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LUSAKA

Lusaka has become something of a boom town of late. New buildings are going up everywhere and many chain stores and shopping malls are springing up all over.
The road development isn't quite keeping up so peak hour traffic is finally becoming like other cities, but it has an optimistic air of a town on the rise.
For many, this is the perfect example of what economic liberalisation has done for the country. And viewed from the villages, Lusaka is the glittering capital which still persuades rural Zambians to take the bus there in search of jobs and dreams.
Well over 60% of its 2 million inhabitants are unemployed, but there are surprisingly few beggars. Although petty theft occurs, most people try to make an honest living, selling their wares or services, always with a friendly smile.
The markets are a hive of activity, the thousands of stalls are filled and cleared every day. A myriad of motor spares dealers, restaurants, hairdressers, fishmongers, fruitsellers and rows and rows of "salaula" - discarded clothing from the West sold to Africa by the bale.

The capital covers an area of over 70km sqare and is one of the fastest-growing cities in central Africa. It’s population almost trebled in the immediate post-independence era and continues to grow daily. There has been no influx control and the city is bursting at the seams. Grossly inadequate municipal facilities are hard-pressed to cope with the ever-increasing demand.

It is a sprawling, metropolis with many multi-storey buildings, high-walled suburbs and busy shanty towns. Development has brought together people of many nationalities, making it a bustling centre for economic, political and cultural activities.

The city lies at the junction of the main highways to the north, east, south and west at an altitude of 1 300m above sea level. There are air links to most of the major tourist destinations in Zambia from Lusaka International Airport.
For maps of the city, try the Zambian National Tourist Board, the craft shop at the Pamodzi Hotel or the Map Centre, Mulungushi House, opposite the US embassy.
There is a local magazine called the Lusaka Lowdown which is a mine of information on what's happening in town and full of useful adverts for local services and products.
Famous faces from Lusaka include the eminent Dambisa Moyo, who is an international economist and the author of the New York Times Bestsellers Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How there is a Better Way for Africa, and How the West Was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly and the Stark Choices Ahead.”

Climate

The most appealing factor to many who have made Lusaka their home is the superb climate. Warm sunny summers, interspersed with cooling thunderstorms and mild winters with loads of sunshine.
It can get very hot between October and March if there’s no rain. The average rainfall, between November and April, is about 950mm. Summer temperatures range from 20 degrees to 32 degrees C. Winter temperatures from 10 degrees to about 26 degrees. Humidity is usually below 40%.

Restaurants and Nightlife

There are upmarket clubs and restaurants in the suburbs but many roadside shebeens offer a closer experience of how Zambians "get in the groove" and dance the night away to the sounds of rhumba, kwela, hip hob, or R&B
Click here for a full list of restaurants including coffee shops, take aways, night clubs, pubs as well as their phone numbers.

Shopping

Most of the banks and many bureaux de change can be found along Cairo Road.
For groceries and general supplies, there are several shopping malls, two along the Great East Road, two on the Kafue road south of the city and out out towards Leopards hill. There are several suburban shopping centres, not of the mall type, but with a variety of shops that usually supply anything you need, mostly imported from Zimbabwe or South Africa and a little pricey. These are called Kabulonga, Northmead and Woodlands.
If not for shopping, but just for the experience of how the local masses shop, a visit to one of Lusaka’s markets is a must. It’s an interesting experience and well worth a visit, if just for the colourful and lively atmosphere. The Soweto Market is two roads west of Cairo Road, and the other opposite the Tazara building in Independence Ave. A new, smarter, roofed market has just been built along Freedom Way.
Curios and crafts can be found at Kabwata Cultural Village, Sunday craft market at Arcades Shopping centre, Kubu crafts at Manda Hill shopping centre, and Abbabas House off Addis Ababa Drive. Moore Pottery on Kabalenga Road has an excellent range of ceramics, and every last Saturday of the month there is an excellent craft market in Kabulonga suburb at the Dutch Reform Church grounds.
For Gemstones and fine jewellery, try Jagoda at the Holiday Inn or the Intercontinental Hotel.
A word of warning - Lusaka is famous for car thieves, pick-pockets and bag snatchers, but if you have someone who can mind your vehicle and keep a good grip on your bags, it’s quite safe.

Sporting Facilities

There are several sports clubs in Lusaka which offer facilities for golf, tennis, swimming and squash. For golfers, there’s the Lusaka Golf Club, Chilanga Golf Club and Chainama Hills Golf Club. The Lusaka Club offers bowls, tennis and squash. Polo is a popular sport, especially among expatriates, and the polo field at the showgrounds usually has matches on the weekends. Hash House Harriers organise walks and runs on Saturdays at 15h00. Several swimming pools are available. The large Lusaka City Council swimming pool just off Lubu Road is open every day except Mondays from 10h00 to 18h00. One can also use the pools at the Intercontinental and Pamodzi hotels at modest prices.

Convention Centres

Mulungushi Hall: The main hall can accommodate up to 2 000. Four other committee rooms can take from 40 to 200 people. There is a simultaneous translation service and proceedings can be transmitted on closed-circuit television.
The Inter-Continental Hotel, Pamodzi, Tsogo Sun, Lilayi Lodge, Chaminuka Private Game Reserve , Ndeke Hotel and Hillview Hotel also have full conference and banqueting facilities.
Most smaller hotels also have conference facilities.
Dream Valley is in the suburbs and has great pools to swim in a thatched conference venue

Getting There

Lusaka is close to the centre of Zambia between the eastern and western bulges. All major routes to the east, west, north and south flow through the city.
The Great North Road comes down from Tanzania via Kapiri Mposhi, and is about 1 100km from the Tanzanian border.
The Great East Rd from Chipata to Lusaka is 570km.
The road from Livingstone in the south meets up with the "Kafue Road" and is 470km long. From the Chirundu border with Zimbabwe, the route is well paved and 136km long.
The Mongu road coming in from the west via the Kafue National Park is 591km long.
The domestic railway goes to Livingstone, Kapiri Mposhi and the Copperbelt. The Tanzania Zambia Railway - Tazara - comes down as far as Kapiri Mposhi, where the Zambia Railways train links it to Lusaka. Buses arrive from Harare, Lilongwe, Johannesburg, Livingstone and the Copperbelt.
Lusaka International Airport, which is 14km from the city centre, receives most international flights.
Proflight and Airwaves have scheduled flights to Livingstone, Lower Zambezi and Mfuwe.
InterAir Flies into Ndola from Johannesburg and Entebbe from where a connecting flight to Lusaka can be taken.

Getting around

No scheduled bus services - the blue taxis range from 12 seater minibuses to dilapidated cars to good dial up cabs to chauffeur driven vehicles for hire.
See Car Hire Companies