Ndola is the capital of Zambia's Copperbelt, tucked into the crook of the country against the Congolese border. It is the second-largest city in Zambia and the main stop between Lusaka and Kitwe. The economy runs on copper — the mines have been here since the colonial era, and copper products are everywhere in the markets.
The city has a lively central market where you can find chitenge (wrap cloth), carved animals, jewellery, and all manner of copper goods. It is a friendly, walkable city, considerably more relaxed than Lusaka. The Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial, about 13 km outside town, marks the spot where the UN Secretary-General's plane crashed in 1961 under circumstances that remain disputed — a sombre but historically significant site.
The Copperbelt Museum provides the best overview of the region's mining history. The Slave Tree, a national monument, stands in the city centre — a living relic of the East African slave trade. Ndola serves mainly as a transit point on the way to or from the Congolese border, but it is a pleasant enough place to spend a night.