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Coordinates: 15°25′S 28°17′E / 15.417°S 28.283°E / -15.417; 28.283

Lusaka
Downtown Lusaka
Location of Lusaka
Coordinates: 15°25′S 28°17′E / 15.417°S 28.283°E / -15.417; 28.283
Country	Zambia
Province	Lusaka
Established	1905
City status	August 25, 1960
Government
- Mayor of Lusaka	Robert Chikwelete
Area
- Total	70 km2 (27 sq mi)
Elevation	1,279 m (4,196 ft)
Population (2007)
- Total	3,100,000
- Density	44,285.7/km2 (114,699.4/sq mi)
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Area code(s)	(1)
Website	[2]

Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. The two main languages spoken in Lusaka are English and Nyanja. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau of the country, at an elevation of 1279 m. It has a population of 3,100,000 (2007 estimate). It is a commercial centre as well as centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia radiate north, south, east and west from it.

Government and administration

Lusaka Central Fire Station

As national capital, Lusaka is the seat of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, epitomised by the presence there of the National Assembly (parliament), State House (office of the President), and the High Court. Parliament is situated at the Parliament complex, which features a 15-storey eye-catching copper-clad building. The city is also capital of Lusaka Province, the smallest and second most populous of the country's nine provinces, and forms an administrative district run by Lusaka City Council. In 2007, the mayor was Steven Chilatu (PF), and the deputy Mayor was Mary Phiri.

List of mayors:^[1]

• F. Payne 1954-55
• H.K.Mitchell 1955-56
• Ralph Rich 1956-57
• H.F. Tunaley 1957-58
• H.K. Mitchell 1958-60
• Jack Fischer 1960-61
• Richard Sampson 1962-63
• S.H. Chileshi 1964-65
• W. Banda 1965-69
• F. Chirwa 1969-1971?
• Dr. Simon C. Mwewaup to 1982

List of Governors (decentralisation - one party participatory era)

• Dr. Simon C. Mwewa1982 to 1983
• Donald C. Sadoki
• Michael Sata
• Rupiah B. Banda
• Bautius Kapulu
• Lt. Muyoba - up to 1991

List of Mayors - Multi-Party Era

• John Chilambwe 1993-1994
• Fisho Mwale1994 - 1996
• Gilbert R. ZimbaLocal Government Administrator - 1996 - 1999
• Patricia Nawa
• Patrick Kangwa
• John Kabungo
• Levy Mkandawire
• Stephen Mposha
• Christine Nakazwe
• Stephen Chilatu
• Robert Chikwelete June 2009-present

History

Supreme Court of Zambia

Lusaka was the site of a village named after its headman Lusakasa, which, according to history, was located at Manda Hill, near where the Zambia's National Assembly building now stands. In the Nyanja language, Manda means graveyard. The area was expanded by European (mainly British) settlers in 1905 with the building of the railway.

In 1935, due to its fairly central location, its situation on the railway and at the crossroads of the Great North Road and Great East Road, it was chosen to replace Livingstone as the capital of the British colony of Northern Rhodesia.

After the federation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia in 1953, it was a centre of the independence movement amongst some of the educated elite that led to the creation of the Republic of Zambia. In 1964, Lusaka became the capital of the newly independent Zambia.

In recent years, Lusaka has become a popular urban settlement for Zambians and tourists alike. Its central nature and fast growing infrastructure sector has increased donor confidence and as such Zambians are seeing signs of development in the form of job creation, housing, etc. Consequently, it is thought that with proper and effective economic reforms, Lusaka as well as Zambia as a whole will develop considerably. Lusaka is home to a diverse community of foreigners, many of whom work in the aid industry as well as diplomats, representatives of religious organizations and some business people.

Education

Lusaka has some of the finest schools in Zambia, including the International School of Lusaka, Rhodes park school, Lusaka International Community School, French International School, Italian international School, Chinese International School, Baobab College and American International School. Rhodes Park School is not an international school, though there is a large presence of Angolans, Nigerians, Congolese, South Africans, and Chinese. President Levy Mwanawasa's and Vice-President George Kunda's children also attend at Rhodes park School.

