Lusaka City

Founding of the city

With a population of about 2.4 million, Lusaka is the biggest city in Zambia. The charming hospitality of her people awaits you. This bustling city has grown from a mere village of chief Lusaka to being the biggest city and capital since 1935.

The British colonialists made it capital of Northern Rhodesia

(now Zambia) in 1935 and the newly independent country declared the town their capital city at independence in 1964.

The seat of government and all government offices are in the city. Most of government offices are based at government house near the kamwala trading area.

If you plan to come in by air, there are about 27 kilometers from the International Airport to the city center. But if you are using the road, you will be on Kafue road if you are coming from the south, Great East road if you coming from the east and Great North road if you are from the north.

Any mode you use, the chances are that you will pass through the country’s busiest street, Cairo road. It stretches from Kabwe round about to the Kafue round about in the south. Geographically, the city is situated at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. Because of its elevation, temperatures are usually from warm to cool. But it gets hot prior to the rain season in October to mid November.

Scheduled flights from here to any part of the country are available. You can fly to the Copperbelt, Mfuwe, Chipata and Livingstone. If you want to travel by road, the inter city bus terminus is where you will find buses going to most destinations in the country and to some neighboring countries.

Where to sleep

If you happen to be in the city center around dusk and you need accommodation, the Lusaka hotel and Protea hotel, both on Cairo road, come in handy.

But if the city center is not ideal for you, the Taj Pamodzi hotel is an alternative. Conveniently located, 22 kilometers from the airport and 5 kilometers from the city center, it offers a comprehensive range of services. The menu includes mouth watering Indian and International cuisines.

Across the road is the recently refurbished Southern Sun Ridgeway hotel, offering en suite guest rooms, with Satellite TV and internet.

Alternatively, you can try the Inter Continental hotel, situated in the Diplomatic district. With a lot of amenities and services, this five star hotel won’t disappoint you. Top class restaurants and bars are at your disposal. All rooms are en suite with satellite TV and access to internet.

Apart from the hotels mentioned above, the place is full of budget hotels spread all over the city. This is supplemented by the ever mushrooming motels, guest houses and lodges. If you want to sample the low side of life, and interact with the local people, try one of these low budget hotels. This is where the local people usually patronize. The five star hotels are beyond the reach of most of the people in the area.

Getting around

Traveling within the city is another challenge. You can use the 12 seater taxis commonly known as mini buses or you can use a cab.

Financial institutions

Most banks and bureau de change are found along Cairo road which passes through the heart of the city.

Places to visit

The city has a few places worth visiting. There is the Lusaka museum,Kabwata Cultural Village where you will find curios, African artifacts and crafts, and the Munda Wanga Botanical gardens.

On the outskirts of Lusaka in Chilanga, you can also enjoy visiting the Munda Wanga Gardens. You will be able to see a variety of animals. It’s also a place where you can relax at a bar or restaurant within the Botanical gardens.

Another place where you can see wild life is at the Lilayi lodge. The lodge has an excellent restaurant and you can eat and dine while lounging at the pool.

20 minutes drive from Lusaka International Airport and 40 minutes from Lusaka central town is the Chaminuka game reserve. You can enjoy wild life at a short distance from the city. Currently, there are more than 72 species available. You can also take a tour of the Chaminuka art gallery.

Most suburbs are found along any of its major roads leading out of the city center. This can be said of Northmead, Roma, Avondale, Olympia, Kabulonga, Thornpark and others. Lusaka’s working class live in areas such as like Kabwata, Kaunda square 1and 2, Chilenje, Matero, Chawama, Mtendere, Garden and Mandevu.

The city has seen tremendous growth in recent years. New shopping malls have sprung up. Among which are the arcades and the manda hill malls.

One of the city’s biggest attractions are its markets, where you will find restaurants , hairdressers, fishmongers, fruit sellers and the popular salaula(second hand clothes).

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