Our Kafue National Park Restaurant Guide is here to advise you of what type of food to expect in the park as well as in Zambia. For further information on food and restaurants in Zambia, visit our Zambia Restaurant Guide page. For all the shopping tips in Kafue National Park especially about souvenir purchases check our Kafue National Park Shopping Guide .

Food & Cuisine in Kafue National Park

Food in Kafue National Park and Zambia holds out the promise of a culinary adventure. There are diverse cuisines and innumerable restaurants dotting Zambia's important towns and cities. Many of these eateries sing high praises of their chefs' skills; the competition obviously, is stiff! But what's the Zambian food and cuisine like?

Zambian cuisine

Within days of your arrival in Zambia, you'll have figured out that 'nshimi', porridge made of ground maize, reigns supreme in the cuisine of Zambia. The dish also occupies a pre-eminent position in the cuisines of Zimbabwe, where it is called 'sadza', and South Africa, where it goes by the name of mealie-pap. Whatever the meal, nshimi is omnipresent - as a thin, breakfast food eaten with sugar, or with a thicker consistency (like mashed potatoes), for lunch and dinner. During the main meals, nshimi is accompanied with a tasty relish which could be made of dried fish, meat or tomatoes.

As not all safari camps and lodges offers 'nshmi' especially the ones that cater primarily to outsiders, make sure you request this local dish when eating in Kafue National Park. However, small restaurants in towns, with their restricted menus, will always have it on their menu and invariably, you'll find yourself eating 'nshimi' with fish, 'nshimi' with meat or 'nshimi'' with chicken!

International Cuisine in Kafue National Park

The unadventurous have little to worry about. The hotels, small lodges and safari camps in Kafue National Park and the country  will cater to a varied, global clientele and serve international cuisine. Many first-time visitors who may arrive here with some trepidation in their minds about the availability of suitable food are often pleasantly surprised by the excellent quality of the cuisine. However, it would be unwise to expect too much variety. Campers can bring their own food or join in the dining arrangements at the nearest Kafue National Park lodge.

There are no restrictions against the consumption of alcohol in Kafue National Park. Many lodges operate their own bars, with the facility of settling bills before departure.

Visitors are advised not to try out food sold by street vendors.

Among local specialities, there's a tempting array of fresh water fish, cooked in the traditional style. Some of the species available are bream, Nile perch and lake salmon, generally sourced from the Zambezi, Luapula and Kafue rivers.

Food supplies in Kafue National Park

Travellers who plan to drive around Zambia and cook their own food should stock up on supplies in large cities like Lusaka. The Shoprite supermarket chain, which has changed the face of shopping in Africa, is well stocked not only with essentials, but offers a wide selection of foodstuffs and other necessities that an overseas visitor will require. In smaller towns, stores tend to cater primarily to local needs. While there will be no shortage of basics, such as bread, flour, rice, fish, soups, meats and canned vegetables, choices are extremely limited, and this can get boring after a couple of weeks.

When shopping for beer, it's wise to bear in mind that the traditional, dark beer changes flavour due to fermentation. There's ‘strong' beer or ‘fresh' beer, depending on your choice. If a bar you're visiting seems to score low on hygiene, then it is best to choose packaged brands of beer like Mukango, Chibuka, Golden, Chinika, or Chipolopolo.

Water drinking in Kafue National Park

Generally speaking, purified water is supplied to all main towns. Occasionally, there could be a disruption in supply, due to a breakdown, non-availability of chlorine, or similar issues. The locals, with immune systems that have been strengthened over time, drink tap water with impunity. Long staying visitors might acquire the same immunity gradually. However, for travellers coming here on a brief visit, the safest options are to drink boiled and filtered water or buy the branded varieties available in stores.

Lodges and bush camps in Kafue National Park use borehole water. The quality and taste of this water varies from sweet to salty or alkaline. However, it is generally bacteria-free and safe for drinking. If you're unsure, it's the best to check with a local whether the water is safe enough for an outsider to drink.