The Lusaka Hotel

The Lusaka Hotel is the oldest hotel in Lusaka, dating back to 1914 when it was first registered by a Canadian couple Mr and Mrs Councell. It is centrally located on Cairo Road.

1926 floods

In 1926, The Lusaka Hotel suffered a setback as a result of floods in Lusaka which caused damage to the drainage system on Cairo Road. The flooding of the city and the hotel may have been among the reasons why the Councell family decided to abandon and sell off the hotel business.

As the city grew, residents became increasingly aware of the need for a hotel in town. In 1926, Lonrho Africa secured ownership of The Lusaka hotel with the intentions of upgrading it to the prestigious status with an additional floor to make it a two story building.