Culture

Street in Lusaka (Freedom Way)

Independence Stadium

foreground: Great East Road background:Manda Hill Shopping Centre

The city centre includes several blocks west of Cairo Road, around which lie the New City Market and Kamwala Market, a major shopping area, as well as the Zintu Community Museum. Further east lies the government area, including the State House and the various ministries, around the Cathedral Hill and Ridgeway areas. One of the main streets and points of interest upon business is the street of Cairo Road.

According to former mayor Richard Sampson^[1], Cairo Road was named by a local farmer, Albert Dunbar, in about 1923. It is also claimed that it was named by John Floria Couvaras of the Couvaras family.

Some buildings along cairo road are the Findeco House (25 floors), Central Bank Building, Indeco House(19 floors), Zambia National Building Society Headquarters(20 floors), Old Zambia Lotto Head Office, Zambia National Commercial Bank(21 floors), Barclays Bank Zambia Head Office, Stanbic Bank Zambia Headquarters, Investrust Bank (18 floors).

Points of interest

Lusaka National Museum

Attractions include Lusaka National Museum, the Political Museum, the Zintu Community Museum, the Freedom Statue, the Zambian National Assembly, the Agricultural Society Showgrounds (known for their annual agricultural show), the Moore Pottery Factory, the Lusaka Playhouse theatre, a cinema, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in , a cenotaph, a golf club, the Lusaka Central Sports Club, and the zoo and botanical gardens of the Munda Wanga Environmental Park. The city is also home to the University of Zambia. Along Great East Road are the two largest shopping malls in Zambia, Arcades shopping Mall and Manda Hill shopping Mall.

Airport

Lusaka International Airport

The city is home to Lusaka International Airport and lies on the railway line from Livingstone to Kitwe. This airport is the hub of Zambezi Airlines. Zambezi airlines offers flights to Johannesburg, Ndola and Dar-es-salaam. Lusaka International Airport is used as a public and military airport. There is also an old airport nearer to the center of the city that is no longer used by civilians, but occasionally used by the president.

Sister cities

• Dushanbe, Tajikistan, since 1966
• Los Angeles, United States, since 1968
• Cork City, Republic of Ireland, since 1971
• Izhevsk, Russia.^[2]

Suburbs

Suburbs around Lusaka include the uptown Sunningdale, Kabulonga, Woodlands, Jesmondine, Acacia, Northmead, Olympia Park, Roma, Kalundu, Chelston, Avondale, Rhodes Park, Prospect Hill, Longacres, Fairview, Chainama Hills, State Lodge, Makeni, Emmasdale, Leopards Hill, New Kasama, Chalala, Ibex Hill, Mass Media, Libala, Marshlands, Longacres, Manda Hill, Chainda, Chudleigh, Kamwala, Mwembeshi, Barlastone, Foxdale, Madras, NIPA, Mapepe, Lilayi, PHI, Nyumba Yanga, Olympia Extension, Chilenje, Thorn Park, Twinpalm, Villa Elizabetha. Other residential areas are Kabwata (a working class area, home to the Kabwata Cultural Centre), Madras, Ziwa Zakho, Shang'ombo, Kwa Shadreck, Matero, Mtendendere, Chaisa, Chawama, John Laing, Kalingalinga, Kwa George, Chipata Compound, Ng'ombe, Lilanda, Mandevu, Garden Compound, Bauleni, Helen Kaunda, Kaunda Square (stage one and stage two), and Chilanga (Lusaka), Zambia.

Climate

Primarily due to its high altitude, Lusaka features a humid subtropical climate. Its coldest month, July, has a monthly average temperature of 16°C, a couple of degrees shy of what would constitute a tropical climate, specifically a tropical savanna climate. Lusaka features a relatively warm climate, typically with warm (but not hot) summers and very mild “winters”. The city’s warmest month, October, sees monthly averages temperatures at around 25°C. Lusaka features a wet season and a dry season with the dry season predominating the year, lasting from April through October.

