Africa Travel Blog

Category: Tanzania

  • Best Day Trips from Dar es Salaam

    The best day trips from Dar es Salaam are worth taking the time to do if you have a few days in the city before or after going on safari or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

    One of the best day trips is a visit to Mafia Island. Reachable by small plane, the island is a beautiful place to get away from the urban bustle and relax on the beach.

    Another great day trip from Dar es Salaam is Bagamoyo. Just an hour north of the capital, the city is well known for its beaches and its rich history.

    If you are truly after beautiful beaches in Tanzania, Zanzibar makes for one of the top day trips from Dar es Salaam. In just a short flight or a two-hour ferry ride, you can find yourself in an island paradise that attracts visitors from around the world.

  • Best Hotels in Lamu

    With tourism as the major industry in Lamu, there is no shortage of hotels and guest houses on the island.

    Here is a list of what I consider to be the best hotels in Lamu:

    Baitil Aman Guest House in Lamu

    Baitil Aman Guest House
    Address: Shela, Lamu, Kenya
    Phone: +254 (0)733 37 53 80

    The Baitil Aman Guest House in Lamu, Kenya is located in the idyllic town of Shela. Away from the bustle of Lamu Town, the guest house is located a few minutes’ walk from the beach. It is also just down the street from the Peponi, the hotel that is famous for being the happy hour spot of choice for visitors to Shela.

    The Baitil Aman Guest House is situated in a 200 year old traditional house on a quiet street in Shela. The guest house is full of great antiques and picturesque doors, and is a photographer’s dream come true.

    Rooms at the Baitil Aman are huge and offer great views of Lamu. Some rooms come with extra beds. Each room at the Baitil Aman Guest House has an ensuite bathroom (bring your own toiletries), mosquito nets, a desk, and wireless Internet access (one of the few places in Lamu to have it).

    There is plenty of hot water for showers at the guest house, although water pressure can sometimes be low. Power outages in Shela are frequent during the day and in the middle of the night, but are rare in the mornings and evenings. Bring a flash light just in case, but don’t be too worried about needing it at the guest house.

    The roof terrace at the Baitil Aman Guest House is the perfect place to enjoy dinner under the stars. The restaurant serves up amazingly good food, including Hot and Spicy Crab (1200 KES), and a delicious whole lobster (2000 KES). Other good menu items include the jumbo prawns (1500 KES) and vegetarian curry (600 KES).

    In the mornings and afternoons you can relax in the beautiful garden or the pillow-filled lounge area. Breakfast is included in the room rate and there is a great breakfast menu of omelettes, pancakes, Swahili tea, fresh tropical fruit, and more.

    The staff at the Baitil Aman are friendly and helpful, and are willing to go the extra mile to do things like laundry or fulfil other one-off requests.

    Rack rates for rooms at the Baitil Aman Guest House are 180 USD per night in the high season for a double room (120 in mid season and 100 in low season), but you can negotiate at 15% discount when booking. Laundry is free.

    Kijani House Hotel in Lamu

    Kijani House Hotel
    Address: P.O.Box 266, Lamu, Kenya
    Phone: +254-42-4633235

    Kijani House Hotel in Shela is one of the best hotels in Lamu.

    The Kijani House Hotel is nestled among 3,000 square metres of lush gardens and features two swimming pools and a path to the sea.

    Owner Pierre Oberson created the Kijani House Hotel to resemble a traditional Swahili stone house. As such, all 10 rooms at the hotel feature private balconies, beautiful dark wood furniture, and local and international antiques.

    Food at the Kijani House Hotel is cooked fresh daily with local fish and fruits and vegetables from Kijani’s own farm in the centre of Lamu. Most meals at the hotel feature seafood, Swahili dishes or Italian cuisine.

    Room rates at the Kijani House Hotel in Lamu range from 125 to 290 euros per night, depending on the type of room you select and whether you choose a meal plan or not. Airport boat transfers are included in all room rates.

    Peponi Hotel in Lamu

    Peponi Hotel
    Address: P.O. Box 24 80500 Lamu Kenya
    Phone: +254 (0)42 4633421/2/3

    The Peponi Hotel is one of the best hotels in Lamu, Kenya.

    The Peponi Hotel is located in Shela, a beach town just a few kilometers from Lamu Town, the island’s main port. The hotel is run by the Korschen family, who opened the hotel in the 1960’s.

