There are several basic restaurants here, mostly in the old and new markets. All usually offer rather meagre fare of nshima and some form of relish for around Kw6,000–10,000. Fernando's Butchery, in the old market, can serve slightly more elaborate meals for around Kw15,000, if you give them a few hours' notice.

The shops in the old and the new markets have only the most basic essentials. The chances of finding even canned food here are slim. Both soft drinks and beer depend on a truck supplying them from Lusaka; news of its arrival spreads like wildfire through the town.

The local people live by subsistence farming and fishing; each eating just what s/he cultivates or catches. Hence, not much fresh produce reaches the market. You'll probably find just one or two varieties of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fish, roller meal for nshima, etc. Visitors should arrive with a good stock of food and drink – and the locals will probably be grateful for anything that you leave behind.