Must-see hotels in East Africa

  • Boomerang Hotel

    Rwanda

    On the slopes of Rwesero Hill, this no-frills local hotel and restaurant has presentable rooms (but saggy mattresses) and friendly staff. The hot water…

  • Liki North Hut

    Kenya

    If trekking the Sirimon Route, you will likely acclimatise here on the second night at 3993m. There is a river nearby, space to camp and a small hut that…

  • Kitanewa Guesthouse

    Western Tanzania

    This fair-value spot by the bus-truck stop has adequate concrete-cube rooms with bucket showers and squat toilets. It only has electricity at night for…

  • Namanga Maasai Hotel

    Kenya

    As basic as they come and really only for those on a real shoestring, the Namanga Maasai Hotel has unappealing digs in basic rooms arrayed around rather…

  • Chambai Hotel

    Masai Mara

    The rooms in this town-centre place, not far from the matatu stand, are a little dark and noisy, but they have balconies, small TVs and huge bathrooms –…

  • Atupenda Guest House

    Western Tanzania

    The Atupenda Guest House is one of the few options for spending the night here. The rooms are very basic, with pit toilets and bucket baths, but the owner…

  • UWA Kapkwata Guesthouse

    Eastern Uganda

    This simple place serves the Piswa trailhead, just east of the park entrance gate. Dorms and cabins have shared bathrooms and there are basic meals…

  • Midtown A Guesthouse

    Northeastern Tanzania

    This is a reasonable shoestring choice with no-frills rooms, but no food available. It's up the hill behind the bus stand (about seven minutes' walk).

  • Riverside Camp

    Southern Rift Valley

    Right at the lake's southernmost tip, this basic site sits beside a seasonal river and is really only worthwhile if the other sites are full.

  • Kamburu Public Campsite

    Kenya

    Mwea's most accessible campsite is very basic, with no water, toilet or kitchen facilities. It's close to the reserve headquarters.

  • Muivano II

    Northeastern Tanzania

    This very basic place offers bucket baths and dark, no-frills rooms. It's along the main road in Mtae. Meals are available nearby.

  • View Point Guest House

    Northeastern Tanzania

    This budget place is on the hill behind the bus stand (about seven minutes' walk). No food is served and the rooms are basic.

  • Alinda Guesthouse

    Uganda

    A reliable shoestringer, friendly Alinda has big clean rooms right on the main road and a shared shower block with buckets.

  • Guesthouse

    Northern Tanzania

    This unnamed and unsigned bucket-shower guesthouse is in the green-fronted building right near the entrance gate into town.

  • Rwenzori Salaama Hotel

    Southwestern Uganda

    If you get stuck in Katunguru, this basic lodge has the cheapest and cleanest rooms and a decent attached restaurant.

  • KWS Campsite

    Tsavo West National Park

    This basic public campsite is at Chyulu, just outside the Chyulu gate. Be prepared to be self-sufficient.

  • Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel

    Nungwi

    This beautifully situated, upmarket place was a standout in Nungwi for years, with a low-key ambience, luxurious sea-view chalets in mature tropical…

  • Ras Michamvi Beach Resort

    Zanzibar Island

    Occupying one of the most scenic locations on the island at the tip of the peninsula, Ras Michamvi sits on a bluff with expansive views. Idyllic, deserted…

  • Pili Pili House

    Zanzibar Island

    Pili Pili House is a three-bedroom beach house on a beautiful stretch of sand at the village of Bumbwini, 20km from Stone Town, about 5km beyond the…

  • Saga Beach Resort

    Burundi

    The Saga Beach resorts consists of the older Hotel Keza, which is set back from the beach with its block of comfortable if dated rooms, and the newer…

  • Waikiki

    Zanzibar Island

    Waikiki is a fun and friendly resort where Italian ownership means good coffee, great food (including pizza and ice cream) and a legendary Friday party…

  • Langi-Langi Beach Bungalows

    Nungwi

    This hotel has comfortably furnished rooms in a neat multistorey complex overlooking a swimming pool, with a deck on high stilts above the beach. It's…

  • Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

    Burundi

    With a prime lakeside setting, the Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika is the only four-star hotel in Bujumbura (and by extension, Burundi) with a huge swimming…

  • Novotel Bujumbura

    Burundi

    The only international chain hotel in town, the Novotel has all the four-star facilities you would expect from this sort of place. The only problem is…

  • Hotel Botanika

    Burundi

    There's an easy tropical charm to Bujumbura’s first, and only real, boutique hotel. The seven-room Botanika is a charming retreat from the rigours of life…

  • Hôtel Ubuntu Residence

    Burundi

    Perfect for those staying a while, all the apartments here have small kitchens, and larger ones also have balconies. Most rooms face the garden, which has…

  • Menai Beach Bungalows

    Zanzibar Island

    On a broad beach among palms and mangroves, Menai Beach Bungalows offers a unique opportunity to see a corner of the island so far unaffected by tourism…

  • Delta Dunes

    Kenya

    This remote, exclusive lodge sits at the scenic mouth of the Tana River and offers walking and canoe safaris (included in the price) amid the marshes. It…

  • Hotel Amahoro

    Burundi

    Filling the gap between a budget and mid-range hotel, the Amahoro has established a name for itself as a comfortable, centrally located place to stay with…

  • Hotel Dolce Vita Resort

    Burundi

    A five minute taxi ride from the city centre (BFr4000) and almost next door to the new, fortress-like US embassy, this pretty little guesthouse, with…

  • Bawe Tropical Island Lodge

    Zanzibar Island

    As an exclusive lodge on a private island, peace and privacy is guaranteed here. However, at the time of research this lodge was closed for renovation…

  • Shammah Hotel

    Burundi

    This well-run enterprise has spotless rooms with satellite TVs, small balconies and reliable hot water. Its central location and helpful staff are other…

  • Seronera Wildlife Lodge

    Serengeti National Park

    This Seronera icon burned to the ground in January 2015, and the property – built on and around the boulders – was being rebuilt at research time in mid…

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