    The 24 rooms at the Peponi Hotel all feature ocean views, mosquito nets, ensuite bathrooms, and ceiling fans. Superior rooms at the Peponi Hotel have private balconies.

    The Peponi Hotel has a restaurant that has been written up in the New York Times for its outstanding cuisine. It also features the most popular beach front bar in Lamu, which serves alcholic beverages (a rarity in Lamu).  The bar is a great place to have a sunset cocktail on the beach, but make sure to stay on the non-guest side of the bar if you’re not staying at the hotel.  Staff at the Peponi can be quite hostile to visitors that stray into the guest-only area.

    An ocean front pool and lush gardens round out the Peponi Hotel’s offerings, and make it one of the best hotels in Lamu.

    Rooms at the Peponi Hotel start at 200 euros per night for a standard room (breakfast included). The hotel is closed in May and June, which is the low season in Lamu.

    Msafini Hotel in Lamu

    Msafini Hotel
    Address: P.O BOX 226 Shella, Lamu, KENYA
    Phone: +254 720223043

    The recently opened Msafini Hotel in Shella on Lamu island, Kenya is one of the best mid range hotels in Lamu.

    Msafini Hotel features large, spacious guest rooms, a beautiful pool, a balcony on every room, sea views, a relaxing rooftop lounge, and great food.

    Msafini Hotel has great staff that are friendly and helpful. Rama and Faraj are particularly commendable for their great service and welcoming attitudes.

    Room rates at Msafini Hotel in Lamu are flexible, so negotiate if you are going to stay more than one night. Breakfast is included in the room rate.

     

     

  • Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

    Dar es Salaam is the traditional capital of Tanzania and is the most important city in Tanzania economically. Located on the coast of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam is home to beaches, harbors, and other maritime activities.

    People visiting Tanzania can check out Dar es Salaam’s cultural sights in addition to its coastal beauty. Dar es Salaam’s Zoological Gardens, National Museum, Village Museum are all open to visitors.

  • Simba Camp in Ngorongoro Crater

    Simba Camp in Ngorongoro Crater is the only common campsite in the park. With basic facilities that are frequently described as “so-so,” Simba Camp is not a Tanzania safari lodge for those that want a nice place to stay. Simba camp becomes crowded in the high season, but has basic amenities like showers and toilets.

    On the other hand, Simba Camp is a great place to stay in the Ngorongoro Crater if you want to be up close to the animals. There are no gates to the campsite, so animals are free to wander in and around Simba Camp as they please. There are guards in case of unforeseen incidents, but Simba Camp is peaceful most of the time.

  • NY Times: Mount Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro: On Africa’s Roof, Still Crowned with Snow
    By NEIL MODIE

    A THICK veil of snow had settled on Kilimanjaro the morning after my group arrived in Tanzania. Over breakfast, we gazed at the peak filling the sky above the palm trees of our hotel courtyard in Moshi, the town closest to the mountain. It was as Hemingway described it: “as wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun.”

    I had wanted to climb to the roof of Africa before climate change erased its ice fields and the romance of its iconic “Snows of Kilimanjaro” image. But as we trudged across the 12,000-foot Shira plateau on Day 2 of our weeklong climb and gazed at the whiteness of the vast, humpbacked summit, I thought maybe I needn’t have worried.

  • Best Places to Dive and Snorkel in Zanzibar

    Zanzibar, located in the Indian Ocean, is famous for its beautiful, clear water and great diving and snorkeling. Below is a list of some of the best places to dive and snorkel in Zanzibar:

    Diving in Zanzibar’s Pemba Reefs – There is a lot for experienced divers to explore while diving in Zanzibar’s Pemba Reefs, including the Emerald Reef, the Panza Wreck, the Misali Coral Garden and Mountain, the Mandela Wall, and many more.

    Diving in Zanzibar’s Stone Town – Stone Town diving is a good place to start, as it is easily accessible, inexpensive, and good for beginners or those needing a refresher dive. There are good wrecks around Stone Town that attract divers and snorkelers to the area as well. Stone Town wrecks include the Bahari Wreck, the Great Northern Wreck, and the Pegasus Wreck.

    Diving in Zanzibar’s Nungwi – Nungwi is farther out, but it’s few reefs are worth exploring. Divers flock to Leven Bank, Hunga Reef, and Nankiville for their variety of coral, fish, and sharks. The strong currents mean that Zanzibar’s Nungwi is best for experienced divers.

