Zambia · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Zambia
These are the places worth your time in Zambia, from Lusaka's markets and galleries to the edge of Victoria Falls, the leopard country of South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi's river camps and the wild plains of Kafue. Classics sit beside quiet corners few travellers see, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Lusaka
Arts and Culture
- Lusaka National Museum (Independence Avenue)
Four floors on Zambian history, ethnography and contemporary art, a good first stop in the capital. - Henry Tayali Visual Arts Centre (Showgrounds)
A long running artists' cooperative where you can meet painters and buy work straight from the studio. - Namwandwe Gallery (Leopards Hill Road)
A private collection of Zambian art from the 1960s to today, shown in a family home and garden. - Freedom Statue (Independence Avenue)
The symbol of Zambia's independence struggle, a man breaking his chains, near Cabinet Office. - Presidential Burial Site (Embassy Park)
The resting place of Zambia's former presidents, including Kenneth Kaunda, with a small museum. - Lusaka Playhouse (Church Road)
The city's amateur theatre since the 1950s, with plays, comedy and concerts by local groups.
Shopping and Markets
- Kabwata Cultural Village (Burma Road)
Craft stalls in old colonial era huts selling carvings, baskets and chitenge cloth, with dance on some weekends. - Soweto Market (City Market area)
The city's biggest and busiest market, for anyone who wants to see everyday Lusaka at full volume. - City Market (Lumumba Road)
Fresh produce, kapenta, chitenge fabric and tailors in one sprawling covered market. - Sunday Arts and Crafts Market (Arcades Shopping Centre)
A weekly Sunday market of curios, jewellery, fabrics and paintings in the Arcades car park. - East Park Mall (Great East Road)
A big modern mall with supermarkets, banks, a cinema and restaurants, useful for supplies. - Manda Hill Shopping Centre (Great East Road)
One of Lusaka's main malls, handy for SIM cards, cash and a cinema afternoon.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lusaka National Park (Off Kafue Road)
A small park close to the city with white rhino, giraffe and zebra, easy for a half day. - Munda Wanga Environmental Park (Chilanga)
A botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary south of the city, popular with families. - Chaminuka Nature Reserve (Near Chisamba)
A lakeside reserve with walking, game drives and a large private art collection. - Lilayi Elephant Nursery (Lilayi)
Game Rangers International's orphan elephant nursery, with a public viewing at feeding time.
Restaurants
- Marlin (Longacres Lodge)
An old Lusaka institution known for its peppered fillet steak and clubby atmosphere. - Mugg and Bean (Manda Hill)
Big breakfasts and coffee in a reliable chain spot inside the mall. - Nshima stalls at Soweto Market (Soweto Market)
Plates of nshima with village chicken, beans or kapenta at the market's cooking stalls. - Mahak (Thabo Mbeki Road)
A long running Indian vegetarian restaurant loved by Lusaka families. - Sugarbush Farm Café (Leopards Hill Road)
A farm café in a garden setting outside the city, good for a slow lunch. - Debonairs and Hungry Lion food courts (Cairo Road)
Fast, filling Zambian chain food where locals grab lunch in the city centre. - Latitude 15 Restaurant (Leopards Lane, Kabulonga)
A stylish restaurant in a design hotel, good for a special dinner.
Bars and Nightlife
- Taj Pamodzi Hotel bar (Church Road)
A calm, classic hotel bar for an evening drink in the centre. - Radisson Blu Lusaka bar (Great East Road)
A comfortable rooftop style lounge for drinks before dinner. - Polo Grill (Nangwenya Road)
A large garden bar and grill, busy with music and families at weekends.
Events
- Lusaka Agricultural and Commercial Show (Showgrounds)
The capital's big annual show in early August, with livestock, trade stands and fairground fun.
Stays
- Taj Pamodzi (Church Road)
A central, established hotel close to government offices and the city centre. - Latitude 15 Degrees (Kabulonga)
A design led boutique hotel with art on every wall and a lovely pool. - Lusaka Backpackers (Mulombwa Close)
A friendly hostel with a pool and a good travellers' noticeboard. - Pioneer Camp (Off Great East Road)
A leafy bush camp on the city's edge, handy for the airport.
Places to Visit in Livingstone
Nature and Outdoors
- Victoria Falls (Mosi oa Tunya) (Mosi oa Tunya National Park)
The Zambian side's paths, Knife Edge Bridge and spray soaked viewpoints face the main falls. - Mosi oa Tunya Game Park (Sichango Road)
A small park beside the river where guided walks track white rhino.
