Kitwe

Downtown street scene in Kitwe

Kitwe is large mining town in Northern Zambia, in the Copperbelt region.

Get in

By plane

The nearest international airport is in Ndola.

• 1 Southdowns Airport (KIW  ^IATA) (9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Kitwe). No commercial flights. (updated Sep 2018)

By road

Nkana Copper-Cobalt Pit Mine

Ndola is linked by a well-maintained double carriageway and it is under an hour's drive between the two towns. It is 57.7 km from Kitwe to Ndola.

By train

There are overnight trains from Livingstone via the capital Lusaka several times per week, operated by Zambia Railways.

• 2 Kitwe railway station. (updated Jan 2021)

Do

• 1 Chembe Bird Sanctuary (about 28 km west of Kitwe off of M18). Might be a good opportunity for spotting birds (paradoxically more prevalent during the hot season), or possibly waterback, monkeys, zebras, and tortoises. Also might be able to fish? Watch out for mosquitoes though, as this region is a malaria zone. (updated Aug 2020)
• 2 Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage (about 110 km northwest of Kitwe via T5, past Chingola), ☏ +260 975519881. 09:00-15:00 daily. There could be around 130 chimps living here at this sanctuary. You can try to see them during the feeding time or just any time with a guide. About 2 hours from Kitwe. (updated Aug 2020)

Buy

There are a lot of goods that can be bought from Kitwe. Spectacles can be bought from Indafro Ltd. the optique, City square.Cosmetics, gifts, accessories, perfumes, cards etc. can be bought from Fashion Hut, Matuka Avenue.Clothes can be bought from Kamiza Fashion boutique, Toys can be bought from Galleria.Sports accessories can be bought from Mukape sports shop, Sports pro ltd.Computers and its accessories are sold at AT Computers,Dreamland, CompuZone. Clothes are sold in Pep stores, furniture is sold in IFI furnitures, shoes are sold in Bata and Tyros.

• Mukuba Mall, Parklands. The biggest mall in Kitwe has a Walmart-owned Game Hypermarket, a Shoprite Supermarket, a Pick N Pay Supermarket. (updated Jun 2023)
• Ecobank, Mega Shopping Complex. 24 hours atm.. Has a Master Card/Visa Card ATM. (updated Mar 2023)
• FNB. 24 hours atm.. has a mastercard visa card atm. (updated Jun 2023)
• ECL mall, freedom Avenue. 8am-21.00. many stores and places to eat. (updated Aug 2023)

Eat

Downtown buildings

At the Arabian Nights restaurant, frequented by locals and visitors, the menu offers interesting and diverse eating. Try the Nile Perch fillet on a bed of mushroom risotto.

For Italian food, try Mona Lisa at the Parklands Shopping Center. A popular restaurant with efficient service and a wide variety of dishes, Mona Lisa is frequented by both locals and visitors, particularly on weekends. For a hassle-free evening, it is advisable to go on a weekday, as the area is particularly crowded on weekends.

For Indian food try Dannys restaurant, Hotel Edinburgh and Havmore restaurant. These restaurants are popular for Tandoori chicken, Chicken curry and Naan. These restaurants are cheap and offer buffets on Sundays.

• Hungry Lion fast food, Mukuba Mall. free wifi. (updated Aug 2023)

Drink

There are plenty supermarkets (Shoprite & Pick N pay) where you can get drinks like Beer, Coca-Cola, Fanta, Juice, Mazoe, sprite etc.

Sleep

Budget under K500

Copperbelt University

• Lothian House Lodge rooms, Chandamali Avenue (near Mukuba Mall), ☏ +260-212222889. Check-out: 11am. Single/double rooms. free Wi-Fi. a low cost place to stay. good place to meet other travelers. from K285. 
• Bemwila Guesthouse, Plot 3 4th street. Check-out: 11am. single/double rooms with own bathroom. from K250. (updated Aug 2023)
• Niza Lodge (off chisupa Avenue next to Garden park School.). Check-out: 11am. single/double room with own bathroom. K200/250. (updated Aug 2023)

Go next

• Ndola