Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa. Lusaka is in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about 1,279 metres (4,196 ft). As of 2019, the city’s population was about 3.3 million, while the urban population is estimated at 2.5 million in 2018. Lusaka is the centre of both commerce and government in Zambia and connects to the country’s four main highways heading north, south, east, and west. English is the official language of the city administration, while Bemba and Nyanja are the commonly spoken street languages.
Despite being Zambia’s largest city and capital, Lusaka is often an over-looked place for travellers to Africa. However, this sprawling city has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years, with bustling city markets, a number of upmarket restaurants and bars, and good links around the country. So, there are plenty of reasons to spend a few days in this cosmopolitan city rather than just passing through.
The earliest evidence of settlement in the area dates to the 6th century AD, with the first known settlement in the 11th century. It was then home to the Lenje and Soli peoples from the 17th or 18th century. The founding of the modern city occurred in 1905 when it lay in the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia, which was controlled by the British South African Company (BSAC). The BSAC built a railway linking their mines in the Copperbelt to Cape Town and Lusaka was designated as a water stop on that line, named after a local Lenje chief called Lusaka. White Afrikaner farmers then settled in the area and expanded Lusaka into a regional trading centre, taking over its administration. In 1929, five years after taking over control of Northern Rhodesia from the BSAC, the British colonial administration decided to move its capital from Livingstone to a more central location, and Lusaka was chosen. Town planners including Stanley Adshead worked on the project, and the city was built out over the subsequent decades.
Lusaka lost some of its status to Salisbury (now Harare in Zimbabwe) when the latter became the capital of the merged Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1953, but regained it when it was named the capital of newly independent Zambia in 1964. A large-scale building programme in the city followed, including government buildings, the University of Zambia, and a new airport. Wealthy suburbs in Lusaka include Woodlands, Ibex Hill, and Rhodes Park. Large-scale migration of people from other areas of Zambia occurred both before and after independence, and a lack of sufficient formal housing led to the emergence of numerous unplanned shanty towns on the city’s western and southern fringes.
Lusaka’s Cityscape
Lusaka’s central business district (CBD) is located in the area surrounding Cairo Road, to the west of the Zambia Railways line from Livingstone to the Copperbelt. This is the historical site where the original colonial town was founded in the early 20th century. Cairo Road, a north-south multi-lane highway roughly four kilometres (2+1⁄2 mi) in length, is the CBD’s main artery, which features office buildings as well as shops, cafes, and other retail businesses. However, heavy vehicles (trucks) are not allowed on Cairo Road (they are advised to use Lumumba Road to bypass this thoroughfare to the west when travelling north and south). Four of the top five tallest buildings in Zambia are located on Cairo Road, including the tallest, the 90-metre (300 ft) 23-storey Findeco House. To the west of Cairo Road, there are two major markets, the Central Market and New City Market.
East of the CBD lies the government area, which includes the State House and the various ministries, around Cathedral Hill and Ridgeway neighbourhoods. East of there, along Independence Avenue, lies Woodlands, which is the principal residential area for Lusaka’s rich elite, as well as wealthy expatriates. The wealthy suburbs of Ibex Hill and Rhodes Park are also situated in the east of the city, with Makeni to the south. Other suburbs include Kalingalinga, Kamwala, Kabwata, Olympia Park, Roma, Fairview, and Northmead. The majority of Lusaka residents, however, live in the unplanned shanty towns, which are predominantly in the west, south, and north of the city. These include Matero, Chilenje, and Libala. Along Great East Road are three of the largest shopping malls in Zambia: Arcades Shopping Mall (with open-air storefronts), East Park Shopping Mall, and Manda Hill Shopping Mall (enclosed shops), which was revamped and houses many most international stores and restaurants. Overlooking Arcades is the Sun Share Tower on Katima Mulilo Road near the Radisson Blu Hotel. The 58-metre-high Tower was launched in 2017 by Sun Share Ltd.
Monuments and national symbols in Lusaka include the National Museum, government buildings around the CBD, the African Freedom statue, and a memorial to the victims of the 1993 Zambia national football team plane crash, located at the National Heroes Stadium.
Some fun things you can do in Lusaka, Zambia
1. Visit Lusaka National Park
Located just 30 kilometres from the city, Lusaka National Park – Zambia’s newest but smallest national park – is a great destination for a day trip. The location is rather unusual, as it’s located close to the city and in a populated area. However, it’s home to thousands of species such as rare white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, blue wildebeest, and eland, which roam freely throughout the habitat, comprising forests, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Have a guide take you on a lion walk or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, go extreme and do some bungee jumping or abseiling. Being so close to the city, why not take a few hours out to see some of Zambia’s amazing wildlife?
2. Head to the Sunday crafts market
If you’re in town on a weekend, take a trip to the Sunday Crafts Market and explore their selection of hand-made souvenirs. You’ll find a good choice of clothes, jewellery, artworks, and crafts. It’s the perfect place to pick up a few souvenirs and maybe some gifts for your loved ones, too. If you enjoy bargaining, then this is the place to be, as all prices are negotiable. The Sunday Crafts Market is a fun place to visit for a few hours with family and friends.
3. Get an overview of Zambia at Nembo Scenic Park
Spread over an area of 47,000 square metres, Nembo Scenic Park is a scaled-down model of the map of Zambia, so you can get a bird’s eye view of the country without needing to take off in a plane. Located about 11 kilometres from the city centre, it’s the perfect place to take a stroll with the family, with beautiful lakes and waterfalls to gaze at.
4. Explore the Chaminuka Game Reserve
Go on safari and take a culture tour in Chaminuka Game Reserve, which sits on top of a hill overlooking Lake Chitoka. It’s a private reserve that’s home to 72 different species of Zambian mammals and reptiles, along with over 300 species of birds. It’s located just 25 kilometres away from the centre of Lusaka, but it seems like a totally different world. There’s so much to see and do at the reserve, you can spend a whole day exploring. See lions, cheetahs, ostriches, hyenas, giraffes, and elephants whilst exploring the landscape in either a jeep or on foot during a safari tour, or a boat tour on the lake. Cheetahs are the main attraction – the cheetah experience will leave you speechless at the speed of these graceful creatures. Round off a fun day with a delicious organic meal of Zambian delicacies at the onsite restaurant.
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Source: Wikipedia, Travel Source
