Zambia offers some of Africa's most pristine wilderness experiences, from the thundering Victoria Falls to the wildlife-rich South Luangwa National Park. Known for pioneering the walking safari, Zambia combines exceptional game viewing with authentic cultural encounters and warm hospitality.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Animal sculptures
Hand-carved wooden figures of elephants, lions, and giraffes made by local artisans. Quality ranges from tourist trinkets to fine collector pieces in ebony and mukwa wood.
Price: $5-150
Where: Mukuni Craft Market, Livingstone; curio stalls near Victoria Falls
Tonga and Lozi baskets
Intricately woven baskets made from palm leaves by Tonga and Lozi women using traditional patterns. Both decorative and functional, they make excellent wall art.
Price: $10-80
Where: Maramba Market, Livingstone; Kabwata Cultural Village, Lusaka
Chitenge cloth
Vibrant printed cotton fabric used across Zambia for wraps, clothing, and household items. Available in endless patterns and colours, great for making custom items.
Price: $3-15 per metre
Where: Lusaka City Market; Kamwala Market, Lusaka
Amethyst and emerald jewellery
Zambia is one of the world's top producers of amethysts and emeralds. Local jewellers craft these stones into rings, pendants, and earrings at competitive prices.
Price: $20-500
Where: Luxury hotels in Lusaka; authorised gem dealers on Cairo Road
Copperware and wire art
Zambia's Copperbelt heritage is reflected in handmade copper bowls, bracelets, and intricate wire sculptures of animals and scenes. Unique to the country.
Price: $8-60
Where: Kabwata Cultural Village, Lusaka; Manda Hill craft stalls
Traditional clay pots
Hand-formed and fired clay pots made using techniques passed down generations. Painted with geometric patterns from local cultural traditions.
Price: $5-30
Where: Kabwata Cultural Village, Lusaka; roadside stalls along Great East Road
Local music CDs and instruments
Traditional Zambian music recordings by popular artists like Salif Keita and local Kalindula musicians, plus handmade drums and thumb pianos (karimba).
Price: $3-40
Where: Shoprite Manda Hill; Cairo Road music shops, Lusaka
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mukuni Craft Market
The main craft market near Victoria Falls with over 100 stalls selling carvings, baskets, jewellery, and curios. Best selection of Zambian handicrafts in Livingstone.
Where: Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, near Victoria Falls entrance, Livingstone
Hours: 7AM-6PM daily
Lusaka City Market
Lusaka's largest traditional market sprawling across several city blocks. Sells everything from fresh produce to clothing, electronics, and household goods in a bustling atmosphere.
Where: Cairo Road, Lusaka city centre
Hours: 6AM-6PM daily (reduced Sunday)
Maramba Market
Authentic local market serving Livingstone residents with fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, and grains. Excellent place to experience everyday Zambian market life away from tourist areas.
Where: Maramba Township, Livingstone
Hours: 7AM-5PM daily
Kabwata Cultural Village
Government-run craft village where artisans demonstrate traditional skills and sell quality handmade goods. More curated than street markets with fixed prices for quality pieces.
Where: Burma Road, Lusaka
Hours: 9AM-5PM Tue-Sun
Sunday Arcades Market
Weekly outdoor market with a mix of crafts, clothing, food vendors, and antiques. Popular with Lusaka expats and locals for browsing and socialising.
Where: Arcades Shopping Centre, Great East Road, Lusaka
Hours: 8AM-4PM Sundays
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Cairo Road
Lusaka's main commercial strip running through the city centre. Mix of banks, shops, informal traders, and stalls selling clothing, electronics, and everyday goods. The commercial heart of Zambia.
Best for: Everyday goods, SIM cards, currency exchange
Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, Livingstone
Livingstone's main tourist thoroughfare lined with craft markets, curio shops, tour operators, and restaurants. Concentrated shopping for souvenirs and gifts near Victoria Falls.
Best for: Souvenirs, carvings, jewellery, tour bookings
East Park Mall area
East Park Mall and surrounding Lusaka shopping district featuring anchor stores, boutiques, and food outlets. The newer shopping hub for middle-class Lusaka residents.
Best for: Fashion, electronics, dining, modern retail
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Manda Hill Shopping Centre
Lusaka's largest and most established shopping mall with over 80 stores. Houses Shoprite, Pick n Pay, clothing chains, a cinema, food court, and numerous restaurants. Popular with expats and middle-class Zambians.
Hours: 9AM-9PM daily
East Park Mall
Modern mall in Lusaka's Northmead area with a good mix of local and international brands. Features a Spar supermarket, fashion stores, restaurants including Nando's and Mugg & Bean, and children's play areas.
Hours: 9AM-9PM daily
Levy Junction
Mid-size mall in central Lusaka catering to business professionals. Houses offices, banks, cafes including News Cafe, and specialty retailers in a clean and air-conditioned environment.
Hours: 9AM-8PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at craft markets and informal stalls — never at malls or fixed-price shops
Start by offering 40-50% of the asking price and meet somewhere in the middle
Be friendly and respectful; aggressive bargaining is considered rude
Walking away often brings the seller back with a lower price
Buy multiple items from one vendor for better group discounts
Morning is best for bargaining as vendors want to make their first sale of the day
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Export of antiques, wildlife products, unprocessed gemstones, and items made from protected species is prohibited. Declare gemstone purchases with receipts. CITES-compliant ivory is restricted.
Tax Refund: Zambia does not operate a tourist VAT refund scheme. Prices in tourist areas often quoted in USD and are generally final.
Duty Free: Travellers may import 2 litres of spirits, 2 litres of wine, 200 cigarettes, and gifts up to $500 USD duty-free.
Shipping: DHL and FedEx operate from Lusaka and Livingstone for international shipping. Allow 7-14 days. Fragile carvings should be professionally packed by the vendor.