Zambia's International Trade Fair: Ndola's best kept secret with 8 tips for making the most of it!

Discovering another Copperbelt Hidden Gem: The International Trade Fair in Ndola

If you had told me a decade ago that a favorite annual tradition could be a trade fair in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But here I am, after years of hearing about it but never ever going, finally able to say it is worth it after all!

It's not that it's a secret, it's widely known through out Zambia, but for many years it remained a mystery to me.

There is an annual long weekend in Zambia consisting of 4 days - Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Heroes day) and Tuesday (Unity day). My first year of living in Ndola, everyone kept talking about "Trade Fair weekend" and I was getting my hopes up for this amazing fair! But when the weekend came, most people told me to not go saying, "it's just for kids, it's dusty and boring." So before I knew it, seven Trade Fair weekends passed us by and we never went.

Don't make the same mistake. If you live in Ndola, go take advantage of your own backyard! If you live in Zambia, go experience it at least once on your own to then decide if it's worth it or not to you! And if you live abroad? Considering 23 countries are represented at the international fair with over 100 foreign exhibitors and about 1,000 local exhibitors - it might just be worth attending!

Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Ndola has become one of those events I would now attend yearly as long as we are nearby because it’s not only a trade fair—it’s an all in one for cultural celebration, a business hub, full on entertainment, family-friendly (or solo-adult-friendly) and one of the best animal zoo and kids play arena experiences you’ll find in Ndola, Copperbelt, Zambia. If anything...go for the tigers! That was the main highlight for the 2025 fair - to see both an orange and white tiger and let our niece ride a camel!

A Bit of Background: History of the Trade Fair

The Zambia International Trade Fair has been held annually in Ndola—Zambia’s third-largest city—since 1964, the year Zambia gained independence. That makes it one of the longest-running trade exhibitions in Africa. The fairgrounds are vast, relatively well-developed, and have grown to host hundreds of local and international exhibitors showcasing everything from agriculture and technology to fashion, food, mining equipment, household goods and more! You can attend a business forum in the morning, grab a plate of freshly grilled nyama choma (Zambian-style barbecue) for lunch, and by evening, catch a live music performance from some of Zambia’s top artists. Where else can you do that?

The Cultural Side

Zambia is already one of the most peaceful and culturally diverse countries in Africa, with over 70 ethnic groups, and that richness is on full display at the trade fair. Walking through the fairgrounds feels like a cross-country cultural road trip. Traditional dance groups perform throughout the day, and many exhibition booths double as showcases for regional art, fashion, and handicrafts.

There are also international pavilions where countries like China, South Africa, India, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt and others display their innovations while infusing their cultural flavor—from clothing to décor to music. I do however wish there were more diversity and representation in the food cuisines offered!

Family Friendly but not family only!

One of the things that makes the Ndola trade fair such a unique experience is how versatile it is. It’s perfect whether you’re bringing the kids or heading out with friends.

For families:

• There’s a dedicated and impressive kids’ zone with games, inflatables, and mini-rides.

• Local schools often organize educational tours, so there’s a learning element woven in.

• Children can sample different foods, try crafts, see animals or simply enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

For adults (with or without kids):

• There are nightly live music performances, including reggae, Afro-pop, and gospel.

• The pop-up lounges are buzzing with energy.

• You’ll find Zambian street food vendors selling local delicacies like fritters, chikanda (African polony) and roasted maize.

• Networking opportunities are everywhere, whether you’re in business or just looking to connect.

Shopping is the main highlight with different stalls from all over Africa—everything from artisanal wood carvings to custom leather shoes to the latest tech gadgets is on offer. I most enjoyed buying items from Ghana and Kenya the first year we attended the fair!

8 insider tips for enjoying the Trade Fair:

When to go. Go on Sunday (or Friday) if you want to avoid large crowds. Monday is known to be the busiest day but will have all the stage performances. It runs daily Thursday - Tuesday of the long holiday weekend. Going early (especially on Sunday) will also help avoid crowds and heat!

Walking wear. We walked for about 3 hours and still didn’t go to every stall. It’s stroller friendly for the most part and was a lifesaver for 2 under 2 parent life. (Easy & close parking to the entrance on a Sunday.) Wear comfortable closed toed shoes for the dust and all the walking!

Weather wear. It’s “winter” in Zambia but in reality the cold weather is only when the sun goes down so dress code is still summer and the sun is strong with no cloud coverage this time of year! It gets dusty. It get's hot. Wear a hat, sunscreen and layers!

Pocket friendly. k40 entrance ticket adults, k30 for the zoo (worth it). Kids under 5 are free. Parking k30. Face painting k20, ice cream k10. Kids play pricing from k10-50 depending on the activity and amount of time. Prices cater to all of Zambia which was so nice to see for an international level event! Bring cash to keep it smooth and easy! Some booths might accept mobile money but not cards.

Activities. Ride the train, horses and camels! A zoo with lions, ostriches, peacocks, monkeys, tigers and more! All sorts of jumping castles and rides for kids. Inflatable raft rides. Face painting (which is just a premade wire stamp plopped on your kids face by a kid). There is simply so much to do!

Food. Fair amount of options and wide variety, but mostly all local or common to Zambia. I do wish they could bring in a more international or cross-continental cuisine experience! Just inspect the cleanliness, of course! It is typically alcohol free to keep it extra family friendly and safe.

Shopping. Interesting stands, and a good number of them! I most enjoyed some of the clothing, jewelry, plants and natural products. It was fun to buy and interact with artisans from Kenya, Ghana, India, Egypt and more! It might get repetitive each year but it felt diverse for a first timer and for Ndola.

Connect. All the ministry departments and numerous local and international businesses here to learn from and meet.

Final Thoughts

As an American who now calls Zambia home, I can say this: The Zambia International Trade Fair is an underrated event in Southern Africa. It’s colorful, energetic, welcoming, and more than just business. Yes it is dusty and a little old school, too. But it’s a celebration of innovation, culture, and community. Maybe it's because I went in with such low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by the energy, activities and set up of it all!

See you at the fairgrounds every first weekend in July in Ndola!

What else would you add if you've been? Let me know!