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Lusaka is the capital of Zambia and it is a rapidly developing city, with Cairo Road being the central boulevard. The name comes from Cecil Rhodes’ plan to connect the British colonies in Africa with the road and rail from Cape Town to Cairo, and this stretch of road in Lusaka was part of this planned route.
Along Cairo Road you will see high-rise buildings, office towers, institutional edifices, hotels and shops. Lusaka is also home to several beautiful churches with the Anglican Cathedral at the forefront. It is beautifully located in a green oasis, and the concrete structure with its interior color scheme is worth a visit; like many of the colonial-era buildings that are within walking distance from here.
The beautiful old National Assembly stands along Independence Avenue, where you can see the memorial garden of Zambia’s presidents as well. A little closer to Cairo Road, along the boulevard, you can benefit from visiting the country’s national museum, which provides a fine introduction to many aspects of Zambia’s history and culture.
Zambia is also rich in fascinating wildlife, which for many is the reason for a trip to this part of Africa. The country has impressive national parks, but you can also enjoy nature on a safari tour close to Lusaka or by staying at one of the lodges located in the vicinity of the capital.
Cairo Road is the name of Lusaka’s main street, which is the center of the city’s commercial and business life. The street’s name comes from the tycoon and politician Cecil Rhodes’ dream and plans for the construction of a road through British colonies from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt.
Rhodes’ road was never realized, although it exists in large stretches. From the south, the South African N1 starts from Cape Town and cuts through the country towards the northeast and Zimbabwe, where the road passes through Harare on the way north and Lusaka.
In Lusaka, the Cairo Road forms a 1.8 kilometer stretch of road between Cape Town and Cairo, and from the Zambian capital, the Great North Road runs to Tanzania. In Tanzania, the actual route is lost to several possible alternatives, but in the 1930s a place in the city of Arusha was marked as the midpoint on the way to Cairo or Cape Town. The road continues towards Nairobi in Kenya, and a short distance north of the Kenyan capital the asphalt ends, which is first found in Dongola in Sudan, where the road continues via ferry from Wadi Halfa to Aswan and the last stretch towards Cairo.
There are many trees on Cairo Road today, and around the wide street you will find shops, supermarkets, office buildings, eateries and street vendors. It is therefore a great place to experience the big city atmosphere and at the same time do shopping. Among the striking buildings is the 25-storey Findeco House skyscraper. It stands at the intersection of Cairo Road and Independence Avenue.
Lusaka City Market is one of Lusaka’s slightly chaotic, but at the same time atmospheric and charming markets, where countless traders offer clothes, things and food from stall to stall. The market is a bit undefined, as the surrounding streets also contain a multitude of small shops, so it’s just a matter of exploring.
The National Museum in Lusaka is the place to visit if you are interested in an overview of different parts of Zambia’s and Lusaka’s history. Here are various collections and exhibitions; among other things of Zambian painting, archaeological finds and various anthropological and cultural historical themes such as witch art. The museum was founded in 1996, and in addition to being a well-visited place, it functions as a research institution.
The Supreme Court is Zambia’s highest court and is housed in one of Lusaka’s beautiful old colonial buildings. The building was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth on 11 July 1957 and has since then stood as one of several contemporary institutional buildings in the area.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is a church building that has the status of an Anglican cathedral in Lusaka. The church is the seat of the Archbishop of Lusaka. In addition to being religiously significant, the cathedral is one of the well-known buildings in Zambia’s capital. The architecture is modern and the church is beautifully situated in a green area.
The foundation stone for the cathedral was laid in 1957, and in 1962 the church was put into use. However, the official inauguration did not take place until 1970, when the church was completely completed.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is located in a large green area, which is a lovely oasis for, among other things, many of the school children who use the church. When you enter the building, you are greeted by a very beautiful room, which under the concrete construction is quite bright and spacious with colored window glass as one of the nice effects.
From January 1960 to December 1962, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda in the house Chilenje House No. 394. From here he led the struggle for Zambian independence, which became a reality on October 24, 1964. Kenneth Kaunda became the first president of the new republic.
In addition to the house with number 394, the neighboring houses with numbers 393 and 395 are also protected, and they form part of the monument to the independence of the country that Kaunda and his house stand for.
