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Lusaka Travel Guide

Lusaka Travel Guide

Lots to Love in Lusaka

The capital city and major commercial centre of Zambia might not be on everyone’s Africa bucket list, but if you’re willing to do some exploring you’ll discover lots to love in Lusaka. Expect a warm welcome and a window into real African urban life in one of the fastest growing cities in Southern Africa.

Modern malls, quality hotels and great restaurants make Lusaka the perfect place to prepare for, or relax after, a stay in the Copperbelt. As a pre or post safari stopover, Lusaka offers a gentle introduction to wild Zambia and affords off-the-beaten-track explorers a chance to regroup and replenish.

Lusaka is developing fast and with a population of over 2 million in its greater metro area, it’s not without traffic, noise and dust, so choosing the best place to stay makes a big difference to your Lusaka experience. While the city is tourist-friendly, Lusaka attracts significantly less tourists than some other more traveler-famous African cities, which makes some of its best sites a little harder to find. Our travel guide is designed to point you in the direction of some of the best attractions in and around Lusaka.

A Brief History

Lusaka has been the capital of (what was) Northern Rhodesia since 1935, replacing Livingstone because of its more central position for railway expansion. The independence of Zambia in 1964 saw the first president, Kenneth Kaunda retaining Lusaka as the capital city of the newly independent country. Relics of colonial past are seen throughout the city including Cairo Road, so-called after its connection to the Great North Road and Rhodes’ planned Cape to Cairo connection.

Malls & Markets

Sunday Craft Market is held every Sunday in the Arcades Mall Car Park and is one of the best places to fill your suitcase with African arts, curios and souvenirs. Price ‘haggling’ is part of the process, but you’ll find sellers happy to negotiate.

Arcades Mall Car Park
11 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

East Park Mall has more than 60 shops stocking familiar big brand names from fashion to technology. This is one of the best modern shopping experiences in the city

Thabo Mbeki Road
10 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Arcades Mall is well located in the same shopping district as East Park Mall and has everything from grocery shopping at Spar to movies at Ster Kinekor. Plenty of better known South African brands stocking a range of imported products.

Thabo Mbeki Road
8 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Kabwata Cultural Village was originally conceived in 1974 and is part market, part cultural village. Visitors have the chance to meet village residents, watch dancing displays on some weekends, and see what village life was like under colonial rule. A number of wood carvers and artists live in the village and offer their crafts for sale, allowing you to directly support the community and craftsmen.

Burma Road
4 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Wildlife in and around Lusaka

Lusaka National Park – this park is relatively new and relatively small, but very close to the city and can be a good opportunity to spot African wildlife in their natural habitat. A wild highlight is the resident White Rhino. This is a rare opportunity to see this threatened species up close.

Leopards Hill Road
06h00 – 18h00
30 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Lilayi Elephant Nursery – established by a Zambian NGO aiming to promote community and game ranger conservation and cooperation. The elephant nursery rehabilitates orphan baby elephants during their youngest years before being later released back into the wild. Elephant feeding time is both educational and a very special experience.

Lilayi Road
11h30 – 13h00
35 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway
Free entry on Mondays

Munda Wanga Environmental Park is home to an impressive number of species from lions to pangolins. While it might seem a little unusual to see African wildlife in a zoo-like setting in Africa, the park is involved in important conservational and educational efforts. The botanical gardens aren’t at their most impressive but live up to the Munda Wanga name, meaning ‘my garden’ in the Nyanja language.

Kafue Road
08h00 – 18h00
20 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Chaminuka Game Reserve is located in the heart of Miombo woodlands and savannah and is both a lodge and game reserve that celebrates African design, art and wildlife. Aside from the game drives, the fishing, horse riding and cheetah walks are special highlights.

1 hours’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Kalimba Reptile Park has a large collection of crocodiles, snakes, lizards and other reptiles. The park gives educational talks and the opportunity for up close encounters with some of their scaly residents.

09h00 – 17h00
40 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Historical Landmarks

The Freedom Statue is a commemoration of 10 years of Zambian independence. Erected in 1974 and depicting freedom fighter Zanco Mutembo breaking his chains of captivity, the statue is believed to be a sculptural depiction of an actual event. For many, whether it happened or not, it is a symbol of a nation breaking free from colonial control.

Independence Avenue
4 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Embassy Park Presidential Burial Site is a mausoleum commemorating the lives of three of Zambia’s past presidents. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, Frederick Chiluba and Michael Sata.

Independence Avenue
2 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Zambian Art & Culture

Namwandwe Art & Sculpture Gallery is regarded as one of the nation’s best art galleries. Privately owned by businessman and lover of the arts, John Kapotwe, the gallery is open to the public and features the single best collection of contemporary Zambian art you’re likely to see.

Leopards Hill Road
09h00 – 16h00
20 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Henry Tayali Gallery – Named after one of Zambia’s most prominent artists - an artist world renowned and so talented his first exhibition was at the age of 15. The gallery is also a centre of visual arts with seminars and workshops arranged for local members and educational institutions. Art works are for sale and contemporary and rising stars are featured in changing exhibitions.

Lion Lane Street
08h00 – 17h00 Mondays to Fridays
10h00 – 16h30 Saturdays and Sundays
8 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

Lusaka National Museum gives a historical look at the people, culture and archaeology of Zambia. A gallery, heritage objects, sculptures and models give visitors a taste of Zambian life over the ages.

Independence Avenue
09h00 – 16h30
3 minutes’ drive from Southern Sun Ridgeway

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Lusaka Travel Guide

Lots to Love in Lusaka

A Brief History

Malls & Markets

Wildlife in and around Lusaka

Historical Landmarks

Zambian Art & Culture

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Cities / Regions

Hotels

Rooms & Guests

Rooms

Adults

Children

Destination

Cities / Regions

Hotels

Travel Dates

Rooms & Guests

Rooms

Adults

Children

Promo Codes

Lusaka Travel Guide

Lots to Love in Lusaka

A Brief History

Malls & Markets

Wildlife in and around Lusaka

Historical Landmarks

Zambian Art & Culture

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