Written by: Abbey Pratt M.S., CCC-SLP

Are you living in a hut? Have you seen a lion yet? Do you have Wi-Fi?

These are just some of the questions I have been asked when telling people, I am living in Zambia for 6 months. So, I am here to tell you a little bit about what life is like in Lusaka!

First off, I personally do not live in a hut. Thankfully, I have a luxury one-bedroom apartment that is fully furnished with most appliances I use back in the US. In fact, I even made the most American purchase by getting an Air Fryer for the kitchen. I have a working toilet and shower in the bathroom and king size bed to sleep on at night. Although there is no washer/dryer, I have become accustomed to doing my own laundry the old fashion way… bucket of water and soap. This really makes me have to plan out what I am going to wear throughout the week. However, there are no complaints here!

The biggest challenge has been power/electricity. Power outages and consistent electricity is a very huge issue in Zambia. There is only one power company called ZESCO. Therefore, load shedding is the solution Zambia has established in recent years, meaning there are only certain times of the day I will receive power/electricity from ZESCO. Otherwise, most people will have solar power generators for back-up power. There are many times you will catch me praying for power, but then realizing I have all that I need in life.

The area of Lusaka I am living in is quite nice and has 3 or 4 shopping malls within walking distance. I have even found a local gym to join! My go-to grocery stores are Shoprite and Pick n’ Pay. I find it funny, but most grocery stores are within a shopping center and are never stand-alone stores. Within the shopping malls, there are various stories selling anything from clothes, shoes, and electronics. I can usually find everything I need!

Second, I have seen a lion in Zambia! There are several national parks, such as Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa, Mosi-oa-Tuyna and Kafue National Parks. When I visited Livingston, I was able to interact with two lions. Picture below as proof!

Third, although Wi-Fi can be sketchy at times, I do have a pocket Wi-Fi from my organization. This has been a game change for when I am out in the community without any signal. Otherwise, we have Wi-Fi in the office that I use for work. Plus, after getting a local SIM card, I am able to get service around all of Lusaka. The only time I don’t have service is when I am out in the bush or at national parks.

My plan is to explore more of what Zambia and other countries in Africa have to offer!

Fun Facts of Zambia:

1. In Zambia, the currency is Kwachas. Currently, $1 USD is about 27-28 Kwachas.
2. Zambia has around 72 different tribes coming from the 9 providences.
3. Most common languages spoken within the Lusaka area include Nyanja, Bemba, Tonga, and Lozi. However, English is the official language.
4. Zambia become an independent country on October 24, 1964. Beforehand, the land was British territory.
5. Victoria Falls is located in Livingstone and is the biggest tourist attraction in Zambia.
6. Zambia is known for copper (hence the Copperbelt providence).

The more time I spend in Zambia, the more I fall in love with this beautiful country!