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History of Lilayi

The Lodge Story

Established in 1989, the game farm consists of a 650 hectare plot of land situated within the Miller Farm. Having initially been used as a cattle farm, Springvale Farm was bought in 1975 by Peter Miller. It was renamed ‘Lilayi Game Farm’ and numerous varieties of wildlife were introduced. This area of unspoilt grassland and woodland on the outskirts of Lusaka is renowned for its pristine trees as well as being home to more than 500 plains animals.

Lilayi Lodge was officially opened in November 1991 and has been well known as one of Lusaka’s main attractions for many years. In 2013 the Miller Family decided to completely renovate this iconic piece of Zambian History and create a first class establishment that showcases the best that Zambia has to offer.

The Miller Family

Miller Family History

A family owned business, Lilayi Farm has belonged to the Miller family for over 100 years. It is located in the Lilayi area of southern Lusaka, Zambia. P. T .Miller (1866-1938) bought Lilayi Farm in 1912 having arrived in Zambia in 1902 as a Maintenance Engineer working on the railroad connection from Kafue, in the South of Zambia to Sakanya on the Congolese border. The original farmhouse built in 1924, was declared a national monument in 1996 and is still a family home .The five Miller brothers (third generation), along with their late parents Peter and Annette, have overseen the development of Lilayi Lodge and Game Farm from its inception in 1989. The Miller family currently has members of the fourth and fifth generations still living on the farm.

Lilayi Farm, which surrounds the Game Farm and Lodge, breeds pedigree cattle and produces wheat, maize, soya beans and barley. The barley is used in the production of Zambia’s most famous beer – Mosi! Along with hospitality and commercial farming, the Miller family are supporters of wildlife conservation, the late Peter Miller being the Chairman of The Wildlife Conservation Society of Zambia and Polo. The Lilayi Polo Club, located on the farm, is an important asset to southern Lusaka. The Zambian polo season begins in April and one of the main fixtures is the Annette Miller Cup, an international tournament which has seen the likes of India, Ireland and the United States of America all being represented.