Situated a few kilometres southwest of the large Nkana Mine, Kitwe is another large town which relies for its prosperity on a nearby copper mine. Getting to or from Kitwe is easiest by bus, and it's only about 65km from Ndola.

Like most of the Copperbelt towns, Kitwe has been in the doldrums for the past few years with a steady decline in amenities, activities and general infrastructure. However, recently it has also seen new shops and businesses opening regularly in anticipation of the Nkana Mine being privatised. The town centre, especially, has undergone a fairly dramatic change. If/when the full privatisation of the Nkana Mine takes place, a steady boom is anticipated and it is expected that Kitwe will expand considerably.

Getting there

By air
Kitwe has an airport – Southdowns Airport. It is about 25km west of the town on the Kalulushi and then Kalengwa roads. It is still used occasionally, although Ndola is a much busier airport.

By bus
Kitwe's main bus terminus is in Martindale (shown on some maps as the 'second class trading area') next to the main town centre. Here you'll find many departures for Ndola, plus daily minibus connections to Solwezi and Lusaka. There are also regular buses to the Luapula area and Northern Provinces, although buses on these long-distance routes will hang around until they fill, even if this takes a day or two.

By train
Kitwe is the end of the line from Livingstone that passes through Ndola and Lusaka, so slow trains connect it to Livingstone and Lusaka daily.

Hitchhiking
Like Ndola, Kitwe is a large town, so good hitch spots are a long walk from the centre. It is best to get a taxi for a few kilometres.