In number 394, the interior has been returned to the original from 1962 as far as possible. This applies, for example, to the colors and many of the Kaunda family’s furniture, which have been placed here in their 1962 positions.
In number 395, you can see an interesting exhibition about Lusaka, the city’s development and about the political struggle on the way to freedom. Number 393 is the residence of the site supervisor.
The monument was opened on 23 October 1968 by President Kenneth Kaunda, who served as the country’s head of state from independence until 2 November 1991.
Zambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is housed in one of Lusaka’s historic buildings from the country’s British colonial era; namely the former Charter House. It was built by the British South African Company, who were responsible for the administration of Northern Rhodesia until 1924, when the country was given the status of a British protectorate. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Charter House is today behind a large wall and there is no access to the building.
The railway station in Lusaka is the starting point for railway lines to the south and north of Zambia, and even if you are not going by train, the railway station is an interesting place to experience life around the traffic hub.
The railway came to Zambia in 1905, when the bridge from what is now Zimbabwe was completed over the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls. The line initially led to Livingstone, but over the years it came to cross the country and cross the border into Tanzania as part of Cecil Rhodes’ dream of a line from Cape Town through British colonies to Cairo.
Today, you can see a lot of freight traffic on the relatively manageable track body, and you can also try an exciting journey with the Zambezi Express to Livingstone, for example. Immediately to the east of the station building, you can also see an impressive and now decommissioned steam locomotive.
The Old National Assembly Building is one of the larger buildings constructed during Zambia’s time as a British protectorate. It was John Hoogterp who designed the assembly building and it was built in 1932 with the foundation stone laid by Prince George.
Before Zambia’s independence, the building was the seat of the protectorate’s legislative assembly. It was the so-called legco, and therefore you can sometimes hear the place referred to by that name.
Two perpendicular side buildings have been erected to the original columned building, which today houses the Ministry of Defense of Zambia. The northern side building houses the vice president’s administration, while the southern one is set up as the country’s Ministry of the Interior.
The Memorial Garden is a fine facility located in the green area designated as Ambassadeparken/Embassy Park. The park’s name comes from the presence of the many embassies that surround the park.
The Memorial Garden itself is the burial place of presidents. Zambia’s third president, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, who died in office on 19 August 2006, is thus buried centrally in the axis opposite the Cenotaph and the country’s Ministry of Defence. His tombstone was designed as a chair to symbolize that he died in office.
Frederick Chiluba is buried a little south of Mwanawasa’s grave. He was Zambia’s second president and his tombstone was designed with an eagle on top to symbolize that he introduced multi-party rule and freedom of expression.
Kabwata Cultural Village is a particularly interesting collection of creative artisans from Zambia’s various tribes and regions.
The village was established in 1974, where people from all over the country were invited to come and become part of the community of people who could all spearhead the spread of the traditional art forms and craft products.
You can see an exciting range of products such as batik, textiles, carved animals, spears and musical instruments. The place itself is worth seeing, as the village was established with the construction of traditional huts.
Protea Safari Lodge is a hotel lodge located in a fenced area north of Lusaka. The lodge itself and its surrounding grounds are a lovely place to relax after a short trip from Lusaka. It is particularly interesting that the place organizes driving trips in the area, where you can see animals such as zebras and various antelopes. Protea Safari Lodge also has lions living in enclosures.
A trip to the lodge is not like a safari trip in one of Zambia’s national parks, but the scenery here is beautiful and a trip here is an easy and quick way to try a safari-like trip.
Munda Wanga is a park where various animals are rehabilitated and released back into the wild after care. The park also functions as both a botanical and zoological garden for Lusaka, as there is also an animal park with, for example, cheetahs, lions, baboons, wild dogs, jackals and warthogs.
There are also over 1,000 plants represented, and you can see both local and exotic growths. On a walking tour around you can thus experience different parts of the world.
Kalimba Reptile Park is the place if you want to experience crocodiles, turtles, snakes and other African reptiles. The park also functions as a crocodile park, and there are also various recreational activities that have nothing to do with the reptiles.
Chaminuka Lodge is a lodge in Zambia’s first private game reserve. It was established in 1979 and offers a wide range of Zambia’s well-known animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes and many more.
