.
3. You receive offers with operator, model, flight time and price, plus local legs by Zambian operators.
4. We file the permit and crew visas and appoint the handler.
5. The jet either stays in Zambia for the return or flies home and comes back, whichever the contract states.

Questions about private flights to Zambia

• • What does a private jet to Zambia cost from Europe?

  • From EUR 53,000 one way for the whole aircraft from Larnaca to Lusaka in a Praetor 600, with the load confirmed for the date. From the western hubs, a non-stop G550 starts at EUR 110,000.

• • How long is the flight?

  • About 9 to 10 hours non-stop in a long-range jet, for example 9:35 h from Paris Le Bourget to Lusaka. A Praetor 600 with a fuel stop takes roughly two and a quarter hours longer.

• • Which airport for Victoria Falls?

  • Livingstone, about 5 km from the town. It is listed open from 07:00 to 18:00 local time, so the landing is planned before the tower closes.

• • Do EU citizens need a visa?

  • UK citizens and most EU passport holders need no visa for a tourist visit. Business visits are limited to 30 days a year.

• • Can our jet fly us from Lusaka to Mfuwe?

  • Normally not. Domestic legs inside Zambia are flown by Zambian operators, usually in turboprops, and appear as a separate line in the quote.

• • Which months suit a trip?

  • May to October for safaris; around April for the fullest falls, and October to November for low water, Livingstone Island and the Kasanka bats.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes, with an import permit, rabies vaccination and a vet certificate issued within 10 days of entry. Animals enter through Lusaka, and cabin travel is confirmed in writing.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Zambia?

  • Rarely. They appear after drop-offs at Lusaka or Livingstone; a flexible date helps.