Zambia: Lusaka, Kabwe, Livingstone

The first town I'd recommend visiting in Zambia is not Livingstone, but Lusaka — significantly smaller than Nairobi, and visibly larger than Gaborone. Lusaka is incredibly underrated, and happens to be one of the locations in Africa where I've spent a lot of time. It's largely filled with malls, gated neighbourhoods, charming street markets, vibrant commercial centres, and connecting roads. Prepare yourself for a largely cash-reliant city — you'll currently find low card and mobile money usage. Lusaka is also more cosmopolitan than you might expect — this is simpler noticed at events and malls. The popular languages in Lusaka are English and Nyanja, and if you've aware of Luganda, you might notice similar sounds between the latter and Nyanja.

In large parts of Southern Africa, cities are car-centric, with Boda Boda usage being low to none, and therefore while touring Lusaka, you'll have to rely a lot on walking, the shuttle (taxi/matatu), hire or buy a car/motorcycle/bicycle, or hail a car on Yango—a cab-hailing app. To attain a glimpse of the urban planning approach being used here, walk the few walkable parts of the city and use whatever other mode you've chosen for the tough-to-walk parts. Let your walks take you from malls, to gated-neighbourhoods, to slums, to markets, to vibrant commercial centres. While walking Lusaka, keep an eye out for the street foods, especially the smoked sausages — which take on different forms — and the tasty, deep-fried, doughy pastries.

Visit Kabwe — a small charming town up North, and then visit Livingstone — a slightly larger town in the South. In both towns, wander away from the main streets and visit the various settlements, communities, and markets. The usual mistake with Zambia is running to Victoria Falls in Livingstone, then to Avani hotel, then out. Victoria Falls is worth a visit, but it shouldn't be the key aim for your visit to Zambia or Livingstone. Walks through the various communities and markets are far more rewarding, and I'd recommend prioritisng them, then later visiting the sublime Victoria Falls.

Monarch — A malt whisky made in Zambia, obtainable for cheap, at the Shoprite at East Park Mall in Lusaka. This is remarkable neat, and much nicer when cocktailed. It remains my favorite accompaniment for a Brai when in Lusaka.

Mosi-O-Tunya Wine — bottled in Zambia, with a lovely Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both red and white are obtainable for cheap (roughly 140 Zambia Kwacha) at the Shoprite at East Park Mall in Lusaka.

Wild Hog Beer, Rebel Beer — craft beers made in Zambia, with options including sorghum and cassava. Obtainable in the Shoprite at East Park Mall in Lusaka.

The Olympia Market in Lusaka offers splendid food, at low prices, with offers such as goat stew, ugali (nshima), beef stew, chicken. The nshima and goat stew at this place are remarkable, with potions usually large.

At one of the ends of Pendela Road, Lusaka, just off the main road, there is a center that offers street food, with minimal outdoor seating. Take a look around, and take a pick of your preferred items. The one place I'd recommend is the one with shawarma offerings, chips, chicken, and samosas.

Kyami Gin — a lovely gin made in Zambia, refreshing when neat and cold, and remarkable when cocktailed.

For a blended whisky, there is a wonderful one called Falls. It's remarkable both neat and cocktailed. You're able to get it both in Lusaka, and in Livingstone — along the main street, from one of the shops opposite Shoprite.

Food Palace, situated near the Shoprite in Livingstone, offers remarkable nshima, beef, beans, and cabbage. This is the nicest meal I've had in Zambia, and I'd highly recommend it.

Take walks along the main roads in the morning hours, within Lusaka, for fresh, soft, tasty doughy pastries, often sold for cheap. The sugar quantities are usually low making for an un-overwhelming snack. You'll usually be presented with the option of self service with a metallic rod.

In the evening hours before it's too late, walk the streets of Lusaka to locate the cheap street offerings of huge, medium, and small craft sausages. Simply ensure you're offered fresh ones, and ask for a serving of chilli. The chilli might as well be presented for self service. Visit more than one stall to view the range of creativity in this field.

In Kabwe, many kilometres Northward of Lusaka, there is a place that serves splendid smoked sausages — in a street-foody way. Locate the smoked ham and chicken, and thank me later.

At any point during your stay in Zambia, if you're looking for splendid ice cream, Steers has a remarkable, low-priced option.

Ensure to locate a rolex stand. Within Lusaka, there are some stands located in the Olympia neighbourhood, others in the Roma neighbourhood. A couple of places in Lusaka prepare the rolex with mild variations from how it is prepared in Uganda. I'll leave no pictures for this, but expect to be met with a remarkable twist to the rolex.

The transportation in Lusaka is a bit complicated. A couple of years ago, Lusaka outlawed Boda Bodas under the motivation to reduce accidents, and therefore expect to find low to no usage of Boda Bodas, and expect some of your options for getting around within the city to be walking, using a shuttle/matatu/taxi, using a cab-hailing service like Yango, and buying or renting a bicycle/motorcycle/car.

The shuttles are usually usable at a small fee, but due to the absence of the Boda Boda, get ready for distant shuttle drop-offs followed by plenty of walking or reliance on other means to get to your actual destination.

The Yango car-hailing platform is occasionally efficient. It however comes in at a steep price, doesn't have nationwide coverage, and therefore you shouldn't expect to find it in Kabwe and Livingstone.

In Lusaka, Livingstone, and Kabwe, there is the option of informally sharing a passenger car with other passengers at a fraction of the would-have-been total sum. This is also a really convenient way to get around, and it helps lower the sums one would have spent on car-hailing applications. It's also a really cheap and efficient way to tour the city/town — if you simply request the driver to take you along on his journey, wherever he goes, while picking and dropping clients.

Public transport inter-city options are usually the buses and shared cars.

Renting or buying a car/bicycle/motorcycle is a splendid option — especially the car option, since there is little to no provision made for the cyclist on many of the roads in Lusaka, Livingstone, and Kabwe.

I'd recommend walking the walkable parts as the main mode of touring Lusaka.

With Lusaka, for a bar playing some nice danceable music, I'd recommend Cubana. Located at/or near Arcades Mall. The sound system is often splendid, and the music selection usually remarkable.

Within Lusaka, if you dig deep enough, you'll locate Lusaka Music Society, along with chamber music and orchestral music.

There's not so many options I'd recommend in this section. But for a hotely option with remarkable views of Lusaka, I'd recommend Sorovar. There's plenty of remarkable Airbnbs in the Olympia (Lusaka) neighbourhood. For a hostely option in Lusaka, I'd recommend Panyumba Backpackers. There's really no accommodation I'd recommend in Livingstone or Kabwe, but briefly visiting Avani Hotel near the Victoria Falls is a splendid choice if you care about having impalas, zebras, and giraffes a few feet away from you or within touchable distance.

You have to try out the tasty masuku fruits. Get them fresh along your road trips or within your city of choice. Endeavour to also get the fresh mushrooms as well. You might or might not be as daring as to partake in the varieties of roast caterpillars on offer.