Things to Do
- Devil's Pool (Livingstone Island)
A natural rock pool at the lip of the falls, usually open in the low water months with an island tour. - Livingstone Island tour (Victoria Falls)
A boat trip to the island where David Livingstone first saw the falls, with breakfast or lunch on the edge. - Sunset cruise on the Zambezi (Upper Zambezi)
Hippos, elephants and a golden sky on the river above the falls. - White water rafting below the falls (Batoka Gorge)
Some of the world's most famous rapids, best in the low water months. - Victoria Falls Bridge bungee and bridge tour (Victoria Falls Bridge)
A bungee jump or a historic walking tour under the 1905 bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe. - Flight of the Angels helicopter or microlight (Baobab Ridge)
A short flight over the falls that shows the whole gorge system. - Boiling Pot hike (Victoria Falls)
A steep path down to the whirlpool at the bottom of the first gorge. - Canoeing the Upper Zambezi (Upper Zambezi)
A gentle guided canoe trip among islands above the falls. - Lunar rainbow viewing (Mosi oa Tunya National Park)
Night visits around the full moon when the spray makes a moonbow, in high water months.
Arts and Culture
- Livingstone Museum (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
Zambia's oldest museum, with David Livingstone's letters, maps and a good history of the region. - Railway Museum (Chishimba Falls Road)
Old steam engines and railway history in a quiet yard. - Mukuni Village (Mukuni)
A Toka Leya village visit with guided walks led by local residents.
Shopping and Markets
- Mukuni Park Curio Market (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
Carvings, baskets and copper jewellery sold under the trees in town. - Maramba Market (Maramba)
A lively local market for fruit, fabrics and everyday life. - Curio market at the Falls (Victoria Falls entrance)
Stone carvings and souvenirs next to the falls entrance, good for haggling.
Restaurants
- Café Zambezi (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
A Livingstone favourite for wood fired pizza, Zambian dishes and a buzzing courtyard. - The Royal Livingstone dining terrace (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
Dinner on the lawns by the river with the falls' spray rising in the distance. - Olga's Italian Corner (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
Pizzas and pasta at a community project that trains local young people. - Lookout Café (Batoka Gorge)
Meals and drinks on a deck hanging over the gorge below the bridge. - The Elephant Café (Upper Zambezi)
A river lunch that shares an island setting with rescued elephants. - Golden Leaf (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
A long running Indian restaurant popular with locals and travellers.
Cafés
- Da Canton (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
Coffee, gelato and Italian dishes in the centre of town.
Bars and Nightlife
- Jollyboys Backpackers bar (Kanyanta Road)
A sociable backpacker bar with a pool and plenty of travel tips. - David Livingstone Safari Lodge deck (Riverside Drive)
A wide riverside deck for sundowners on the Zambezi.
Stays
- The Royal Livingstone by Anantara (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
A grand riverside hotel a short walk from the falls, with zebra on the lawns. - Jollyboys Backpackers (Kanyanta Road)
A well loved hostel and campsite in town with dorms and private rooms. - Tongabezi Lodge (Upper Zambezi)
Romantic riverside cottages upstream of the falls, with private island dinners. - Thorntree River Lodge (Mosi oa Tunya National Park)
A lodge inside the national park on the Zambezi's banks. - Avani Victoria Falls Resort (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
A family friendly resort with direct walking access to the falls. - Maramba River Lodge (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
Chalets and camping by the Maramba River, a short ride from the falls.
Places to Visit in Mongu
Events
- Kuomboka Ceremony (Mongu, Western Province)
The Lozi king's spectacular boat journey from the floodplain to higher ground, usually around March or April.
Places to Visit in Monze
Events
- Lwiindi Gonde Ceremony (Monze, Southern Province)
A Tonga rain and thanksgiving ceremony, usually in July, with music and dance.
Places to Visit in South Luangwa
Nature and Outdoors
- South Luangwa National Park (Mfuwe)
Leopards, huge herds of buffalo and Thornicroft's giraffe in one of Africa's great parks. - North Luangwa National Park (Luangwa Valley)
A remote wilderness with very few camps and the chance of black rhino. - Nsefu Sector (South Luangwa)
A quieter corner of the park with salt pans and large herds.
Things to Do
- Walking safari (Luangwa Valley)
The park where walking safaris began, led by a guide and an armed scout. - Night drive (Mfuwe)
Spotlit drives that are one of the best chances anywhere to see leopard.
Stays
- Mfuwe Lodge (Mfuwe)
A classic lodge famous for the elephants that walk through its reception in November. - Kafunta River Lodge (Luangwa River)
Chalets with long views over the floodplain, plus hot springs nearby. - Croc Valley Camp (Mfuwe)
A good value riverbank camp with campsites, tents and chalets near the park gate. - Marula Lodge (Mfuwe)
Budget friendly rooms and camping outside the park, with drives inside. - Robin Pope Safaris, Nsefu Camp (Nsefu Sector)
One of the valley's oldest camps, in a quieter sector of the park. - Time + Tide Chinzombo (Luangwa River)
Elegant villas on the river opposite the park. - Bushcamp Company camps (South Luangwa)
Small seasonal bush camps deep in the park, linked by walking trails.
Shopping and Markets
- Tribal Textiles (Mfuwe)
Hand painted textiles made by local artists, with workshop tours. - Mulberry Mongoose (Mfuwe)
Jewellery made from snare wire collected by anti poaching patrols.
Arts and Culture
- Kawaza Village (Near Mfuwe)
A community run village visit with meals, dance and an overnight stay option.
