The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Zambia

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Zambia

Victoria Falls, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border Victoria Falls, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border

Visiting Zambia for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Zambia, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Zambia based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Zambia for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Zambia before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Zambia for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Zambia for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere

Lusaka, Zambia
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $228 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool

Located at Plot No 6111, opp MandaHill Mall, Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere has great rooms from $228 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a pool bar, and room service. It has a terrific 9.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love room service, a casino, a casino, a restaurant, and a restaurant at this relaxing hotel. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


View hotels on the map:

Jollyboys Backpackers

Livingstone, Zambia
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $31 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Jollyboys Backpackers which has nice rooms starting at $31. Offering an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 34 Kanyanta Road. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, golf, golf, free parking, and free parking which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms


Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara

Livingstone, Zambia
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $737 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Zambia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $737. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Mosi-oa-Tunya Road. You'll also find a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a bar which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room


Avani Victoria Falls Resort

Livingstone, Zambia
4-star Resort with prices starting at $369 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

With terrific rooms from $369, Avani Victoria Falls Resort, at Mosi-oa-Tunya Road provides an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a pool bar, and room service. Its terrific guest rating is 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a fitness center. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. Don't miss the pool bar which offers drinks and a fun area to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Playground
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club
  • Kids' club


Protea Hotel by Marriott Livingstone

Livingstone, Zambia
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $220 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Zambia

Protea Hotel by Marriott Livingstone has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant. The great rooms here start at $220 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Mosi-O-Tunya Road. Furthermore, it also offers a restaurant, a bar, a bar, laundry services, and laundry services, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka

Lusaka, Zambia
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $173 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

The great guest rating of Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka is 8.30 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $173, and it's located at Cnr. Church Road And Independence Ave. We also love the a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a bar which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room


The Royal Sichango Village

Livingstone, Zambia
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $85 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Zambia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

A cool place is The Royal Sichango Village because it has great rooms that start at $85. It has an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.10 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Off Sichang road Show grounds area just after maramba cultural village. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love a restaurant, scuba diving, scuba diving, a bar, and a bar at this convenient hotel. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka

Lusaka, Zambia
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $150 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a pool bar, and room service which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $150 (before taxes). It's located at 19029 Great East Road and has earned a guest rating of 8.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers room service, a casino, a casino, a restaurant, and a restaurant which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Zambezi Dusk

Livingstone, Zambia
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $1761 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Plot 749 B, Kazangula Rd, Zambezi Dusk has great rooms from $1761 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, laundry services, laundry services, free parking, and free parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort

Livingstone, Zambia
5-star Resort with prices starting at $264 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Zambia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort which has nice rooms starting at $264. Offering an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a pool bar, and room service, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at PO Box 60297. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a fitness center. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Kitchenette
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Playground
  • Infinity pool
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club
  • Kids' club


For more terrific hotel ideas in Zambia, make sure you also see Best Luxury Hotels in Zambia, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Zambia, Best Hotels for One Week in Zambia, Best Hotels for One Night in Zambia, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Zambia, or Best Business Hotels in Zambia.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Zambia?

Zambia Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$217

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Zambia. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Zambia based on data from 28 hotels is an affordable $217. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Zambia.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $325
  • 4-star hotels: $408
  • 3-star hotels: $108
  • 2-star hotels: $57


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