Expatriates Forums in Zambia

NIGHTLIFE IN ZAMBIA / ZAMBIA NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Zambia Info — Thu May 03, 2007 9:39 am

Author: Zambia Info

Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 9:39 am

NIGHTLIFE IN ZAMBIA

If you are planning on going out on the town to the local discos then be sure to go with a group. This goes for men and for women as both will probably receive a lot of harmless, but annoying attention. Saying this, it is a great way to get out there and meet up with the locals and hear some of their music as well as check out the dancing.

It may not be London, Paris, Milan or New York, but Zambia has its fair share of bars, nightclubs, casinos and other social spots. If nothing else, you can be assured there’ll be a braai (barbecue) on the go somewhere.

Lusaka has dancing and floorshows in the main hotels, cinemas and theatres. The Copperbelt and Livingstone areas offer a variety of entertainments including casinos and nightclubs. Very popular among travellers are boat trips on the river with a few drinks (also called ‘booze’ cruises).

FOOD & DINING IN ZAMBIA / ZAMBIA DINING GUIDE

Zambia Info — Thu May 03, 2007 6:22 am

Author: Zambia Info

Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 6:22 am

FOOD & DINING IN ZAMBIA

GENERAL

Traditional Zambian food revolves around one staple, maize, served in one form, nsima (n'SHEE-ma). Nsima is basically a type of thick porridge, rolled into balls with your right hand and dipped into a variety of stews known as relishes. Those who can afford them eat relishes of beef, chicken or fish, but the many who can't make do with beans, tiny dried fish (kapenta), pumpkin leaves (chibwabwa) and other vegetables. At breakfast, nsima can be served watered down into a soup, maybe with a little sugar. Local restaurants will serve nsima and relish for less than 5000K ($1).

Western food has also made major inroads, particularly in major cities, and in Lusaka or Livingstone you can find almost any food you like. Fast food — including burgers, pizza, and fried chicken — is very popular in Zambia. Bakeries making cheap fresh bread are a common sight in towns, and rice from Chama provides an alternative staple if all the maize starts to get to you.

For sit-down meals, ethnic eateries (thanks to a significant ex-pat population) are popular. Of course, game parks often cater to wealthy — usually foreign — visitors; therefore, high-quality Western meals can be found easily. Along the major roadways, you will find "tuck shops" featuring packaged cookies or take-away meals — meat pies or sausage rolls, for instance — which may or may not satisfy you.

Finally, in terms of hygiene outside the major cities, you are unlikely to find a proper washroom with running water. You will probably be given a bowl of water, a piece of soap, and a (damp) towel. Therefore, some travellers bring small bottles of anti-bacterial hand soap with them.

National specialties

• Freshwater fish: bream from the Kafue, Luapula and Zambezi rivers, Nile perch and lake salmon.

National drinks

• Mosi and Rhino lager.

Tipping: A 10 per cent sales tax is added to all bills. Tipping in hotels has been abolished by law but a 10 per cent tip may be expected or included in bills elsewhere.

PLACES TO DINE IN LUSAKA

Cafe D'Afrique
Lufubu Road,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 237-745

Chit Chat
Omelo Mumbwa Road,
Rhodes Park,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 234-324

El Selmo's
Kabulonga Shopping Centre,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 264-253

European Cuisine
Sable Road,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 263-272

Garden of Eden
Roma,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 212-437

Gerritz
Chaholi Road,
Rhodes Park,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 253-639

Gringos Grill
Plot 2229,
Lubu Road,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 253-337

La Gondola
Arcades,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 250-280

Le Bistro
UN Drive,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 254-735

Le T Dolphin
Northmead,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 292-133

Madyelelo
Panganani Road,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 223-428

Nena's
Carousel Centre,
Bwinjimfumu Road,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 773-213

Piccolo
Serval Road,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 261-316

Venus
Kafue Road,
Lusaka
Phone: (+260) 1 272-603

SHOPPING IN ZAMBIA / ZAMBIA SHOPPING GUIDE

Zambia Info — Thu May 03, 2007 5:46 am

Author: Zambia Info

Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 5:46 am

SHOPPING IN ZAMBIA

General

Like every African country, Zambia has its fair share of curio markets. A trip down to one of them for a spot of haggling and a closer look at the local life is always worthwhile. You may even leave with a few prized souvenirs. At worst you'll leave with a couple of things you may not have wanted, but you'll be richer for the experience.

Before you even enter into the market expect to be approached and invited into every stall. No matter how clear you make it to the owners that you won't be buying anything, they will insist on ushering you in. This is part of the culture and, as the locals know, a rather effective selling technique.

Once you're inside you'll hear many stories about the originality of each craftsman's work and why you should purchase his rather than the same piece one stall down. Although this may seem tiring it has an up-side: it's a buyers' market. Everything is negotiable because everyone is selling it.

When you've found a stall and a souvenir that you like, enquire after the price. The first price offered is always the tourist price so a good rule of thumb when starting to haggle is to halve it, and then offer a little less. Then be prepared for some hard negotiations and, depending on your skills, you might walk away with a bargain.

The markets are filled with all shapes and sizes of wood carvings and hand-crafted souvenirs. Animals, masks, chairs, tables - almost anything you can imagine in an African market will be there. In addition, Zambia is known for its copper bracelets, fine hand woven and dyed materials and the famous Nyaminyami (the Zambezi river god) necklaces and staffs.

Curios and crafts can be found at Zambili in Luanshya Road. The Book House shop, in the Manda Hills Shopping Centre. Zintu Handicrafts are at the Holiday Inn. Moore Pottery on Kabalenga Road has an excellent range of ceramics and Zintu Za Nyimba at the bottom end of Panganani Road sells a wide range of locally made wooden furniture, batiks, candle holders, lamps shades, hand-dyed cloths and carvings. Hope House in Luanshya Road is a charitable organisation providing support to Aids victims and sell a range of home-made crafts. Every last Saturday of the month there is an excellent craft market in Kabulonga suburb at the Dutch Reform Church grounds.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1700 and Sat 0800-1300 (some stay open until 1700).

Banking hours

Vary from bank to bank, but most are open Mon-Fri 0815-1430. Some banks are open 0815-1030 on the first and last Saturday of the month.

Currency

Kwacha (ZMK) = 100 ngwee. Notes are in denominations of ZMK50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of ZMK1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 ngwee.

Currency exchange

Exchange of foreign currency is carried out at authorised banks and bureaux de change. ATMs are available within Lusaka and some of the major towns in Zambia.

Credit & debit cards

Most hotels, restaurants, travel agents and bigger shops accept credit cards. Standard Chartered and Barclays Bank have ATMs which accept Visa.

Traveller's cheques

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions

The import and export of local currency is limited to ZMK100. Free import of foreign currency subject to declaration on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on import. All passengers entering or departing from Zambia must declare all currency notes exceeding US$5000 or equivalent.

Note: Currency declaration forms and exchange receipts must be shown if purchasing airline tickets in Zambia.