Lusaka is one of Africa's unexpected gems. Its bustling chaos has a certain charm that is just Zambia. Tourists passing through the capital may not see the immediate reason to stay. Given the opportunity - try it, it's fascinating.
 
The main thing about Lusaka is its energy. Not perhaps of the same ilk as the Big Apple, but an African energy, propelled by that need to survive.
 
It's a sprawling, unplanned metropolis with many multi-storey buildings, high-walled suburbs and busy shanty towns. Its fast growing industrial development has brought together people of many nationalities, making it a thriving melting pot for economic, political and cultural activities.
 
The markets are a hive of activity, the thousands of stalls are filled and cleared every day. A myriad of motor spares dealers, restaurants, hairdressers, fishmongers, fruitsellers and rows and rows of "salaula" - discarded clothing from the West sold to Africa by the bale.
 
Venture out to a nightclub or roadside shebeen and "get in the groove", so to speak, of the local people. Dance the night away to the sounds of rhumba, kwela, techno or good old rock 'n roll.