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City guide

Lusaka

Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa.

Type City

Why go

  • Capital and largest city of Zambia.
  • Served by Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN).

History

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 2022, the city's population was approximately 2,204,059. 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, Tonga and Chichewa are the commonly spoken street languages.

Airports

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) 21 km to the centre
Lusaka, 09, ZM — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 13 airlines (Proflight Commuter Services, Air France, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways…) · direct flights to 18 destinations incl. Harare, Lilongwe, Nairobi, Amsterdam, Windhoek… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 13 airlines, 18 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Lusaka City Airport 5.2 km to the centre
Lusaka, 09, ZM — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Chilongolo Airport 15 km to the centre
Chilongolo, 09, ZM
Outdoor
Otago 55 km to the centre
U, ZM
Outdoor
Mazabuka Airport 69 km to the centre
Mazabuka, 07, ZM
Outdoor
Balmoral Airport 17 km to the centre
Balmoral, 09, ZM
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN); 18 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: LUN has direct flights to 18 destinations on 13 airlines (incl. Harare, Lilongwe, Nairobi, Amsterdam, Windhoek…).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Lusaka. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences