Getting Around Solwezi
Solwezi is the provincial capital of Zambia's mineral-rich North-Western Province, and it is very much a mining town — one that has grown quickly, with infrastructure development running behind the swelling population. For a visitor, that means getting around is generally simple and low-key rather than slick: there is no metro, tram or passenger rail network to navigate, and most everyday movement happens on foot or by car. The town sits on the T5 Motorway, which links the Copperbelt Province with Angola, and that road is the spine along which much of the town's activity is arranged.
Rail, Metro and Trams
There is no rail, metro or tram network in Solwezi. Visitors should not plan on using trains of any kind to move around the town or to reach it from elsewhere. Ground transport by road is the only realistic option.
Walking
Walking is one of the main ways people get around Solwezi — most residents either walk or drive to reach different places. The town is compact enough that on-foot travel is practical for short trips, and it is a good way to get a feel for the place.
A few things are worth knowing before you set out on foot. Solwezi developed rapidly and, as of 2015, only the main street — Independence Road — was named, while many other streets were unnamed and unpaved. Away from the main routes, surfaces can be rough and addresses hard to pin down, so it helps to navigate by landmarks and to ask locally for directions rather than relying on street names or a map alone. The climate also shapes when walking is comfortable: the wet season runs from November to March with abundant rainfall, while May to September is dry with minimal precipitation. October and November are the hottest months, so early mornings and evenings are the most comfortable times to be out on foot.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Public transport in Solwezi is limited. There is a local bus "of sorts," but it is not a comprehensive network you can build an itinerary around. The more reliable bus service for visitors is the long-distance option: Juldan Motors runs twice-daily buses between Lusaka and Solwezi, with a journey of roughly ten hours. This is the practical way to arrive in or leave Solwezi by public transport, and it is worth booking ahead and confirming departure times locally, since schedules can change.
Taxis, Ride-Hailing and Car Rental
Given the thin public transport offering, many visitors will find that hiring a car or arranging a driver is the most flexible way to get around. Several local companies offer car rental services, including City Drive Rent A Car, Rocker Car Hire, and Axe Car Rental. It is worth contacting them in advance to confirm availability, rates and any requirements, as rental fleets in a town of this size can be limited.
Ride-hailing apps are not something you should count on here; the source material describes no such services. In practice, your options are to rent a car, hire a driver through your accommodation or a local contact, or negotiate a taxi or private car directly. Because many streets are unnamed and unpaved, it helps to describe your destination by landmark rather than by address.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Solwezi Airport sits on Airport Road, near the T5 Motorway, which makes it reasonably accessible from the town itself. The airport is served by a number of carriers, including Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, with connections to places such as Nairobi and Malawi — useful if you are arriving from outside Zambia rather than from within the country.
There is no dedicated airport rail link or shuttle described for Solwezi, so plan on arriving by road. The most straightforward approach is to arrange a transfer in advance — through your hotel, a car rental company, or a local driver — or to take a taxi from the airport. Because the airport lies close to the T5 Motorway, the drive into town follows the main road rather than a complex route, but it is still worth confirming your pickup before you land, since on-demand options at the airport are not guaranteed.
Practical Tips
- Plan around road travel: there is no rail, metro or tram service in Solwezi.
- Expect to walk or drive for most local trips — these are the two dominant ways people get around.
- Navigate by landmarks, not street names; many streets are unnamed and unpaved, with Independence Road being the main named exception.
- For long-distance travel, Juldan Motors runs twice-daily buses between Lusaka and Solwezi, a trip of about ten hours.
- For flexibility around town, consider renting a car from City Drive Rent A Car, Rocker Car Hire, or Axe Car Rental, and book ahead.
- Arrange your airport transfer in advance — Solwezi Airport is on Airport Road near the T5 Motorway, and pre-booked transfers or taxis are the practical way into town.
- Time your outings around the seasons: heavy rain from November to March, dry conditions from May to September, and the hottest weather in October and November.