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Getting to Lusaka

Your guide to getting toLusaka

AIR

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN)

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport remains the primary international gateway to Zambia. It is located approximately 27 kilometers northeast of Lusaka's city center and serves as the main hub for both domestic and international connections.

 

International Flights

Lusaka maintains strong connectivity across the globe, though the lineup of carriers and flight frequencies has seen some recent shifts.

  • Key Operators: Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, Emirates, and Kenya Airways continue to provide robust international connections.

  • Expansion: Qatar Airways significantly expanded its Southern African network, increasing its Lusaka service from five weekly flights to daily departures starting in mid-June 2026.

  • Regional Additions: TAAG Angola Airlines is scheduled to relaunch direct services between Luanda and Lusaka by the end of October 2026, strengthening connections between the two capitals.

  • Suspensions: Turkish Airlines suspended its flight operations to Lusaka in May 2026 for the summer season, citing rising global and local operational costs.

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Domestic and Regional Flights

The local aviation sector has matured significantly, with the two primary carriers expanding their footprints and standards.

  • Proflight Zambia: As the dominant private carrier, Proflight reached a major milestone by officially joining the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in January 2026, making it Zambia's only IATA-registered member airline. In addition to its extensive domestic network, the airline launched new regional routes in March 2026, including a route connecting Lusaka to Windhoek, Namibia, via Livingstone.

  • Zambia Airways: The revived national carrier—operating as a joint venture between the Zambian government and Ethiopian Airlines—is actively flying. Concentrating its operations in Lusaka, it handles high-frequency domestic routes to Ndola and Livingstone, while successfully establishing regional routes to Johannesburg and Harare.

ROAD

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Self-Drive

If you prefer flexibility and have an adventurous spirit, a self-drive expedition is an incredible way to experience the real Africa, but it requires serious preparation. While primary highways are paved, navigating Zambia by road is not for the faint-hearted.

 

  • Vehicle Requirements: A high-clearance 4x4 is strictly necessary for most national parks and dirt roads, especially if you are traveling during the wet season (November to May) when roads can wash away or turn to sticky mud.

  • Rules of the Road: Driving is on the left side of the road. Speed limits are generally 50 km/h in urban areas and 100 km/h on highways. You will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) if staying longer than 90 days, though your home country's photocard license is usually valid for shorter stays.

  • Night Driving: Avoid driving outside major towns after sunset. The risk of accidents increases dramatically due to a lack of street lighting, wandering livestock, pedestrians, and broken-down vehicles.

  • Navigation: While primary roads are signposted, secondary routes often are not. Relying on specialised offline mapping apps (like Tracks4Africa) and carrying a physical map are highly recommended.

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Long-Distance Buses

Lusaka is highly accessible by road from neighboring countries, and long-distance buses remain a budget-friendly option for backpackers and adventure travelers.

  • Popular Routes: Major connections run into Lusaka from Harare (Zimbabwe), Lilongwe (Malawi), Windhoek (Namibia), and Dar es Salaam or Mbeya (Tanzania).

  • Operators: Companies like Intercape, TAZARA (for Tanzanian routes), and various local services run frequent cross-border trips.

  • Travel Realities: While affordable and scenic, be prepared for grueling travel times—the journey from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka, for example, can take between 16 and 20 hours. Furthermore, standards of driving and vehicle maintenance can vary significantly, so stick to highly reputable carriers whenever possible.

RAIL

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Rail travel remains a deeply atmospheric and uniquely scenic way to experience Southern and East Africa, though it requires flexibility and careful timing.

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For 2026, there are several important updates for travelers looking to ride the rails in Zambia, particularly on the famous TAZARA line.

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The TAZARA Railway (Tanzania to Zambia)

Often called the "Uhuru Railway," the TAZARA line is one of the most iconic overland journeys in Africa. It connects Dar es Salaam on the Tanzanian coast to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (located about 200 kilometers north of Lusaka, requiring a bus or taxi connection to the capital).

  • Service Resumption: After being suspended for many months due to operational challenges, TAZARA officially relaunched its cross-border passenger service on February 10, 2026.

  • The "Mukuba" Express Schedule: The flagship cross-border passenger train, the Mukuba, now operates on a reduced, once-weekly schedule in each direction.

    • It departs New Kapiri Mposhi on Tuesdays at 16:00.

    • It departs Dar es Salaam on Fridays at 15:50.

  • The Experience: The 1,860-kilometer journey takes roughly two days. The new schedule uses a "hybrid" stopping pattern—acting as an express train between major hubs (like New Kapiri Mposhi to Kasama) but making all local stops in remote areas where roads do not exist. Expect basic amenities and be prepared for potential delays, but the changing landscapes and local interactions make it a classic adventure.

  • Future Upgrades: In July 2026, physical work began on a massive $1.4 billion modernisation project backed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, which will rehabilitate the tracks and eventually introduce new locomotives over the next three years.

 

Domestic Passenger Rail (Zambia Railways)

Within Zambia itself, domestic rail is an option for north-south travel, though it moves significantly slower than road transport.

  • The Route: Zambia Railways currently operates a passenger train service linking Livingstone (home of Victoria Falls) in the south to Kitwe in the Copperbelt, passing straight through Lusaka.

  • The Schedule: The service generally departs Livingstone on Mondays (arriving in Kitwe on Wednesdays) and departs Kitwe on Fridays (arriving in Livingstone on Sundays).

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If you plan to use either train service, it is highly recommended to book your tickets in person at the station a few days in advance or through a verified local tour operator, as online booking systems can be unreliable.

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