Indulge in the Flavors of Zambia: A Culinary Journey for you
Embark on a sensory journey through Zambia, where every meal is an invitation to experience culture, tradition, and luxury. From exclusive fine dining overlooking the Zambezi to home-cooked meals in Lusaka and Livingstone, Zambia offers travelers a culinary adventure that blends elegance with authenticity. Whether you’re savoring a 12-course gourmet menu, enjoying dinner on a luxury steam train, or sharing nshima with a local family, each dish tells the story of Zambia’s people and its wild heart.
The Zambian Food Tour invites you to taste the country’s rich culinary traditions through markets, local homes, and fine dining settings. From bustling Soweto Market in Lusaka to the banks of the Zambezi, travelers enjoy both traditional dishes rarely found in restaurants and modern gourmet creations. This unique tour blends flavors, culture, and storytelling, ensuring that every meal is not just food, but a connection to Zambia’s heritage and people.
Dine on the banks of the Zambezi while meeting and feeding rescued elephants. Enjoy locally sourced gourmet dishes paired with South African wines. Lunch and dinner options available, with road or boat transfers. Book Now
Twamilandilani! (We welcome you!) Step into an intimate 22-seat restaurant in Livingstone where Chef Sungani Phiri presents a 12-course tasting menu inspired by Zambian flavors with a modern twist. Book Now
Relive the golden age of travel on a restored steam train. Indulge in a five-course fine dining experience while watching the sun set over the Zambezi and spotting wildlife along the way. Runs Wednesdays and Saturdays. Book Now
Arrive by helicopter at the Batoka Gorge for a secluded five-course picnic with panoramic Zambezi views. End your experience with a scenic flight over Victoria Falls—the perfect finale to a day of luxury. Book Now
Sail under the stars aboard the African Queen and enjoy a three-course dinner timed with the full moon. Witness the rare and magical lunar rainbow (moonbow) over Victoria Falls. Book Now
Relax on the Zambezi during daylight or golden hour with snacks, meals, and drinks included. Common sightings: elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife. Book Now
Turn an evening into a memory with a dinner framed by Zambia’s natural wonder. Choose from: Fine Dining by Royal Livingstone— refine romance with elegance and luxury. A Taste of Zambia on the Edge of the Smoke that Thunders— savor traditional dishes beneath the stars, with local drinks, return transfers, and entrance included.
Pro Tip: Aim for a full moon when the falls’ mist refracts moonlight into magical moonbows—an ethereal and unforgettable experience.
Experience the real taste of Zambia. Hosts live in Lusaka and Livingstone in areas which are only a few minutes from town, but rarely visited by tourists. Having a local meal gives you a view into everyday life of locals and enables these women to expand their incomes while doing what they all love: Cooking!
As a guest you will eat home-cooked Zambian traditional foods that you rarely find in restaurants.Our hosts come from the various tribes of Zambia - Tonga, Bemba, Lunda, Ngoni, and more - and each one loves to cook meals that represent their cultural heritage. Every meal is different based onwhat is in season and fresh that day, and also what the host feels her guests will enjoy. We promise you an unforgettable meal and a new neighbor that you can call your friend.
Locations: Homes in different neighborhoods within 5-8 minutes drive from the center of town.
Food / drink: A full traditional Zambian meal (Nshmia with various sides.)
Vegetarian options are available and are strictly non-alcoholic, it includes water and a traditional drink.
New Soweto Market is the vibrant city market in downtown Lusaka. We offer a guided market tour,focused on food, followed by a traditional Zambian lunch at the first restaurant established in the market. You will learn about the diversity of Zambian foods, which are trucked in from all corners of Zambia and from neighboring countries. You'll be surprised to learn how many foods are only prepared and eaten at homes, and never found on restaurant menus. You'll also see how seasonal foods are preserved for sale throughout the year. Trained local youths are your guides, promoting new income streams for youth in Zambia's tourism sector.
Community Night Tour in Livingstone
17.00 – 21.00hrs
Human Wildlife Conflict/Cohabitation and cultural tour (HWC) USD60 (min 4 Pax)
The first of its kind, this tour is a local initiative aimed at developing community-based tourism in the heart of the Human and wildlife conflict zone. The tour takes place in the encroached elephant migratory route, known as the corridor and aims to create a Cohabitation zone, instead of a conflict zone. The communities living in conflict with Elephants, need to be involved in tourism initiatives and see a benefit from tourism and place a value in wildlife as a resource, rather than a curse.
This tour highlights not only the unique challenges faced by people and the wildlife that live and share the corridor but also highlights other cultural aspects of Zambian community life, like local music, ceremonies, dance, and traditional medicine.
By visiting the frontline of the conflict zone, guests will find themselves in the South Dambwa community that live along the National Park boundary which is the primary point of HWC. The community will treat you to a fantastic display of dance and song from the local children. These are the same children who have given up chasing and harassing Elephants for fun and now participate in a tourism related activity instead. The dance is followed by a drive through the narrow streets of the Dambwa community where guests can visit local stalls, sample locally brewed beers and wines or visit with the local medicine woman for herbalist remedies or recipes and onto a traditional Zambian ‘’Matebeto’’ dinner (Matebeto is a selection of traditional dishes form the region) over dinner, village elders entertain with storytelling, song, and lore. The night tour finishes with a night drive through the primary conflict zone with a high probability to view Elephant, Buffalo or Hippo as they now openly move around the encroached corridor hungrily eyeing up gardens, crops and sadly human litter and waste.