  • Visiting Tanzania and Zanzibar

    Buses from Dar Es Salaam to Kilimanjaro

    Bus in Moshi
    Originally uploaded by eat more chips
    The best buses from Dar Es Salaam to Kilimanjaro are run by the Scandinavia Express Services bus company.

    Buses from Dar Es Salaam to Kilimanjaro stop in Mombo, Moshi, and Arusha. The distance is 646 km from Dar Es Salaam to Arusha.

    There are eight buses a day from Dar Es Salaam to the Kilimanjaro area. The Super Deluxe buses leave Dar at the following times:

    08h30
    13h45
    16h00
    17h30

    The Economy buses from Dar Es Salaam to Kilimanjaro leave Dar at the following times:

    09h15
    14h40
    16h45
    18h15

    The cost of a ticket from Dar Es Salaam to Kilimanjaro (Arusha) on Scandinavia Express Services buses is 24,000 TSH for Super Deluxe and 15,000 TSH for Economy.

    Labels: Buses from Dar Es Salaam to Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

    Visiting Tanzania and Zanzibar links:
    Link here | 0 comments on this article
    Best Restaurants in Zanzibar

    Zanzibar is known for its spices and wonderful fresh fruit, so it’s no wonder that there is no shortage of great restaurants in Zanzibar.

    Here is my list of the best restaurants in Zanzibar:

    Tower Top Restaurant

    Sweet Easy Restaurant

    Sambusa Two Tables Restaurant

    Labels: Best Zanzibar Restaurants, Sweet Easy Restaurant, Tanzania, tower top restaurant, Zanzibar

    Sweet Easy Restaurant, Zanzibar
    Address: Shangani Road, Stone Town, Zanzibar
    Phone: 0777 416736
    Opening Hours: 11am-Midnight

    The best Thai food in Zanzibar is served up at the Sweet Easy Restaurant and Lounge in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Whether you want a good curry or another Thai specialty, this is your place.

    If Thai is not your thing or you’re looking for something more authentically African, the chef at Sweet Easy Restaurant also turns out some good pan- African cuisine.

    Sweet Easy Restaurant and Lounge is also known for its nightlife scene in Zanzibar. With a pool table and an active bar, locals and visitors alike enjoy the atmosphere at Sweet Easy.

  • NY Times: Mount Kilimanjaro

    Mount Kilimanjaro: On Africa’s Roof, Still Crowned with Snow

    A THICK veil of snow had settled on Kilimanjaro the morning after my group arrived in Tanzania. Over breakfast, we gazed at the peak filling the sky above the palm trees of our hotel courtyard in Moshi, the town closest to the mountain. It was as Hemingway described it: “as wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun.”

    I had wanted to climb to the roof of Africa before climate change erased its ice fields and the romance of its iconic “Snows of Kilimanjaro” image. But as we trudged across the 12,000-foot Shira plateau on Day 2 of our weeklong climb and gazed at the whiteness of the vast, humpbacked summit, I thought maybe I needn’t have worried.

  • How to Get to Zanzibar from Tanzania and Kenya

    Flights to Zanzibar from Tanzania and Kenya:

    There are regular daily flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, Pemba, and Arusha. There are also flights to Zanzibar from the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and some of the game parks in northern Tanzania.

    There are regular daily flights to Zanzibar from Mombasa and Nairobi, Kenya.

    Beware that Precision Air overbooks all of its flights to Zanzibar, so get to the airport extra early to avoid getting bumped to a later flight.

    Ferry to Zanzibar from Tanzania and Kenya:

    Ferries run regularly to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam and Pemba. There are also dhows to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Bagamoyo, and Mombasa.

  • Tembo House Hotel, Zanzibar

    Tembo House Hotel
    Forodhani Street, Box 3974, Zanzibar, Tanzania
    Tembo House Hotel Phone: 255 (24) 2233005

    The Tembo House Hotel in Zanzibar is right in the heart of Stone Town. A former American Consulate in Zanzibar, Tembo House is conveniently located on the beach and is close to many shops and restaurants.

    Part of the Tembo House Hotel is an old Arab house with authentic decor and design and traditional Tanzanian furniture. The hotel boasts a large outdoor swimming pool and great views of the ocean. The open-air restaurant at the hotel is a relaxing place to watch the sunset and enjoy a meal.

    Room rates at the Tembo House Hotel in Zanzibar are around 90USD per night.