Lusaka Province · Zambia
Lusaka travel guide
Lusaka is a city in Lusaka Province, Zambia, home to about 2,468,000 people.
- Best months
- April to August
- Nearest airport
- LUN21 km · Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
- Currency
- ZMWZambian Kwacha
- Time zone
- Africa/Lusaka
- Language
- English
About
About Lusaka
Lusaka ( loo-SAH-kə) is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Lusaka
See
- Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross
- Henry Tayali Gallery
- Munda Wanga Environmental Park
- Lilayi Lodge
- Lusaka National Museum
- Freedom Statue
- Kabwata Cultural Village
- Kalimba Reptile Park
- Lusaka National Park
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Lusaka
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Garden Inn Lusaka Society Business Park | 2018 | 0.2 km |
| The Pamodzi Hotel | 1.9 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Lusaka
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Lusaka are April to August. October is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; January is the wettest, with about 226 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Lusaka: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kariba Airport (KAB, 139 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Minibuses are ubiquitous, cheap, and, if already full, fast. Single rides generally cost (about US$0.50). Most routes head to/from the 4 major bus stations in the city centre (referred to collectively as "town"), although there are a small number of alternative routes or short-cut routes, especially during the rush hours. A rider can get just about anywhere in the city with one connection in town. Going in to town is quite straightforward. Going away from town it's best to ask the driver where he's going.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
LUN · Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
KAB · Kariba Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Lusaka
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.
Drink
Lusaka has many Western-styled bars (e.g., Brown's, mainly used by tourists, and ex-pats). Zambians love to drink; there are, therefore, a number of bars frequented by locals, as well. Unfortunately, these change often.
Stay safe
Lusaka seems to have obtained a bad reputation for being a city plagued by crime, but in reality, this is exaggerated — other African cities such as Nairobi, Johannesburg and Lagos are much more risky. However, travellers should appreciate that walking around the city at night is foolish and that you will become a target for pickpockets if you make your valuables visible. HIV/AIDS is endemic here, so if you have sex while visiting Lusaka, make sure to use a condom and take other appropriate precautions.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Lusaka: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lusaka?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Lusaka are April to August. October is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; January is the wettest, with about 226 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Lusaka?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kariba Airport (KAB, 139 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Lusaka?
Zambian Kwacha (ZMW).
Nearby
Destinations near Lusaka
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.