Places to Visit in Katete
Events
- Kulamba Ceremony (Katete, Eastern Province)
The Chewa people's colourful annual thanksgiving ceremony, usually in August.
Places to Visit in Chipata
Events
- Ncwala Ceremony (Chipata, Eastern Province)
The Ngoni harvest ceremony in February, with warrior dances.
Places to Visit in Lower Zambezi
Nature and Outdoors
- Lower Zambezi National Park (Zambezi Valley)
Elephants, buffalo and lions along the river opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools. - Chiawa Game Management Area (Chiawa)
Community land beside the park with river views and good fishing.
Things to Do
- Canoe safari (Zambezi River)
Silent paddling along channels with elephants on the banks. - Tiger fishing (Zambezi River)
Catch and release fishing for the river's famously fierce tigerfish. - Sunset boat cruise (Zambezi River)
Drinks on the water as the Zimbabwean escarpment turns pink. - Siavonga and Lake Kariba (Siavonga)
A lakeside town for boat trips and sunsets on Lake Kariba.
Stays
- Chiawa Camp (Lower Zambezi National Park)
One of the first camps in the park, with excellent guiding. - Sausage Tree Camp (Lower Zambezi National Park)
Stylish tented suites on the riverbank. - Kiambi Safari Lodge (Chiawa)
A good value lodge with camping, where the Kafue meets the Zambezi. - Old Mondoro (Lower Zambezi National Park)
A small, simple and very wild camp in the east of the park. - Royal Zambezi Lodge (Chiawa)
A riverside lodge just outside the park with its own airstrip. - Mvuu Lodge (Chiawa)
Tents and campsites in a leafy riverside setting outside the park.
Places to Visit in Kafue
Nature and Outdoors
- Kafue National Park (Central Zambia)
Zambia's largest park, with leopards, lions and rare antelope. - Busanga Plains (Northern Kafue)
Wide floodplains famous for lions, red lechwe and puku, best late in the dry season. - Nanzhila Plains (Southern Kafue)
Grassland with rare antelope and few other visitors.
Things to Do
- Lake Itezhi Tezhi boat trip (Southern Kafue)
Sunset boat rides on the lake among dead trees and fishing eagles. - Kafue River canoeing (Kafue River)
Paddling along quiet stretches of the river in search of birds and hippos.
Stays
- Mukambi Safari Lodge (Kafue River)
A well run lodge on the river close to the main road. - Ila Safari Lodge (Kafue River)
Tented chalets on the river with good food and boat trips. - Mayukuyuku Bush Camp (Kafue River)
A small, good value camp with tents beside the rapids. - Musekese Camp (Northern Kafue)
A remote, highly personal camp in a lesser visited area. - KaingU Safari Lodge (Southern Kafue)
A peaceful riverside lodge with canoeing among islands.
Places to Visit in Kasanka National Park
Nature and Outdoors
- Kasanka bat migration (Kasanka National Park)
Millions of straw coloured fruit bats arrive between October and December, one of nature's great spectacles. - Bangweulu Wetlands (Northern Zambia)
The best place in Africa to see the shoebill, with black lechwe in vast herds.
Places to Visit in Ndola
Arts and Culture
- Copperbelt Museum (Ndola)
The history of copper mining and the region's people.
Nature and Outdoors
- Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial (Ndola)
The site of the 1961 plane crash that killed the UN Secretary General, now a memorial.
Places to Visit in Shiwa Ng'andu
Nature and Outdoors
- Kapishya Hot Springs and Shiwa Ng'andu (Muchinga Province)
A grand English style manor house and nearby hot springs in the northern highlands.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Zambia National Visual Arts Council (Showgrounds, Lusaka)
A quiet space showing exhibitions by emerging Zambian artists. - Jackal and Hide (Leopards Hill area, Lusaka)
A Zambian leather workshop making bags and accessories from local hides. - Bongwe Barn (Leopards Hill Road, Lusaka)
A garden shop and café selling Zambian made homeware, food and gifts. - Kalimba Reptile Park (Ngwerere Road, Lusaka)
Crocodiles, snakes and tortoises plus a fish lunch by the ponds, north of the city. - Kalimba Farm (Ngwerere, Lusaka)
A relaxed family day out with fishing ponds, picnic spots and a play area. - Mint Lounge (Twin Palm area, Lusaka)
A smart garden restaurant for brunch or a relaxed dinner in leafy surroundings. - The Deli (Kabulonga, Lusaka)
A popular neighbourhood deli and café for lunches and fresh baking. - Zambean Coffee (Kabulonga, Lusaka)
Zambian grown coffee roasted locally and served in a relaxed café. - Kubu Café (Mosi oa Tunya Road, Livingstone)
Fresh, light meals in a bright café near the town centre. - Fez Bar (Mosi oa Tunya Road, Livingstone)
A friendly bar and café on the main road, good for meeting other travellers. - Project Luangwa (Mfuwe, South Luangwa)
A community education project you can learn about while in the valley.