See also

Africa portal

References

• FallingRain Map - elevation = 1270m (Red dots are railways)

External links

• Lusaka City Council
• Zambia Tourism page on Lusaka
• Lusaka blog Lusaka 24 hour blog
• Map of Lusaka
• Visit Zambia Campaign
• Lusaka Social Centre
• Lusaka Times
• Zambia Online
• Schools and Colleges of Lusaka
• The Lowdown, Zambia's leading "What's on?" magazine

From Wikitravel

Lusaka, in Lusaka Province, is the capital of Zambia. It is a cosmopolitan city that is home to approximately one in ten Zambians.

Get in

By plane

Lusaka is reasonably well-served by flights from Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lilongwe, Addis Ababa, and London. British Airways is the main intercontinental carrier that flies to Lusaka from Europe, with direct flights from London three times a week. South African Airways fly to Lusaka from Johannesburg with multiple flights per day, and Kenya Airways from Nairobi and Ethiopian Airlines from Addis fly daily.(However, in Johannesburg the airlines have no control over baggage in transit and the airport's baggage concessionnaire is exempt from responsibility by contract, so lost baggage can be an issue.) Various other African airlines serve Lusaka. In December 1994, Zambia Airways went into liquidation, and Zambian Airways (former Mine Air Services) ceased operation in early 2009. Zambezi Airlines is a new Zambian based airline, with regularly scheduled, dependable, inexpensive flights to Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam, with Pro-flight as their domestic partner. Pro-Flight traditionally has specialized in serving tourist game lodges rather than trunk intercity flights, though this seems to be changing with the new agreement with Zambezi Airlines.

International airlines that are represented in Lusaka include:

• Air Angola - PO Box 37731, Lusaka; tel: 01 222401, 221684.
• Air Botswana - c/o Steve Blaus Travel, Nkwazi Road, PO Box 31530, Lusaka; tel: 01 227739/40, 227285. [1]
• Air France - c/o Steve Blaus Travel, Nkwazi Road, PO Box 31530, Lusaka; tel: 01 227739/40, 227285. [2]
• Air India - 1st Floor, Shop 4, Findeco House, Cairo Road, PO Box 34471, Lusaka; tel: 01 223128, 226349. [3]
• Air Malawi - ZNIB House, Dedan Kimathi Road, PO Box 36384, Lusaka; tel: 01 228120. [4]
• Air Tanzania - 5300 Pandit Nehru Road, PO Box 32635, Lusaka; tel: 01 251189, 252499. [5]
• Air Zimbabwe - Kariba House, 32 Chachacha Road, PO Box 35191, Lusaka; tel: 01 225431, 221750. [6]
• British Airways - Southern Sun (ex Holiday Inn), PO Box 32006, Lusaka; tel: 01 254444, 255320, 254482. [7]
• Kenya Airways/KLM - Church Road, PO Box 31856, Lusaka; tel: 01 228908/886. [8]
• South African Airways - Room 242, Hotel InterContinental; tel: 01 254350. Airport tel: 01 271101. Open Mon-Fri 08.30-16.30, Sat 09.00-11.00. [9]
• Zambezi Airlines - [10] Website offers dependable and secure online booking and payment for e-tickets.

For domestic flights, there are various airlines, indluding Airwaves, Avocet Air Charters, Stabo Air Charters, Staravia and Ngwazi Air Charters [11].

Lusaka International Airport (LUN) is well-signposted and is situated 25km from the centre, off the Great East Road.

By road

Since it is the commercial center and governmental seat of Zambia, all the arterial roads lead to Lusaka. Buses run between Livingstone and Kitwe. Operators of this route regularly change, so ask locally before you travel. Currently, Euro-Africa Coaches is the most reliable option.

Buses For buses within Zambia, to and from Lusaka, Mazhandu Family Bus Service [12] is widely considered to be the best, most reliable line, by both locals and expatriates. Buses leave from Inter-City terminal, near downtown Lusaka. Prices may be slightly higher than the competitors, but they always run true to schedule, have a large fleet of buses with extras to be called into service in case of a break down, make stops at well-lit areas with decent bathrooms, tag your bags for you, and have courteous bus attendants. The owner is almost always around, making sure everything goes smoothly.

