Lusaka - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
Mental health issues would be highly individual. I can't speak for others, but I struggled with this tour. I felt like excursions required a lot of effort and discomfort, while being home required living under a microscope, with all the staff and guards. Sometimes a girl just wants to walk around in her underwear and eat ice cream at noon, okay? That doesn't happen here. It's hard to feel like you can't ever really relax in your own home. My usual coping mechanism, local travel, was limited because of the expense and difficulty of getting places. Why would we travel five hours on terrible roads to stay in a cramped hut with no air conditioning in 95-degree heat full of spiders for hundreds of dollars, when we have a nice house with a pool and reasonably functioning AC at home? More adventurous folks who actually like hiking and camping as a hobby would likely feel differently here. My idea of a fun weekend away is exploring cultural sites, historic cities, museums, concerts, culinary destinations, nice beaches, or nature retreats (with AC/good linens) and that's not really the vibe here. This is an example of a "know thyself" post. - Feb 2026
Nothing of note. - Apr 2025
Not that I'm aware of. - Dec 2021
SAD is not an issue here - there's lots of sun, even during rainy season! Folks stay fit, by and large, and have an easy time getting around town (with some precautions), visiting each other, and attending other events. - Jan 2017
Haven't seen any. The weather here is divine - which really helps your mood. - Jun 2016
