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Lusaka
Capital and largest city of Zambia

Lusaka

Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia.

Plan a trip to Lusaka→From Ndola

It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa. Lusaka is in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about 1,279 metres (4,196 ft). As of 2022, the city's population was approximately 2,204,059. Lusaka is the centre of both commerce and government in Zambia and connects to the country's four main highways heading north, south, east, and west. English is the official language of the city administration, while Bemba, Tonga and Chichewa are the commonly spoken street languages.

Get in

Getting to Lusaka

  1. 01
    Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
  2. 02
    Lusaka

    Since it is the commercial centre and governmental seat of Zambia, all the arterial roads lead to Lusaka.

  3. 03
    Inter-City
See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross

    3 Chikwa Road (on the corner of Church Road and Independence Avenue),.

  2. 02
    Henry Tayali Gallery

    In the city showgrounds; holds exhibitions of local art.

  3. 03
    Munda Wanga Environmental Park

    Wildlife Park and Sanctuary, Botanical Gardens, Recreational Village and Environmental Education Centre.

  4. 04
    Lilayi Lodge

    Take a game drive and see animals as close to the wild as they can be in the city.

  5. 05
    Lusaka National Museum

    Independence Ave (next to the new Government Complex),.

  6. 06
    Freedom Statue

    Out in front of the Lusaka National Museum.

Do

Things to do

Explore the city with its diverse suburbs and informal settlements. Take a map and explore the city's markets, its second class shopping area and many other nooks. The only precautions recommended would be to leave your valuables at your hotel and take only the cash needed for the day as would apply in any major city. Parray's Game Ranch is 21 km from the town centre.

Eat

Where to eat

Whilst not a gourmet destination there is some good eating to be had in Lusaka. The gradual shopping mall-isation of the city sadly means that uninspiring South African chain restaurants are multiplying - but there is still a good selection of independent places scattered around. Lusaka seems to specialise in Indian cuisine. Chindo Road is the closest thing that Lusaka has to a restaurant strip.

  1. 01
    Arirang Korean Restaurant

    A place to get Korean BBQ and other Korean classics, go for their beef dishes especially as you get the good quality Zambian beef in Korean style.

  2. 02
    Melsim Lodge Ethiopian Restaurant

    Alick Nkhata Rd (north of the old airport, behind Flamingo Supermarket).

How locals move

Getting around Lusaka the local way

  • Get aroundMinibuses are ubiquitous, cheap, and, if already full, fast.
  • Get aroundMinibuses do run into the evenings, but become decreasingly frequent at the evening wears on.

From Wikivoyage: Lusaka, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.