(155 rooms) corner Independence Av and Church Rd, PO Box 30666, Lusaka; tel: 01 251666; fax: 01 253529; tlx: ZA 42510; email: holinn@zamnet.zm; www.southernsun.com
The Holiday Inn occupies the site of the old Ridgeway Hotel. Its air-conditioned rooms are similar to those of the InterCon, and show little more imagination. They are functional and clean with showers and baths, AC, telephones, colour TVs (with M-Net), razor plugs, and tea/coffee-making facilities. Beds are queen-size double or twin. For a pampering, the beautician at Le Soleil practises aromatherapy and massage here.

On the ground floor there's the main Musuku restaurant, serving buffet or à la carte meals from breakfast through to dinner (at around Kw60,000/US$12). Alongside is McGinty's Irish Pub (open 10.00–midnight), which serves food (sandwiches Kw7,500, chicken and chips Kw30,000) until 23.00 against a backdrop of TV screens featuring an unrelenting diet of news and sport – a cool, dark retreat from the heat! However, instead of gazing into your pint here, try stepping outside into the central courtyard and studying the beautiful colony of masked weavers nesting over the ornamental pond. Just watch for the three small crocs that share the pond with a few nervous goldfish.

In front of either side of the entrance to the Holiday Inn you'll find offices for Avis and BA (PO Box 22006; tel: 254444/53/73; fax: 250623), and a very useful Barclays ATM under the watchful eye of the parking attendant. There's also a small shop selling all the basics, and Jagoda, an upmarket purveyor of curios, carvings and gemstones. The slot for a travel agency is occupied by a branch of the Zambian Safari Company.