There are 7 buses a day between Lusaka and Livingstone, including the overnight bus. Several buses are "business class" with wider seats and greater legroom for Kwacha 10,000 more.

By train

Few travellers use Zambia's ordinary trains for transport, but if you have a lot of patience, try them. Lines like Lusaka with Livingstone and the Copperbelt in the north. Express trains to Livingstone leave at 19.30 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and take about 12 hours. Slower trains, which stop even more frequently, leave every morning.

Get around

Minibuses are ubiquitous, cheap, and fast. For under a dollar, you can get almost anywhere in the city. The problem, is that bus routes are not posted, and a novice is likely to get lost. Do not be afraid to ask a conductor where he's headed.

For the uninitiated, then, a taxi might be a better option, at least initially. There are no meters in Zambia's taxis, so prices are somewhat negotiable but always on the high side for Africa. Be sure to set a price before getting in the cab. (Tip: Ask at a hotel lobby how much your trip should cost. If the cab driver states a higher price, mention that you're happy to ride a mini-bus. Watch the price drop. )

Take down a taxi driver's mobile number, most will be happy to do an all day deal, wait for you while you explore, pick you up early or late and take you to and from the airport.

• Soweto Market the front is a modern covered market. Behind it lies a massive market selling everthing from beans to used clothes. In it you can find traditional medicines, bicycle repair men and engine spare parts. (Ensure you hold onto your handbag and any other items)

• The Anglican Cathedral (on the corner of Church Road and Independence Avenue) is an elegant concrete building with tall stained glass windows. Properly titled the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, it opened for worship on 14th September, 1962.

• Henry Tayali Gallery in the city Showgrounds; holds exhibitions of local art. Unique and professional pieces are available and the staff will be happy to pack your work for safe travel.

• Munda Wanga Environmental Park Wildlife Park and Sanctuary, Botanical Gardens, Recreational Village and Environmental Education Centre. Started in 1956 as private garden and has grown to be Zambia's Premier Environmental Education Facility. With over 50,000 visitors a year Munda Wanga reaches out to the future of Zambia to learn about their environment and natural heritage. Recently Phoenix the baby elephant has been released back to the wild, 20 baboons are on their way to a new life in the bush. However, there are still plenty of animals that find their way in to the sanctuary after being found in the ilegal pet-trade. The Botanical Gardens are a place to relax and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind you. The Terrace Bar and Restaurant has nice food and cold drinks available.

• Lilayi Lodge a wildlife ranch. Take a game drive and see animals as close to the wild as they can be in the city. Lilayi lodge has an excellent restaurant and hosts Sunday buffets which can be eaten while lounging in around the pool.

• Explore the city with its diverse suburbs and informal settlements. Take a map and explore the city's markets, its second class shopping area and many other nooks. The only precautions recommended would be to leave your valuables at your hotel and take only the cash needed for the day as would apply in any major city.

• Parray's Game Ranch is located 21 km from the town centre. Available are game drives, swimming and a playground. There you can see Zebra, Kudu and other herbivores

• Chaminuka Lodge Located near the airport, amazing lodge and facilities. The privately owned park is home to a range of antelopes, a family of elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions and hyenas. [13].

• Manda Hill. Lusaka's first official mall, opened in 2000, and the reception was huge. GAME Stores, the South African version of Walmart, is the anchor, and the mall also features some high-end boutiques, a bookshop, a Subway restaurant (but without turkey!?), some memorabilia shops, and some clothing stores.

• Arcades. The capital's second mall, featuring a relatively cheap Spar supermarket, where you can find your Western food goods. There are also cinemas (Ster-Kinokor) with air-con and a lot of space when watching a movie. A ticket is around K10,000. Right next to the cinema there is a bowling alley with a pretty good standard, and they also do disco-bowling in the late evening.

• Kabwata Cultural Village, Burma Road. Shopping with a more "African" feel, with dozens of curio-makers and salesmen. You will quickly learn that "looking is free," but the goods are not. Be prepared to spend a while, and don't be afraid to dicker.

