The drive from Chipata to Lusaka follows the T4, also known as the Great East Road, covering a total distance of 576 kilometres. We split the journey into two days, spending the night at a campsite on the banks of the Luangwa River, right next to the famous Luangwa Bridge. In total, we spent around 12 hours behind the wheel, and breaking up the drive made the trip much more enjoyable. Along the way, we passed through three toll gates, each charging 200 ZMW.
The first 335 kilometres took us about six hours on an excellent road. The tarmac was smooth, the carriageway was wide, and driving was relaxed and comfortable. We made good progress without any surprises.
Everything changed after crossing the Luangwa Bridge. The remaining 241 kilometres took us another six and a half hours, even though the distance was much shorter. The road became narrow, with countless potholes that demanded constant attention. On top of that, we had to climb the steep escarpment overlooking the Luangwa Valley, a section full of tight bends, long climbs, and descents.
Heavy cargo trucks made the drive even slower. Overtaking opportunities were limited on the winding mountain road, so there were long stretches where we had to follow at their pace.
Despite the challenging second half, the scenery around the Luangwa Valley was well worth it. The dramatic escarpment, lush vegetation, and views over the valley made this one of the most scenic drives we have experienced in Zambia. Just don’t expect to cover the final stretch quickly—the condition of the road and the heavy truck traffic will keep your average speed much lower than you might expect.
Parking location – Luangwa Bridge: 15.0054089S 30.2151999E (🚻,🚿,💦,🔌,🍽️,🅿️270 ZMW/pax)
Parking location – Lusaka: 15.5029419S 28.2651458E (🚻,🚿,💦,🍽️,🅿️14 USD/pax)