Zambian Food Cooking Class in Lusaka: Learn to Cook Nshima

Cook nshima, kalembla, roasted groundnuts and cassava, then eat what you made

A hands-on cooking class in Lusaka where you prepare traditional Zambian dishes in your own accommodation with a live English-speaking guide. You'll learn to make nshima (maize-meal porridge), kalembla (sweet potato leaves), and other local staples, then sit down to lunch with what you've cooked. The class runs three hours and includes all cooking utensils, ingredients and bottled water. Children from age 3 are welcome.

The experience

The instructor arrives at your self-catering accommodation with ingredients and equipment ready. You work together in your own kitchen, learning how to prepare dishes that form the backbone of Zambian meals: nshima, the staple maize-meal porridge that anchors almost every plate; kalembla, tender sweet potato leaves cooked with tomato and onion; chibwabwa, pumpkin leaves prepared the same way; roasted groundnuts and cassava for texture and depth. Questions are encouraged throughout, and participation is the whole point. You're not watching a demonstration, you're doing the cooking.

Once the three hours are done, you sit down to eat the meal you've made. The instructor leaves you to enjoy it, so lunch becomes your own time to taste what traditional Zambian food actually is, prepared the way locals prepare it at home. The class works for families with children from age 3 onward, and the pickup is included, so the only logistics are deciding when the instructor should arrive.

What’s included

• All cooking utensils and ingredients.
• bottled water.
• lunch.
• pickup included.
• live English-speaking guide throughout the three hours.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 12:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (21 to 45 years) · Senior (50 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 20 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (3 to 4 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Clare Malata

Is this one for you?Three hours leaves the rest of your day free, so you can fit this into a morning or afternoon without it consuming your whole schedule. If you're staying in a self-catering place, the class happens right in your kitchen, which means no travel time and you eat where you cooked.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 20 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (3 to 4 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I have the cooking class at my hotel or rental apartment?

Yes. The instructor comes to your self-catering accommodation, so you cook in your own kitchen. If you're staying in a place with cooking facilities, the class happens there.

What dishes do you actually learn to make?

Nshima (maize-meal porridge), kalembla and chibwabwa (leafy greens cooked with tomato and onion), roasted groundnuts, cassava, and chicken prepared the Zambian way. The menu shows you the core dishes. The instructor can adjust based on what's available and what you want to learn.

What's included in the three hours?

All cooking utensils, ingredients, bottled water, and lunch. You don't need to buy anything or bring equipment. The instructor brings what you need to cook and eat.

Do I need cooking experience?

No. The class is designed for people learning Zambian cooking for the first time. The instructor walks you through each step and welcomes questions at any point.