On our way to South Luangwa National Park from Lusaka, we stayed a night at the Protea Hotel in Chipata. Protea is part of the Marriott hotel portfolio and is ubiquitous in Africa. I had never heard of this brand until I was searching on Marriott’s app for hotels in Chipata. About two and a half hours from South Luangwa National Park, Protea Hotel proved an excellent accommodation to break our journey.
Checking In
The check-in process was pretty straightforward. Upon entering the lobby, the modern and elegant look caught my attention. The staff was delightful and briefly informed us of the hotel’s amenities. The Mulombe Restaurant, their in-house restaurant, would still be open for two more hours if we were interested. After a nine-hour drive, we were hungry and decided to stay on the premises. I chose vegetarian lasagna, which was delicious.
Room
The room was clean and spacious, and looked like it had been renovated. The bed was comfortable, the pillows were perfect (I have difficulty sleeping on thick plush pillows), and the WiFi connection was more than adequate. Everyone slept well and rested well for the next morning’s drive to Mopani Safari Lodge.
Breakfast
The hotel offered a complimentary buffet-style breakfast with various breads, pastries, fruit, scrambled eggs, potato wedges, and beans. It’s similar to what you get at most Marriott chains. It was adequate and served our needs.
Hotel Amenities
The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, and conference rooms. All these areas were well-maintained; if we had the time, we would have likely utilized the pool.
Concluding Thoughts
I thought this was a great hotel with a modern and updated look. The dinner was excellent, the breakfast was good, the rooms were clean and spacious, and the staff was very friendly. If you’re traveling from Lusaka to South Luangwa National Park and want to break up your trip, I recommend staying at the Protea in Chipata.
Miles for places 
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