Hotels play an integral role in every economy. For one, they are business concerns that provide jobs and pay taxes, thus contributing to countries’ GDPs. Also, they facilitate business activities by accommodating travelling professionals and serving as meeting venues for business-related events such as conferences and seminars.
With this in mind, we shall focus on some of Africa’s oldest hotels. It may surprise you to know that some of these hotels have been hosting guests for more than 200 years.
Read on to see the hotels and the countries they are in.
Note that this list is courtesy of an earlier compilation by Forbes. Business Insider Africa also consulted various hotel booking sites to establish each hotel’s current rates per night.
1. Houw Hoek Hotel, South Africa
Situated at the heart of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve in South Africa, the Houw Hoek Hotel is 80 kilometres from Cape Town. It has been around since 1779. According to information available on its website, guests can choose from an array of 81 luxury en-suited rooms. According to Booking.com, you can experience the luxury and rich history of the Houw Hoek Hotel for just $100 per night.
2. Hotel Continental, Morocco
Located in Tangier, Morocco, Hotel Continental was established in 1870. Its selling points include picturesque views of olden-day architecture and sprawling palm trees. The hotel’s website also provides information on free Wi-Fi and free breakfast. Rates per room start from $48, according to Booking.com.
3. Marriot Mena House, Egypt
Established in 1886, the Marriot Mena House is a 5-star luxury hotel in Cairo, Egypt. Like the Hotel Continental, this old Egyptian hotel has a scenic North African ambience, surrounded by palm trees and clear blue skies. The hotel offers an outdoor pool, restaurant, fitness centre, and spa. According to Booking.com, you can enjoy all the luxury of the Marriott Mena House for just $282 per night.
4. Hotel El Djazair, Algeria
This historical hotel was established in Algiers in 1889 and is modelled after Victorian-era architecture. According to Hotels.com, it is rated a 5-star hotel, and its exotic rooms cost about $174 per night. On its website, the company lists the following side attractions: onsite massages, body treatments, an outdoor tennis court, a nightclub, a sauna, and complimentary wireless internet access.
5. Grand Holiday Villa Hotel, Sudan
The Grand Holiday Villa Hotel has been in existence since 1890. It is located in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, and offers various services besides accommodation. These services include a gym, sauna, meeting facilities, a business centre, a barber shop, etc. The Grand Holiday Villa Hotel rooms are in different categories and thus come at various prices. These categories are single, deluxe and executive, and rates can be as high as $272 per night.
