RE: Hostel near bus station in Lusaka
We stayed at the Lusaka Backpackers (LB) two years ago, and plan to again in a couple of weeks. Check out their website here: http://www.lusakabackpackers.com/default.asp</a>
Lusaka Backpackers is nice place former converted home with a pool and thatched bar/resturant that gives it a summer camp feel , and has a wall around it in a suburban neighborhood with large trees. We walked to the bus yard one day to check it out, and its a fairly long trek on foot but it can be done if you don't have too much luggage. We also got directions to a shopping mall that is also a nice long hike but we were able to find camping supplies and food to cook in the shared kitchen. LOL, someone did steel one of our eggs from the common refrigerator, but this is not an uncommon thing to happen in backpackers in our experience.
On that trip we had four heavy bags of camping equipment, etc so we asked the hostel to arrange a taxi for us to the bus station. The 5 am taxi failed to show up as arranged by the LB but the night guard eventually left his post and came back with a 'taxi.' Not sure it was official but it turned out fine, though drive got a 'fine' for driving us all the way up to the bus we needed in the dark.
The bus station area is very busy with few foreign travelers in evidence the days we were there. You probably will be approached by 'touts,' young men posing as baggage handlers who offer to help you but will also insist on a 'tip.' We witnessed one come on to the bus and You might want to ask the hostel to arrange a daytime taxi that they know and trust to help you to the bus station. Ask around at the backpackers the night before and there will probably be others who can share taxi to bus station with you.
One can also take the Post Bus places. Do a search on "bus" in Zambia forum.
There is another backpackers in Lusaka, Ku-Omboka Backpackers Hostel & Guest House, which, like the LB gets mixed reviews. Here's a link for it : http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-11669319-
