Volunteer Trip FAQ’s

Before

Documents

  • All travelers need a valid passport with at least 4 empty pages and a visa to enter Zambia.

  • U.S. Citizens must have a valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 months after travel.

  • A visa is required for entry to Zambia. You will obtain your Visa at the airport in Lusaka and will be required to pay $50 (USD) at the airport. Please bring exact change. 

Travel Insurance (Required)

  • Travel Insurance is required to participate in the Africa Hope Fund Volunteer Trip.

  • For information on various policies, please go to (insert website)

  • A minimum of $500,000 of Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage is required

Vaccinations

All Africa Hope Fund Volunteers must be fully vaccinated against Covid 19.
Go to www.cdc.gov to see what additional vaccinations are recommended for Zambia and any other countries that you may be visiting. Your personal doctor will also recommend what they think best based on your health history and the areas you will be traveling.

Malaria
You will be visiting an area of Zambia with malaria. You will need to discuss with your doctor the best preventive medicine for you. Ways to prevent malaria include taking a prescription antimalarial drug, using insect repellent and using bed nets, which are provided.

Packing

If you travel with 2 checked bags there will be no charge on Southwest, Qatar or Emirates, but there will be a $25.00 charge for the second bag on the flights within Zambia (Proflight).  

While working in the libraries all colors are fine.  The village is a wonderful, colorful place.  Women should cover their knees while working in the libraries. We take our shoes off while in the library so wear shoes that are easy to take on and off many times a day.  You may also want to bring socks if you prefer not to be barefoot. On game drives, muted neutral colors are recommended. Dark blue and black attract tsetse flies and bright colors can alarm the wildlife. Khaki, olive, and gray are all good.

The weather will be magnificent--75-80 degrees and sunny every day.  However, it can be cool once the sun goes down and downright cold when you are on an open truck before the sun comes up. So bring a warm jacket, a long-sleeved shirt or two, some long pants and a hat (for sun and warmth). A hooded shirt or jacket and a scarf are also helpful to battle the dust and wind while in the trucks. You’ll also need at least one pair of closed-toed shoes for warmth and protection while on a “walking safari.” You will also need a good flashlight, strong insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Money  

You will each have a tab at Marula Lodge and can charge drinks, extra game drives, food ordered from the menu (all meals are included, but you might like to order something else at times), laundry service, etc. This tab can be paid with cash or a credit card at the end of your stay. Most of the vendors that cater to tourists accept credit cards, as does the spa at Mfuwe Lodge.

You will want some Zambian currency (Kwacha) for local vendors and you can get that at the ATM at the airport or in the village. Be sure your credit card is a Visa card and that you have a PIN number

During

Accommodations

We will be staying at Thornicroft Lodge  All chalets have private baths. There is a lovely swimming pool and a full bar. Laundry service is also available for a modest fee

Water: The water is great.  Marula has its own well and all the water you get at the places that cater to tourists will be filtered.  Bring a water bottle to fill at the lodge and take to the village for the day.

Food: All meals are provided. If you have special dietary needs, they can be accommodated, just let us know ahead of time. 

The Work: You will spend weekday mornings volunteering at AHF -supported libraries where you will teach lessons, play games, sing, dance and share your lives with local school children. The libraries, which were founded by Jenny Waterhouse, are impressive. They are colorful, inviting and are filled with books, puzzles, games, art and other items that most of the local children would never have access to otherwise. The students are incredibly eager to come to the library to learn to speak and read English and often just wanted to spend time talking to us. You will work closely with our reading assistants who will provide guidance, assistance and translate when necessary. No special skills are required to have a wonderful time and to make a lasting contribution.

Game Drives: Each Sunday we will be going on a morning and an evening game drive. Your expert guides will make sure we see elephants, lions, zebra, giraffe, hippos, crocodiles, and many more of the hundreds of animals and birds that call the South Luangwa National Park home. If we are lucky we may spot a leopard or a pack of wild dogs!

Free Time: You will be “on your own” most afternoons and each Saturday. Activities include additional game drives, a luxury spa experience, a village bicycle tour, swimming, and shopping.

Is my trip tax deductible?

Traveling with the Africa Hope Fund to Zambia on their volunteer trip may lower your taxes. Here are some tax tips that you should know about deducting charity-related travel expenses:

• Out-of-Pocket Expenses — You may be able to deduct some of your costs including travel. They must be necessary while you are away from home. All costs must be unreimbursed, directly connected with the services, expenses you had only because of the services you gave, and not personal, living or family expenses.

• Genuine and Substantial Duty — Your charity work must be real and substantial throughout the trip. You can’t deduct expenses if you only have nominal duties or don’t have any duties for significant parts of the trip.

• Value of Time or Service — You can’t deduct the value of your time or services that you give to charity. This includes income lost while you serve as an unpaid volunteer for a qualified charity.

• Travel You Can Deduct — The types of expenses that you may be able to deduct include air, rail and bus transportation, car expenses, lodging costs, cost of meals, and taxi or other transportation costs between the airport or station and your hotel.

• Travel You Can’t Deduct — Some types of travel don’t qualify for a tax deduction. For example, you can’t deduct your costs if a significant part of the trip involves recreation or vacation.

The fact that you enjoy yourself on the volunteer service project doesn’t impact the deductibility.

As always, we strongly recommend that you contact your tax professional to discuss your specific facts and circumstances.

After

Several extension trips are available and can be arranged through Africa Hope Fund.  These include visits to Victoria Falls, a luxurious safari experience at a Bush Camp deep in the South Luangwa National Park, and a trip to the Lower Zambezi