Kasama
Introduction
Kasama is a town in the Northern Province of Zambia, and it serves as the provincial capital as well as the headquarters of Kasama District. If your travels take you through this part of the country, expect a working administrative centre rather than a resort town, with the provincial government functions concentrated here.
Before you go
Kasama sits in the Northern Province of Zambia, and the source material for this guide covers the city only at the level of a general overview, so plan on gathering practical details from elsewhere before you travel. Treat what follows as orientation rather than a full briefing.
Getting there
Kasama sits a long way from the capital, so plan your journey around the distances involved. The train is one option: you can travel from Kasama to Kapiri Mposhi, or north to the Tanzania border at Tunduma. The second-class express sleeper service connects Kasama with Kapiri Mposhi, and a separate service runs to Tunduma. Kasama railway station is the departure point for both.
By road, Powertools buses run to and from Lusaka, and the same operator also connects Kasama with Mpulungu. Book your seat ahead through the operator's booking line.
Getting around
Kasama is a city you get around by road, on foot and by long-distance rail rather than any dense urban transit network. Central Kasama is compact enough that walking covers much of what you need — the station area, the main commercial streets and nearby guesthouses and lodges — and it is a reasonable way to get between the centre and your accommodation during the day. For shorter hops within and around the city, expect the usual informal minibus and shared-taxi arrangements typical of Zambian towns: vehicles leave when full and you pay the conductor or driver on board. Fares are low and paid in cash, so keep small notes and coins to hand. Taxis are available for point-to-point trips and are the most straightforward option if you are carrying luggage or travelling outside daylight hours; ride-hailing apps are not a dependable fixture here, so arrange a taxi through your hotel or guesthouse, or agree the fare with a driver before you set off. Settle the price in advance rather than relying on a meter, and avoid unlit areas after dark, using a taxi for evening trips.
Kasama has a railway station, but rail here is a long-distance option rather than a way of crossing town — there is no metro or tram network. Trains connect Kasama with Kapiri Mposhi to the south and the Tanzanian border at Tunduma to the north, with second-class express sleeper accommodation available; fares are inexpensive and you can buy a ticket for either journey at the station. Because services are long-distance and infrequent, plan your arrival and departure around the train rather than expecting to use it spontaneously. Buses are the mainstay of intercity travel: coach operators run services between Kasama and Lusaka, and also link Kasama with Mpulungu, with the operator Powertools serving both routes and seats bookable by phone. Booking ahead is worthwhile, since these are long-haul services and seats can fill up. The city is served by an airport, but no dedicated shuttle, bus or rail link into town is documented, so your arrival transfer will be by road — a taxi or a pre-arranged pickup from your accommodation, arranged before you fly with the fare confirmed in advance. If you are continuing straight on to Lusaka, Mpulungu, Kapiri Mposhi or Tunduma, check coach and train timings before you land so you can decide whether to head into town first or connect onward.
Where to stay
Kasama's sleeping options are mostly lodges and guesthouses rather than large hotels, so you can expect simple, locally run places. Several cluster along Zambia Road, including Kasama Lodge and Thorn Tree Lodge, while Dauson Lodge sits on Luwingu Road and J B hotel is on Glof road. Kalambo Lodge, Ludo Lodge and Kings Guest house round out the choices.
- Kasama Lodge — Zambia Road
- Thorn Tree Lodge — Zambia Road
- Dauson Lodge — Luwingu Road
- J B hotel — Glof road
- Kalambo Lodge
- Ludo Lodge
- Kings Guest house
Food & drink
The source material for Kasama gives no details on where or what to eat and drink, so there is nothing specific to recommend here.What to see and do
For prehistoric rock art, head to the Mwela Rock Paintings on the eastern outskirts of the city, where more than 700 paintings are attributed to Stone Age hunter-gatherers. Chisimba Falls, an impressive waterfall that drops in three levels, is the other major natural sight to seek out. In town, St. John the Apostle Cathedral is a small modernist building dating from the 1960s and makes a brief, worthwhile stop.Three days in Kasama
Day one: Settle into Central Kasama, where several lodges—Kasama Lodge, Thorn Tree Lodge, Dauson Lodge, Glof, Kalambo Lodge, Ludo Lodge and Kings Guest—give you a base for the days ahead. Book your onward travel early: buses and trains connect Kasama with Lusaka, Mpulungu, Kapiri Mposhi and on toward Tunduma and Tanzania, and fares vary, so compare before you commit. Taxis are the easy way to move around town while you find your bearings.
Day two: Head out along the Luwingu Road toward the Mwela Rock Paintings, where Stone Age art covers the rock faces. Take your time at the shelters and let the scale of the paintings sink in. Back in Central Kasama, eat at one of the local spots and rest before an early start the next morning.
Day three: Make the trip to Chisimba Falls and spend the morning watching the water drop through the surrounding bush. Return to Kasama in the afternoon, confirm your booking for the next leg—whether by bus or by train—and settle in for a quiet evening.