The lodge is within driving distance of central Lusaka and is an excellent place to experience the country’s rich fauna if there is no time for a visit to a national park.
Livingstone is a town in southern Zambia that was the capital of Northern Rhodesia until 1935. The town is a historic British colonial town, which was named after the Scotsman David Livingstone, who was the first European to explore the area. It happened in 1855, when the subiya-kololo chief Sekeletu showed the Scot the Zambezi River and the Victoria Falls.
There are quite a few sights in Livingstone today, and many tourists come to the town, who naturally want to experience the Victoria Falls. The falls are easily accessible and they are located on the Zambezi road as the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Victoria Falls is one of nature’s true wonders and perhaps one of the most impressive natural sites in the world. Already from a long distance you can see the large volumes of water that almost rise above Victoria Falls.
Cairo Road
Freedom Way
Great East Road
arcades.co.zm
Great East Road
Cairo Road, Freedom Way
National Museum
Independence Avenue
Kabwata Cultural Village
Burma Road
Munda Wanga Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Kafue Road, Chilanga
mundawanga.com
Kalimba Reptile Park
District Road
The city of Lusaka until the arrival of the railway from Victoria Falls in 1905 was a smaller village. From 1905, a European settlement came to influence the development of the city, and some settled as farmers after buying land from the Northern Copper Company.
By 1906, the new village by the track had been established and named after a chief in a nearby settlement; his name was Lusaaka. Two years later, Benjamin Glasser built Lusaka’s first permanent building; it was a store, and in 1910 followed, among other things, the city’s first school.
After the first 5-7 years there were both hotel, several shops, three mills, a school and the trading company Lusaka Trading Company Store in the city, where in 1912 the association Lusaka Social & Sports Club was formed.
In 1913, a Village Board in the form of the Village Management Board was established, and the year is considered Lusaka’s start. The same year, the city’s first livestock auctions could be conducted. 1917 was the year in which Percy Morton could call himself Lusaka’s first car owner, and in the following year both the city’s first hospital and the bank Standard Bank opened its doors.
In Lusaka’s third decade, growth and events continued. In 1920, the first aircraft flew over the city, and in 1921 trees were planted in the main Cairo Road, named after Cecil Rhodes’ dream of a road through British colonies from Cape Town to Cairo. The road should also cross Lusaka right here. In 1926, the administrative headquarters of the region was moved from here to Chilanga.
In 1935, the city became a new capital of the British colony of Northern Rhodesia, replacing Livingstone. It was due to its central location in the colony, the railroad and the meeting place of the Great North Road and Great East Road.
In the decades leading up to the establishment of Zambia in 1964, much was happening in Lusaka on the cultural and economic front. In 1947, for example, the Lusaka Theater Club was formed, and in 1951 the country’s trade and food production could be seen at the Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia’s first exhibition at trade fairs in the city.
Politically, Kenneth Kaunda became the country’s first president. Lusaka’s first mayor was elected in 1954, and three years later the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, and her mother came to visit the country. In the same year a new post office, railway station and police station were built and the foundation stone for a new cathedral was laid.
By 1963, the city had grown to more than 87,000 inhabitants, and the following year Lusaka became the capital of independent Zambia. Independence meant new development and several institutions were founded. This applies, for example, to the University of Zambia, which was established in 1966.
With the status of the capital of a new country, natural urbanization and development continued after independence in 1964, and the number of citizens increased from year to year. Around the year 2000, the fast-growing city rounded out a million inhabitants, and it remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the region. It is close to two million today.
Overview of Lusaka
Zambia’s capital is a rapidly developing city, with Cairo Road being the central boulevard. The name comes from Cecil Rhodes’ plan to connect the British colonies in Africa with the road and rail from Cape Town to Cairo, and this stretch of road in Lusaka was part of this planned route.
Along Cairo Road you will see high-rise buildings, office towers, institutional edifices, hotels and shops. Lusaka is also home to several beautiful churches with the Anglican Cathedral at the forefront. It is beautifully located in a green oasis, and the concrete structure with its interior color scheme is worth a visit; like many of the colonial-era buildings that are within walking distance from here.
