Is Lusaka Safe? A Practical Guide for Visitors
Most visits to Lusaka pass without trouble. Like any capital, it has risks you can reduce with a few habits. This guide is practical, not alarmist.
The common risks
Pickpocketing and bag snatching in crowded markets and bus stations
Phone theft from open car windows in traffic
Unlicensed taxis at night
Everyday habits
Keep phones and cash out of sight in busy areas.
Keep car windows up and doors locked in slow traffic.
Carry only what you need for the day.
Use ATMs inside malls or banks.
Getting around
You can use ride-hailing or preferably a recommended driver, especially after dark. See Getting Around.
At night
Plan your ride home before you go out, and stay in busier, well-lit areas.
Health
Malaria
Malaria is present throughout Zambia, including Lusaka. The UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) classes Zambia as high risk and recommends antimalarial tablets. Some local sources describe the risk in Lusaka as lower than in rural areas, but lower doesn't mean zero.
Transmission peaks in the rainy season, roughly November to April, and drops but does not disappear from May to October.
Before you travel, book a travel health appointment with your GP, practice nurse or a travel clinic, ideally several weeks ahead, to discuss which antimalarial suits you. While you're here:
The mosquitoes that carry malaria mainly bite between dusk and dawn, so evenings matter most. Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves after sunset, and sleep under a net or in screened, air-conditioned rooms.
If you develop a fever of 38°C or higher more than a week after arriving, or any malaria-like symptoms within a year of leaving, get medical care immediately and tell the doctor where you've been.
Other health advice
Vaccine recommendations depend on your itinerary and history, and they change. NaTHNaC currently flags an ongoing mpox clade I outbreak and chemical contamination of river water reported in August 2025. Check the official pages before you go:
UK: TravelHealthPro – Zambia (NaTHNaC)
Other nationalities: your own government's travel health service
Water and food
Most visitors stick to bottled or filtered water and avoid ice of unknown origin. Choose freshly cooked food served hot, and peel fruit yourself. Pack oral rehydration sachets in case of an upset stomach.
Hospitals and clinics
The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is Lusaka's main public hospital (general enquiries 0211 251200; casualty 0211 254115). Lusaka also has several private hospitals and clinics, which many visitors use for faster treatment. Take out travel insurance that includes medical evacuation, and keep the policy's 24-hour assistance number on your phone.
Emergency contacts
Police: 991
Ambulance: 992
Fire: 993
Lusaka Central Police Station: 0211 220006
This page is general travel information, not medical advice. Speak to a health professional about your own needs.
