Find places in Zambia

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Namwandwe Gallery (Leopards Hill Road)
  A private collection of Zambian art from the 1960s to today, shown in a family home and garden.
• Presidential Burial Site (Embassy Park)
  The resting place of Zambia's former presidents, including Kenneth Kaunda, with a small museum.

Fun for Everyone

• Freedom Statue (Independence Avenue)
  The symbol of Zambia's independence struggle, a man breaking his chains, near Cabinet Office.

Must-Haves

• Kabwata Cultural Village (Burma Road)
  Craft stalls in old colonial era huts selling carvings, baskets and chitenge cloth, with dance on some weekends.
• East Park Mall (Great East Road)
  A big modern mall with supermarkets, banks, a cinema and restaurants, useful for supplies.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Sunday Arts and Crafts Market (Arcades Shopping Centre)
  A weekly Sunday market of curios, jewellery, fabrics and paintings in the Arcades car park.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Marlin (Longacres Lodge)
  An old Lusaka institution known for its peppered fillet steak and clubby atmosphere.
• Mahak (Thabo Mbeki Road)
  A long running Indian vegetarian restaurant loved by Lusaka families.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sugarbush Farm Café (Leopards Hill Road)
  A farm café in a garden setting outside the city, good for a slow lunch.

Must-Haves

• Taj Pamodzi Hotel bar (Church Road)
  A calm, classic hotel bar for an evening drink in the centre.

Great for Date Night

• Radisson Blu Lusaka bar (Great East Road)
  A comfortable rooftop style lounge for drinks before dinner.

Fun for Everyone

• Polo Grill (Nangwenya Road)
  A large garden bar and grill, busy with music and families at weekends.

Must-Haves

• Lusaka Agricultural and Commercial Show (Showgrounds)
  The capital's big annual show in early August, with livestock, trade stands and fairground fun.

Must-Haves

• Taj Pamodzi (Church Road)
  A central, established hotel close to government offices and the city centre.

Great for Date Night

• Latitude 15 Degrees (Kabulonga)
  A design led boutique hotel with art on every wall and a lovely pool.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lusaka Backpackers (Mulombwa Close)
  A friendly hostel with a pool and a good travellers' noticeboard.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pioneer Camp (Off Great East Road)
  A leafy bush camp on the city's edge, handy for the airport.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Mosi oa Tunya Game Park (Sichango Road)
  A small park beside the river where guided walks track white rhino.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Livingstone Museum (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  Zambia's oldest museum, with David Livingstone's letters, maps and a good history of the region.

Off the Beaten Path

• Railway Museum (Chishimba Falls Road)
  Old steam engines and railway history in a quiet yard.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mukuni Village (Mukuni)
  A Toka Leya village visit with guided walks led by local residents.

Must-Haves

• Mukuni Park Curio Market (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  Carvings, baskets and copper jewellery sold under the trees in town.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Maramba Market (Maramba)
  A lively local market for fruit, fabrics and everyday life.

Fun for Everyone

• Curio market at the Falls (Victoria Falls entrance)
  Stone carvings and souvenirs next to the falls entrance, good for haggling.

Must-Haves

• Café Zambezi (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  A Livingstone favourite for wood fired pizza, Zambian dishes and a buzzing courtyard.

Great for Date Night

• The Royal Livingstone dining terrace (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  Dinner on the lawns by the river with the falls' spray rising in the distance.
• Lookout Café (Batoka Gorge)
  Meals and drinks on a deck hanging over the gorge below the bridge.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Olga's Italian Corner (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  Pizzas and pasta at a community project that trains local young people.

Off the Beaten Path

• The Elephant Café (Upper Zambezi)
  A river lunch that shares an island setting with rescued elephants.

Must-Haves

• Da Canton (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  Coffee, gelato and Italian dishes in the centre of town.

Fun for Everyone

• Jollyboys Backpackers bar (Kanyanta Road)
  A sociable backpacker bar with a pool and plenty of travel tips.