• Dutch Reformed Church Market. Held on the last Saturday of each month and has been going for several years. There you can buy an assortment of curios, books and Art. A special feature is the large number of goods available from other countries such as Congo and Zimbabwe. You can have a light Indian or Chinese meal while children have their faces painted. Look for stand selling products made from recycled glass bottles and handicrafts made by people with disablities.

• Dil offers some of the best Indian food anywhere and is reasonably priced (though not dirt-cheap). It's located in the Ibex Hill area of town, about 15 minutes drive from the city centre, provided there's no traffic. Well worth the drive but a taxi fare each way will cost more than a meal.
• Muskaan Good Indian food, slightly cheaper than Dil. There are two sister restaurants in Kabulonga (Muskaan I and Muskaan II). Muskaan I on Chindo road is slightly more consistent.
• The Intercontinental Hotel does a reasonable hotel-style brunch in Zambia, for about $10.
• The Marlin Restaurant at the Lusaka Club provides quality steaks and Chinese food in a "country club atmosphere" for around $10.
• Debonair's Pizza delivers for about $5.
• Gerritz Local German restaurant.
• Chit Chat Cafe Great outdoor seating and cosy atmosphere, but be prepared to wait - the kitchen can be a bit slow. You must try the Moroccan chicken and Asian chicken salads as well as the wraps.
• LA Fast Foods Near the Intercontinental Hotel. Upstairs is an Indian restaurant that serves authentic dishes. Good but service is slow.
• La Mimosa, Arcades. Sandwiches and possibly Lusaka's best milkshake at 10 pin (K10,000).
• Rhapsody's A cornerstone at Arcades mall, serves a good variety of beef, chicken, pork, pasta and salad dishes. Also a popular night hangout.
• Kilimanjaro Nice cafe at Manda Hill serving yummy sandwiches, crepes, and the best coffee frappucino.
• Portico's Lusaka's newest hot spot serving homemade Italian dishes. Located at Showgrounds by the polo ground. Groovy decor and new, expanded outdoor area.
• Dong Fang Good local Chinese fare in Long Acres, near Ndeke Hotel.
• Diane's Kitchen, Off of Addis Ababa drive. While owned by a Chinese couple, this restaurant serves pretty good Korean dishes. Try the Korean barbecue.
• The Courtyard Hotel at the Corner of Thabo Mbeki & Nangwenya Roads near ZNBC's Mass Media Complex must be the premier vegetarian dining spot in the country. superb mid-priced food ranging across the indian/thai/malay spectrum.
• Taj Pamodzi This upmarket hotel has 2 restaurants for evening meals - one offering buffets that vary according to the day and another a grill bar. Indian ownership reflected in the food served. Check out crocodile kebabs on the grill or some of the excellent vegetarian options. Expect to pay $15+ for a meal.
• Cedars Lebanese Restaurant New place, off church road. Definitely worth a look.

Drink

Lusaka boasts many Western-styled bars (e.g., Brown's and McGinty'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.

• Arcades Mall hosts 5 restaurants/bars. Times Cafe and Rhapsody's are open till late while Ocean Basket, Michelanglo and Arabian Nights serve food and have great ambiance
• Xenon nightclub in Northmead, often many young people here
• Chez Ntemba* has several branches, plays Rumba and African rhythms until the last person leaves
• Majestic Casino has an excellent bar, casino complete with blackjack and roulette tables and slot machines
• Cattleman's Grill at Chrismar hotel hosts live local bands and has a dance floor and restaurant
• Johnny's Chinese is centrally located
• Sam's Sports Bar is on Cairo Road in the town centre
• The Polo Grill has outdoor seating overlooking the Lusaka Polo Club also has a small casino
• Northmead Shopping Centre has an array of clubs and bars including some open 24 hours a day the infamous alpha bar should be tested by all travellers.
• The Cha Bar, 161 Mulobwa Close, Fairview, Lusaka, [14]. 12 - 12. This busy, fun and friendly bar is in Lusaka Backpackers, (until its recent revamp called ChaChaCha Backpackers). Its the most easy going place in the centre of the city, and even has great food. Its used by locals and tourists alike and is the place to be if you want to meet people in a place where you don't need to dress up first. You'll get local businessmen in suits for their after work beer and tourists getting out of the pool. There's even an informal taxi rank outside to get you home when you've finished your evening on the local Mosi beer.  edit

Sleep

Accommodation in Lusaka runs the gamut.

