Zambia Border Crossing of Jimbe (Overview)
The Jimbe Border Post is a very small crossing point. The post has minimal infrastructure (no grid electricity), using solar power for basic operations. Road conditions on the Angolan side are often difficult; heavy trucks are generally not practical here—small vehicles and 4x4s are typically the safest option.
Hours of operation
| Schedule | Hours |
|---|---|
| Daily (including holidays) | 06:00 – 18:00 |
Location and nearby towns
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Border crossing name | Jimbe Border Post (Zambia ↔ Angola) |
| Zambia side | Ikelenge District, North Western Province |
| Nearest town (Zambia) | Chilabombwa (approx. 16 km) |
| Coordinates (as listed) | Latitude S 11.10887 • Longitude E 24.02098 |
| Closest referenced town (Angola) | Souto (approx. 310 km) |
Nearest international airport
| Airport | Distance | Typical travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Ndola – Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport | ~696 km | Car ~11 hrs (road dependent) • Truck ~25 hrs (as listed) |
Customs clearance (documentation checklist)
Delays often happen when documentation is incomplete. For food/cereals, common documents include:
- Waybill
- Export permit (commodity dependent)
- Certificate of Origin (COMESA/SADC)
- Fumigation certificate
- Export schedule (e.g., maize where required)
- Invoice
- Phytosanitary certificate
Operational tip: electronic pre-clearance via a forwarding agent may be possible and can reduce delays. Inspection may be required for both imports and exports (e.g., agriculture and revenue authorities).
Fuel and practical travel tips
- Fueling stations are available in Mwinilunga and Solwezi; fuel in Solwezi when possible.
- Mwinilunga is noted as a small town ~101 km south of Jimbe; supply can be inconsistent.
- Given road conditions, plan daylight travel to match border hours.
Daily capacity
This border post is exceptionally small with limited staffing and infrastructure (solar-powered systems). With difficult road conditions on the Angolan side, crossing traffic tends to be light and skewed toward small vehicles and immigration foot/vehicle movement.