Great for Date Night

• David Livingstone Safari Lodge deck (Riverside Drive)
  A wide riverside deck for sundowners on the Zambezi.

Must-Haves

• The Royal Livingstone by Anantara (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  A grand riverside hotel a short walk from the falls, with zebra on the lawns.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Jollyboys Backpackers (Kanyanta Road)
  A well loved hostel and campsite in town with dorms and private rooms.

Great for Date Night

• Tongabezi Lodge (Upper Zambezi)
  Romantic riverside cottages upstream of the falls, with private island dinners.

Off the Beaten Path

• Thorntree River Lodge (Mosi oa Tunya National Park)
  A lodge inside the national park on the Zambezi's banks.

Fun for Everyone

• Avani Victoria Falls Resort (Mosi oa Tunya Road)
  A family friendly resort with direct walking access to the falls.

Must-Haves

• South Luangwa National Park (Mfuwe)
  Leopards, huge herds of buffalo and Thornicroft's giraffe in one of Africa's great parks.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Mfuwe Lodge (Mfuwe)
  A classic lodge famous for the elephants that walk through its reception in November.

Great for Date Night

• Kafunta River Lodge (Luangwa River)
  Chalets with long views over the floodplain, plus hot springs nearby.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Robin Pope Safaris, Nsefu Camp (Nsefu Sector)
  One of the valley's oldest camps, in a quieter sector of the park.

Must-Haves

• Tribal Textiles (Mfuwe)
  Hand painted textiles made by local artists, with workshop tours.

Fun for Everyone

• Mulberry Mongoose (Mfuwe)
  Jewellery made from snare wire collected by anti poaching patrols.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kawaza Village (Near Mfuwe)
  A community run village visit with meals, dance and an overnight stay option.

Must-Haves

• Lower Zambezi National Park (Zambezi Valley)
  Elephants, buffalo and lions along the river opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools.

Off the Beaten Path

• Chiawa Game Management Area (Chiawa)
  Community land beside the park with river views and good fishing.

Must-Haves

• Canoe safari (Zambezi River)
  Silent paddling along channels with elephants on the banks.

Fun for Everyone

• Tiger fishing (Zambezi River)
  Catch and release fishing for the river's famously fierce tigerfish.

Great for Date Night

• Sunset boat cruise (Zambezi River)
  Drinks on the water as the Zimbabwean escarpment turns pink.

Off the Beaten Path

• Siavonga and Lake Kariba (Siavonga)
  A lakeside town for boat trips and sunsets on Lake Kariba.

Must-Haves

• Chiawa Camp (Lower Zambezi National Park)
  One of the first camps in the park, with excellent guiding.

Great for Date Night

• Sausage Tree Camp (Lower Zambezi National Park)
  Stylish tented suites on the riverbank.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kiambi Safari Lodge (Chiawa)
  A good value lodge with camping, where the Kafue meets the Zambezi.

Off the Beaten Path

• Old Mondoro (Lower Zambezi National Park)
  A small, simple and very wild camp in the east of the park.

Fun for Everyone

• Royal Zambezi Lodge (Chiawa)
  A riverside lodge just outside the park with its own airstrip.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Nanzhila Plains (Southern Kafue)
  Grassland with rare antelope and few other visitors.

Fun for Everyone

• Lake Itezhi Tezhi boat trip (Southern Kafue)
  Sunset boat rides on the lake among dead trees and fishing eagles.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kafue River canoeing (Kafue River)
  Paddling along quiet stretches of the river in search of birds and hippos.

Must-Haves

• Mukambi Safari Lodge (Kafue River)
  A well run lodge on the river close to the main road.

Great for Date Night

• Ila Safari Lodge (Kafue River)
  Tented chalets on the river with good food and boat trips.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mayukuyuku Bush Camp (Kafue River)
  A small, good value camp with tents beside the rapids.

Off the Beaten Path

• Musekese Camp (Northern Kafue)
  A remote, highly personal camp in a lesser visited area.

Fun for Everyone

• KaingU Safari Lodge (Southern Kafue)
  A peaceful riverside lodge with canoeing among islands.