Luanshya

Introduction

Getting around

Getting around Luanshya is almost entirely a matter of road transport. There is no metro or tram network, and the town has no working passenger rail link — the old Zambia Railways service was freight only, carrying traffic to and from the copper mine and Ndola, and that line has since been vandalised, so Luanshya and Ndola are no longer connected by rail. Plan on buses, minibuses, taxis or a private car. Long-distance buses are the main intercity option: Juldan Motors runs a Ndola–Lusaka service twice daily, taking roughly five to six hours. Because Luanshya is not the main bus hub, the usual approach is to reach Ndola or Kitwe first and pick up a bus onward — one recognised route pairs a taxi from Luanshya to Kitwe with a Kitwe–Lusaka bus, around seven hours in total. For the capital, buy a ticket for a scheduled service out of Ndola or Kitwe.

Taxis fill the gaps buses leave, especially for the first leg of a journey, and they are the most straightforward option for shorter local trips if you have no car. Agree on the fare before you set off, since local taxi travel is typically arranged directly with the driver rather than through a formal ticketing system. Walking works well in the older parts of town, where many roads are named after trees and take their common name from the initial letter — Datura Avenue becomes D Avenue, Eucalyptus Avenue becomes E Avenue — laid out alphabetically and running parallel to one another, with other groups of letters clustered in parallel lines in an area called New Town. Some letters, such as K, O, P and W Avenue, sit on the other side of town and run parallel to N Avenue. That scheme makes it easy to orient yourself and walk between nearby streets, though for longer cross-town trips a taxi is more practical.

Luanshya's own airstrip, in the eastern part of town in an area called Ndeke, is not operational — just a rough, unmarked landing strip with a flying club on site — so it is not an arrival point. The airport serving the town is Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, roughly 28 kilometres to the north-east by road. From there you travel by road: Luanshya sits at the end of an 8-kilometre spur road off the T3, the Ndola–Kitwe dual carriageway, so the run follows the T3 and then turns onto the spur. Other roads connect the town to the wider Copperbelt — the M6 heads east to Kafulafuta, and another road runs south to Masaiti and Mpongwe. Ndola's airport also has scheduled links to Lusaka with Zambia Airways and Proflight Zambia through the day if you would rather fly onward, but for most visitors a taxi or pre-arranged road transfer from Ndola is the simplest way in.

Three days in Luanshya

Day one: Arrive in Luanshya and get your bearings. If you are coming from Lusaka, long-distance coaches such as Juldan Motors run to the Copperbelt, and Zambia Railways also serves the region. From Ndola, taxis are the practical way in; agree on your fare before you set off. Once you are settled, walk the town's avenues - Datura Avenue and Eucalyptus Avenue give you a feel for the layout - and spend the afternoon in New Town, where you will find shops and places to eat.

Day two: Use Luanshya as your base for the wider Copperbelt. Kitwe is within easy reach, and Ndola is close enough for a day trip. If you are flying in or out, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport serves the region, with Zambia Airways and Proflight Zambia among the carriers. Back in town in the evening, take a slow walk through Ndeke and the surrounding streets.

Day three: Head out towards Kafulafuta, Masaiti or Mpongwe for a change of scene, or stay in Luanshya and learn about the Lamba people and Chief Mushili, whose name is bound up with the area's history. Plan your onward travel in advance - buses back to Lusaka and connections across the Copperbelt fill up, so sort your ticket before your last day rather than leaving it to the morning of departure.