Accommodation in Tanzania

Where to stay: Tanzanian guesthouses and hotels

The accommodation in Tanzania can be split into three sorts. Firstly, there are those that welcome tourists; secondly, there are those that accept them grudgingly. And finally there are those that refuse tourists altogether. This last category is usually the cheapest, but the hotels here often double as brothels and have minimum security. As a result, we think they can safely be ignored.

The first thing to say is that if you’re climbing Kilimanjaro, then your agency will doubtless include a couple of nights’ accommodation as part of your trek package. (What’s more, they will, of course, book you accommodation in a hotel that actually welcomes tourists!)

Some agencies, such as Kilimanjaro Experts, will offer you a roster of 15-20 hotels from which you can choose. While others will simply use the same hotel for all of their climbers, regardless of whether it’s suitable for them or not.

In the Kilimanjaro guide book we provide reviews of all the hotels you’re likely to stay at in Arusha, Moshi or Marangu. (These are the three places where you’ll doubtless stay before/after your trek.) We do this so that you can see where you’re staying (if your agency doesn’t give you a choice), or so you can find your preferred option (if you do get a choice).

How much, approximately, will you pay for accommodation in Tanzania?

Tanzanian room rates for the other two start at about Ts5000 per night; dorms are a rarity. Always take your time when choosing a hotel in Tanzania, particularly in the towns featured here where there are lots of options. Standards vary widely. But you’ll probably be surprised at how pleasant some of them can be, with mosquito nets, attached bathrooms and maybe even a telly.

Bear in mind that most hotels, as with the shuttle buses and other services, have two tariffs. One is for locals and people living in Tanzania (commonly known as the ‘residents rate’); then there’s a second, more expensive rate for foreigners. If business is slow, you can persuade some of the smaller hotels to charge you the residents rate. (This, of course, is regardless of whether you live in Tanzania or not.)

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