• If you're traveling on a budget try Lusaka Backpackers [15] It is situated off Bwimjimfumo Road, two-thirds of the way down Mulombwa Close on the right-hand side. This place has a good reputation and if you don't fancy the walk all the taxi drivers know where it is. They provide space to pitch a tent ($8), dorm beds ($15), or private rooms ($30). There is great bar on site which locals use as a hang out. They will organise all your excursions and tours round Zambia and to South Africa. This place used to called Chachacha backpackers so you may need both names for your cab driver.

Mid-range

There are a number of mid-range accommodation options, as well.

• The Abundant Life is an impeccably clean hostel run by a local church. No alcohol allowed on the premises. Staff is extremely friendly. They offer en suite rooms and genuine suites, too, for about $20. Keep in mind Abundant Life is also a church, and they offer worship services on-site. Don't be surprised (or afraid) if you wake to the sound of the congregation speaking in tongues!
• Around 10 minutes from Lusaka center there's Makeni Guesthouse [16] which is quite a relaxed guesthouse run by Jane. The rooms are basic but clean. It's got a nice relaxed feel to it and wierdly for this part of the world, has no public bar which is a welcome break if you want somewhere quieter.
• For more of a hotel feel, try The Ndeke Hotel for about $45/night. The rooms have double beds and satellite TV, and the hotel features a nice pool, a good bar, and a clean restaurant.
• Cresta Golfview Hotel is a great place with everything to offer the modest traveler.

Splurge

Expect to spend anywhere from $200-$400 night for rooms in these hotels.

• The Pamodzi Hotel is probably the nicest in Lusaka, having recently undergone a US$ 7 million renovation. Helpful staff. However, the food is generally disappointing.
• The Intercontinental Hotel is a close second. Restaurant service can be slow.
• The Southern Sun (ex. Holiday Inn, ex Ridgeway Hotel) is casual and comfortable, but expensive ($200 USD per night). Best food of the three Splurge hotels but rooms not the greatest and most are close to a main road.

All three of these hotels offer wireless internet, for approximately $12-20 USD per day. Unfortunately, the billing system for each requires you to repeatedly obtain new passwords and user-ids, rather than simply keeping track of your total usage during the stay. It's as if you had to get a new user-id and password every day to use the pool or minibar!

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, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Lagos for example, 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. Also, one should remember that HIV/AIDS is endemic here, and exercise caution when in intimate sexual situations.

• Canada, High Commission of Canada 5199 United Nations Avenue Lusaka, Zambia, ☎ (+260 21) 1 250 833 (lsaka@international.gc.ca, fax: (+260 21) 1 254 176), [17].  edit
• Ireland, [18].  edit
• United States, [19].  edit

Get out

Of course, there are game parks (like South Luanga National Park, or the more unspoilt Lower Zambezi) scattered throughout Zambia, and many Lusakans visit them on the weekends. Heading to Livingstone for a few days is also a popular choice.

• Siavonga is on Lake kariba about two and half hours away from Lusaka

• Protea Lodge Just outside Lusaka this provides both a great place to stay, game drives, a swimming pool and even Lions!

• To have the real "Out of Africa" experience, try the River Safari Company [20] and explore the Zambezi Valley. They offer every variation of safari, from 4x4 game viewing drives in the Lower Zambezi, South Luanga or Kafue National Parks, to canoe or boat safaris with spectacular photo-shoot opportunities on the mighty Zambezi River, to guided walking safaris. Accommodation is provided in their own lodges, or you can have an adventure in the tented camps on the banks of the Zambezi, where you can sip your G&T while watching the sunset paint the Zambezi red. They can also organize all of your Victoria Falls accommodation and activities, such as bungee jumping and white water rafting.

[21]

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

English

Proper noun

Lusaka

1. Capital of Zambia

Translations