Lilayi lodge is a beautiful place. We had a warm welcome from the staff and nice romantic set up in our room as my husband and I just got married. We enjoyed the food and wind tasting and had fun walking the trails where we got to see wildlife.
What a beautiful, comfortable, exotic get away! The grounds are gorgeous in every direction that you look. The individual chalets are spacious, with comfortable beds and furnishings and a fabulous bathroom with wonderful local toiletries. We enjoyed sitting on our private patio viewing animals from time to time and listening to the lovely bird sounds. There are various hiking paths throughout the property. We took the 3 mile hike and along the way saw zebras and giraffes in the woods! The meals were delicious. We highly recommend the wine tasting with food pairings---delicious. And the staff is welcoming and friendly.
We knew Lilayi as a wonderful setting for lunches and chilling with friends, and had really looked forward to a special couple of nights here with our kids at the end of a very special holiday back in Zambia. The setting remains wonderful, and the staff are friendly and helpful, but we were sadly underwhelmed (given the prices) by our chalet, which was in serious need of repair and refurbishment. The food choices too are geared towards a certain type of dining and are not really appropriate for families staying more than one night (lack of healthy light options). So - overall still a special place for a night particularly when travelling without kids but maybe look elsewhere if you want or need to stay longer.
In order to have our COVID-19 test, we had to stay in Lusaka for two days before our departure to the U.S.A. The lodge was wonderful at making all the arrangements necessary, even though by our departure the requirement was dropped. After searching the Internet, it also looked like a place where we could walk and be in a bush like setting as a transition to going back to the hustle and bustle of the U.S.A. We are so grateful that we chose Lilayi Lodge as our stay was absolutely perfect! The chalets are stunning, lovely large room with a fridge, coffee and tea service and a bathroom that can only be described as sumptuous. There was a great shower and a soaking tub decorated with elephant towels. Leading out from the room was a covered veranda, where we spent two hours one afternoon watching monkeys play and bush bucks graze, while we played cribbage. Birds flew about, adding dashes of color to a blue sky. This was certainly the most amazing cribbage game of our twenty-five years together. The staff is professional and warm and were able to assist us with any request. From check-in to dining at the wonderful restaurant, our experiences were delightful. We chose Lilayi because we wanted to walk, and we did that on the walking trails by ourselves each day. We walked the 5k trail the first and last day, and the 10k trail on the second day. It was a wonderful way to still be in the bush safely, as there are no carnivores there, and start inching our way back into a more urban life that awaited us in Raleigh. For those who want, there are safari drives available as well as guided walks. It was much too cold to use the stunning pool, but the pool would fabulous in warmer weather. The grounds are a plant-lovers delight, with flowers and foliage to engage the senses at every turn. Just walking the immediate grounds was a pleasurable experience. As for the restaurant, the food was extraordinary. Every meal was a feast and all the food was sourced locally from a nearby farm and ranch. The waitstaff was knowledgeable and seamless in their service. We had the pleasure of having Peter twice as our server, and he is keen to present the best of his culture. We had a running joke about Puku that made us smile. Presentation was an art, an equal in every way to the actual flavor of the food. I would strongly recommend to anyone who needs to stay in Lusaka for any amount of time to select Lilayi Lodge as your place of residence. While we were there, many locals came for celebrations or weekend getaways. It will certainly be our go-to place every time we travel through Lusaka.…
I have just spent 2 days at Lilayi Lodge and can highly recommend it. It is set in a private park with several antelopes, giraffes, zebras, etc. roaming freely in the park. The lodge is surrounded by trees in a very relaxing environment with a swimming pool. The staff are friendly, professional and helpful and the food was very good. Accommodation is very comfortable with a small heater for cold nights.
We went to the lodge as we had a day to spare in Lusaka before catching our connecting flight. Very friendly. Lodges clean and nice. The grounds are breathtaking, lovely play area kids loved. The food was amazing delicious, they have transfer to the elephant nursery, scenic tracks for walking or running. Great place for a day trip as well.
For a family of 5 with children aged 12 8 8 . S nice space to spend time and relax. The children no absolutely loved it. There is a small pool , obstacle course which they loved . There is also the elephant orphanage . The sleeping lodges are soo comfortable .the food is really good quality snd tasty compared to a moderate experience from food prospective in Zambia. I fully recommend it for a family as well as couples since we met a couple who also liked the experience. I did my 10k run around the park. Loved it. For Muslims there is halal chicken
We came here after visiting the elephant orphanage and the ambient is very nice. After enjoying that incl. the pool we had some bites to eat which were also quite good. Afterwards we went for one of the walks in the park around were you be able to find giraffes as well as impalas and other wildlife. So all in all a good place to visit while in Lusaka.
Great people, great service! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. I hope that as COVID restrictions are lifted globally more tourists will visit. Despite the lack of guests every effort was made to maintain a high level of service.
The chalets are very spacious and tastefully furnished with a wonderful deck out the front overlooking the garden and into the bush. the bathroom is large with a bath as well as a decent spacious shower. Buck & other animals roam freely around the chalets which gives the lodge a really nice "wild" feel. The food at the restaurant was outstanding - the crayfish tagliatelle was delicious.
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