Tanzania Hotels and Accommodation

(Tanzania, TZ, East Africa)

Tanzania is by no means short of accommodation. Visitors can choose from a wide variety, including everything from city boutique hotels to campsites tucked away in the Tanzanian bush wilderness. Indeed, as a long-established and popular safari destination, there is a particularly good supply of 'on safari' accommodation.

Dar es Salaam is a bustling city that offers pretty much everything in the way of lodging. Familiar chain hotels in the city include the Hilton and Holiday Inn. High-end international-standard accommodation is amply provided by the likes of the Movenpick Royal Palm and Southern Sun hotels, both located in the heart of the city, on Ohio Street and Garden Avenue respectively.

Where to Stay

Visitors who prefer to escape the bustle of the city centre would do well to head for the coastal district of Dar es Salaam. For example, the Hotel Sea Cliff on the Msasani Peninsula overlooks the sea and is still within easy reach of most facilities in the city. There are also a variety of beach resorts in this part of Tanzania, such as the Sunrise Beach Resort, situated in Mjimwema, just 7 km / 4 miles from Dar es Salaam.

Budget rooms and hostel accommodation can be found in abundance, as can guesthouses. Whilst rooms in these establishments may offer little in the way of frills, on the whole, they combine comfort with affordability. In particular, the Uplands Centre Hostel, near to the University of Dar es Salaam, is popular with Tanzania travellers, thanks in no small part to its cooler hillside location.

The city of Arusha also has lots of accommodation to suit all budgets. A reliable choice with visitors is the Impala Hotel on Old Moshi Road, a short drive from the city centre. A good selection of lodges is also available in Arusha and the surrounding area, including the Kigongoni Lodge Hotel.

At the lower end of the market, Arusha has plenty of choice when it comes to budget hotels and backpacker-style youth hostels. The Arusha Backpackers Hostel on Sokoine Road is located within the city centre and provides low budget independent travellers a clean place to lay their head.

Safari accommodation in Tanzania can vary widely. For those on a limited budget, it's possible to enjoy the safari experience by staying at Tanzania's public campsites and using shared basic facilities. Luxury safaris offer more comfortable camping facilities, where lodging comes in the form of large tents with en-suite bathroom facilities. Often, it's possible to opt for a purpose-built lodge.

The Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp in the Western Serengeti features Edwardian-style camping, complete with chintz-covered chaises longues, four-poster beds and Persian rugs that wouldn't look out of place on the film set of 'Out of Africa'.