About the upcoming Lusaka travel guide
About the travel guide
The Lusaka travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Zambian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Lusaka is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Lusaka and Zambia
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Lusaka you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Cairo Road • Fine Museums • Cathedral • Colonial Architecture • Wildlife
Overview of Lusaka
Zambia’s capital is a rapidly developing city, with Cairo Road being the central boulevard. The name comes from Cecil Rhodes’ plan to connect the British colonies in Africa with the road and rail from Cape Town to Cairo, and this stretch of road in Lusaka was part of this planned route.
Along Cairo Road you will see high-rise buildings, office towers, institutional edifices, hotels and shops. Lusaka is also home to several beautiful churches with the Anglican Cathedral at the forefront. It is beautifully located in a green oasis, and the concrete structure with its interior color scheme is worth a visit; like many of the colonial-era buildings that are within walking distance from here.
About the upcoming Lusaka travel guide
About the travel guide
The Lusaka travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Zambian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Lusaka is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Lusaka and Zambia
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Lusaka you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
From January 1960 to December 1962, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda in the house Chilenje House No. 394. From here he led the struggle for Zambian independence, which became a reality on October 24, 1964. Kenneth Kaunda became the first president of the new republic.
In addition to the house with number 394, the neighboring houses with numbers 393 and 395 are also protected, and they form part of the monument to the independence of the country that Kaunda and his house stand for.
In number 394, the interior has been returned to the original from 1962 as far as possible. This applies, for example, to the colors and many of the Kaunda family’s furniture, which have been placed here in their 1962 positions.
In number 395, you can see an interesting exhibition about Lusaka, the city’s development and about the political struggle on the way to freedom. Number 393 is the residence of the site supervisor.
The monument was opened on 23 October 1968 by President Kenneth Kaunda, who served as the country’s head of state from independence until 2 November 1991.
Zambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is housed in one of Lusaka’s historic buildings from the country’s British colonial era; namely the former Charter House. It was built by the British South African Company, who were responsible for the administration of Northern Rhodesia until 1924, when the country was given the status of a British protectorate. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Charter House is today behind a large wall and there is no access to the building.
The railway station in Lusaka is the starting point for railway lines to the south and north of Zambia, and even if you are not going by train, the railway station is an interesting place to experience life around the traffic hub.
The railway came to Zambia in 1905, when the bridge from what is now Zimbabwe was completed over the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls. The line initially led to Livingstone, but over the years it came to cross the country and cross the border into Tanzania as part of Cecil Rhodes’ dream of a line from Cape Town through British colonies to Cairo.
Today, you can see a lot of freight traffic on the relatively manageable track body, and you can also try an exciting journey with the Zambezi Express to Livingstone, for example. Immediately to the east of the station building, you can also see an impressive and now decommissioned steam locomotive.
The Old National Assembly Building is one of the larger buildings constructed during Zambia’s time as a British protectorate. It was John Hoogterp who designed the assembly building and it was built in 1932 with the foundation stone laid by Prince George.
Before Zambia’s independence, the building was the seat of the protectorate’s legislative assembly. It was the so-called legco, and therefore you can sometimes hear the place referred to by that name.
Two perpendicular side buildings have been erected to the original columned building, which today houses the Ministry of Defense of Zambia. The northern side building houses the vice president’s administration, while the southern one is set up as the country’s Ministry of the Interior.
The Memorial Garden is a fine facility located in the green area designated as Ambassadeparken/Embassy Park. The park’s name comes from the presence of the many embassies that surround the park.
The Memorial Garden itself is the burial place of presidents. Zambia’s third president, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, who died in office on 19 August 2006, is thus buried centrally in the axis opposite the Cenotaph and the country’s Ministry of Defence. His tombstone was designed as a chair to symbolize that he died in office.
Frederick Chiluba is buried a little south of Mwanawasa’s grave. He was Zambia’s second president and his tombstone was designed with an eagle on top to symbolize that he introduced multi-party rule and freedom of expression.
Kabwata Cultural Village is a particularly interesting collection of creative artisans from Zambia’s various tribes and regions.
The village was established in 1974, where people from all over the country were invited to come and become part of the community of people who could all spearhead the spread of the traditional art forms and craft products.
You can see an exciting range of products such as batik, textiles, carved animals, spears and musical instruments. The place itself is worth seeing, as the village was established with the construction of traditional huts.
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