Living, Working, and Glowing Up in Lusaka, Zambia

If you’re curious about Lusaka Zambia digital nomad medical tourism, this is the real-life version. When I first landed in Lusaka, I thought I’d just pass through—but the mix of remote work life, affordable healthcare, self-care upgrades, and easy safari escapes changed my plans fast.

I ended up spending two separate stints here—one before and one after visiting Livingstone—and both times I felt surprisingly at home, even while juggling my overnight remote work schedule.

Coworking & Night Shift Life

As a digital nomad working U.S. hours from Africa, I was worried about load shedding (rolling blackouts) interrupting my workflow. So I signed up for a coworking space in town with backup power—just in case.

But to my surprise? The power cuts never actually affected me since most places have backup power.

Still, it felt strange walking “into the office” each night after years of working from home or cafés. I’d clock in at 4pm while the world around me slept, then clock out just in time for sleep around midnight, or later if I had Spanish classes to teach.

Slow Mornings & Simple Pleasures

During the day, I kept things light:

• Walks and runs through tree-lined neighborhoods
  
• Grocery runs for fresh produce, yogurt, and a few comfort foods
  
• A visit to a favorite café with solid Wi-Fi and great chai
  
• Time to just exist slowly, without needing to pack in a million things
  

Weekend Safari at Lilayi Lodge

One weekend, I treated myself to a mini getaway at Lilayi Lodge, just outside Lusaka. It felt like a reset button:

• Pool time and a frozen daiquiri
  
• A good book and long, quiet hours of reading
  
• Delicious meals and attentive service
  
• A self-guided safari walk and a safari drive where I spotted impala, bushbuck, hartebeest, sable antelope, monkeys, and more as the sun dipped low on the horizon
  

It was calm, beautiful, and just the right mix of luxury and nature.

A Quick Return and One More Safari

After a few weeks in Livingstone, I returned to Lusaka before flying to Nairobi. This time, I squeezed in a quick visit to Lusaka National Park, one of the world’s smallest national parks—but still a fun, wildlife-filled escape just 30 minutes from the city.

During our short safari, we saw:
🦬 A massive Cape buffalo calmly grazing
🦏 Two protected white rhinos, the park’s pride
🐘 A baby elephant being bottle-fed at the Game Rangers International center
🪲 A very determined dung beetle doing its thing
🐦 Plus a few local birds along the way

A lovely way to end my time in Zambia on a wild note.

My Lusaka Glow-Up: Medical & Cosmetic Tourism Edition

After realizing during my first visit that healthcare and beauty services in Lusaka were incredibly affordable—even cheaper than Mexico—I came back ready to tick a bunch of things off my “when I have time” list.

Here’s what I squeezed into just 10 days:

🩺 Annual OBGYN checkup, routine bloodwork & screenings
👁️ Eye exam (first one since LASIK…11 years ago!)
👂 Got multiple ear piercings I’ve wanted for years
🖋️ Several tattoos I’d been dreaming about forever
💆‍♀️ A facial, eyebrow threading, and lash extensions
🧴 Stocked up on meds & skincare products from the pharmacy
💇‍♀️ Balayage, deep conditioning, and a trim for my hair

💡 Fun fact: The prices in Lusaka were a fraction of what I’d pay in the U.S., and often lower than in Mexico. And while the tech wasn’t cutting-edge, the cleanliness, care, and professionalism were absolutely on point.

Lessons Learned

• Don’t book all your self-care in the same week (ouch 😅)
  
• Give yourself downtime between procedures—tattoos especially
  
• Lusaka is wildly underrated for remote workers, self-care, and chill vibes
  

I left feeling a little sore, a little sun-kissed, and a whole lot more refreshed—both professionally and personally.

Thinking About Lusaka? Here’s What to Know:

• 💻 Power cuts are a real thing, but rarely affect most people due to backup power
  
• 💅 Medical and beauty services are affordable and quality—just do your research and ask around for referrals
  
• 🦓 Safari day trips are totally doable from the city
  
• 🧘‍♀️ It’s a great place to slow down, reset, and get things done without the chaos of a big city
  

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