A simple, laid-back accommodation that is part of a camping site outside the city centre and roughly twenty minutes’ drive from the airport, Pioneer Lodge offers excellent value for money for an overnight stay in Lusaka. There are eight thatched chalets and a two bedroom cottage to choose from, each relatively spacious and airy, with high thatch roofs and stone floors. Each has an en-suite bathroom and a private terrace allowing guests to relax with a drink in the evening as the sun goes down.

Central to the complex is the dining and bar area under a thatched chitenje, where meat lovers can enjoy a traditional southern African barbecue for dinner. There is also a recreation area with a small swimming pool, table tennis and billiards tables, and a library where you can sit down and peruse a book about safaris and wildlife. Unpretentious, comfortable and welcoming, Pioneer is a great choice for a one night stay before or after a detailed Zambian itinerary.