By air
Kenneth Kaunda (LUN), ~15 km from the centre
Africa · Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia's fast-growing capital
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — dry, sunny and cool in the mornings
Don't miss
Kabwata Cultural Village
Lusaka National Museum
Lusaka National Park
Lilayi Elephant Nursery
Sunday craft market at Arcades
Munda Wanga
Things to do
Browsing the craft markets
A day at Lusaka National Park
A tour of the Kabwata cultural village
Dining in the garden restaurants
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Shaun Metcalfe from United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Light clothes, a warm layer for winter evenings, cash for markets
A quieter corner
Lilayi Elephant Nursery, where orphaned calves are fed in the afternoon on the city's edge
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lusaka?
May to September — dry, sunny and cool in the mornings. What to pack: Light clothes, a warm layer for winter evenings, cash for markets.
How do I get to Lusaka?
Fly into Kenneth Kaunda (LUN), ~15 km from the centre.
What is there to do in Lusaka?
Browsing the craft markets, a day at Lusaka National Park, a tour of the Kabwata cultural village, dining in the garden restaurants. A quieter find: Lilayi Elephant Nursery, where orphaned calves are fed in the afternoon on the city's edge.
What should I eat in Lusaka?
Nshima with village chicken or kapenta, ifisashi, grilled meats, local lagers.
About Lusaka
- Inland
Where it is
Lusaka is the capital of Zambia, on a high plateau in the south-centre of the country, at the junction of the roads to Livingstone, the Copperbelt and Malawi.
History
A railway siding in the early twentieth century, Lusaka was chosen as the capital of Northern Rhodesia in the 1930s for its central position and became the capital of independent Zambia in the 1960s. It has grown into one of southern Africa's fastest-growing cities, spreading across the plateau in new suburbs and markets.
People
Lusaka draws people from every Zambian region, so Nyanja and Bemba are heard alongside English; the city is welcoming, church-going and busy with trade from the roadside stalls to the new malls.
Known for
- Craft markets
- Kabwata Cultural Village
- A gateway to Zambia's parks
- Garden restaurants
Did you know?
Lusaka National Park, on the city's southern edge, has white rhino within sight of the suburbs.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.