17.00: Pick up
17:30: Sundowners – Enjoy a beautiful sundowner (Bar included) then the “Dambwa Warriors” children’s dance troop entertain with dance and song
18.45: Cultural Community tour – Interactive drive through the local community and HWC zone. Visit with local herbalist/bars/stalls/curios
19.15: Dinner – Enjoy a traditional Zambian Matebeto dinner accompanied by storytelling and lore
20.15: Night Drive – Pass through the HWC zone with a spotlight looking for Elephant, Hippos, Buffalo.
21.00: Drop off
Proceeds go to the Community based Tourism business unit for the continued development of local tourism and upliftment programs towards the goal of human wildlife Cohabitation instead of Conflict..
From fine dining by world-class chefs to sharing nshima in family homes, Zambia’s food experiences cater to both luxury travelers and cultural explorers. Whether you choose elegance by the Zambezi or authentic flavors in local neighborhoods, every bite brings you closer to the heart of Zambia.
Book Your Ultimate Zambian Food Experience Today!
Embark on a culinary adventure in Zambia and discover a rich tapestry of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Zambia's staple food is maize (corn). Made from finely ground maize flour, known as mealie meal, this mealie meal dish is prepared by mixing the cornmeal with hot water to create a thick porridge. Among most popular foods, start with a common dish Nshima, a versatile corn meal that is the cornerstone of many Zambian meals. Enjoy it thin and sweet for breakfast or thick and savory for lunch or dinner, paired with a variety of delicious accompaniments, liked mashed potatoes.
In Zambian villages, many Zambians, some residents have doubts about consuming fresh vegetables. This skepticism may arise from the fact that staple vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, and rapeseed require cooking. Chikanda, commonly referred to as 'African polony', is a vegetarian dish made from wild orchid tubers, peanuts, chili, and baking soda. Game meat is usually smoked and dried before it is sold. One way to enjoy fish in Zambia is to eat it dry. Zambia has many water bodies, making fish one of the most popular foods in the country. Dry fish is found in most markets countrywide. Cooked to a meatloaf-like consistency, it's served hot or cold.Savor the simplicity and flavor of Ifisashi, a traditional Zambian dish of green vegetables cooked with peanut sauce, sometimes enhanced with meat. Delight in Kapenta, where dried perch is seared with onions, tomatoes, garlic, pumpkin leaves and green vegetables, garnished with fresh lemon and ground nuts—a delightful blend of tastes and textures. Michopo is roasted meat cooked outdoors on the grill, typically beef or goat meat served with chilli, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes. For the adventurous, try curried gazelle, featuring tender cubed rump steaks cooked with garlic, plantains, and raisins for a unique and memorable dining experience.
Raw vegetables are not typically served as a side dish. Explore Zambia's vibrant street food scene, perfect for travelers eager to taste local flavors on the go. Golabjamoun Zambia is famous for its delectable traditional desserts crafted from sweet potato simmered in sourmilk. Vitumbuwa Fritters are fried dough balls of flour, sugar, yeast and water. Sample Tute Ne Mbalala (Cassava with Groundnuts), a smoky, nutty treat combining the starchy texture of cassava with the richness of groundnuts. Indulge in samosas, a beloved fried delicacy filled with minced meat and spiced vegetables. Enjoy Vitumbuwa, also known as Puff-Puff, deep-fried wheat flour dough balls often enjoyed with tea or coffee. Chikanda, also known as African polony due to its meaty texture, is a vegetarian dish made from wild orchid tubers. Don’t miss Chikanda, or African Polony, made from dried orchid tubers mixed with peanuts and chili, offering a meaty texture perfect as a popular snack or main dish.
Complete your gastronomic journey with Zambia's traditional beers or the carbohydrate-rich Thobwa. Come and taste the diverse and delectable flavors of Zambia for an unforgettable culinary experience. Explore Zambian cuisine and let your taste buds travel through a land of rich and unique flavors. For our Muslim travelers, enjoy a Halal Safari in Zambia, where you can indulge in delicious, Halal-certified dishes amidst the stunning wilderness.
Experience an unforgettable Zambian Food Tour and dive into the rich and diverse flavors of traditional foods in Zambia. Join us as we explore bustling markets, savor delicious popular foods eaten like Tute Ne Mbalala and samosas, and enjoy traditional communal meals with Nshima and Ifisashi. Indulge in gourmet dining with a modern twist on local dishes, and enjoy meals al fresco in Zambia's stunning natural landscapes. Whether you're a food lover or an adventurous traveler, this culinary tour promises excitement. Discover the heart of Zambia—book your Zambian food tour today.
Reservations now open from April 3rd!
Chef Sungani Phiri warmly invites you to Sungani Restaurant, Livingstone's newest fine dining establishment, where reservations are now open for dates starting April 3rd. Set within an exclusive private property, this intimate 22-seat venue offers a 12-course tasting menu that showcases the rich flavors of Zambian cuisine. With limited seating available, guests are encouraged to secure their spots promptly by visiting www.chefsungani.com. Embark on a culinary journey crafted by Chef Sungani, who is dedicated to achieving Michelin-starred excellence.
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