Must-see hotels in West Africa

  • Miramar

    São Tomé

    While older than its nearby flagship sister, the Pestana São Tomé, the Miramar is the better deal. Instead of entering resort-land, you get the feeling of…

  • Dakosta Island Beach Camp

    Guinea-Bissau

    Newly opened by Bissau-Guinean-American champion kickboxer Adlino Costa, this camp on Ilha de Bubaque feels worlds away from the relative bustle of town –…

  • Hotel Ogooué Palace

    Gabon

    This is a smart place with rooms set around the garden, river views and a great pool. It's very popular at weekends but you'll have the place to yourself…

  • Olando Tchoua La Maringa

    Gabon

    Recently reopened, this is a fun place for weekends. On offer are a diverse medley of entertainment from games tournaments to karaoke, drumming, salsa,…

  • Djidjack

    Senegal

    Run by a Swiss couple, welcoming Djidjack has round bungalows with conical thatch ceilings, African artwork and a small terrace. Budget travellers can…

  • Anomabo Beach Resort

    Ghana

    Tucked away on a quiet, clean stretch of beach, this collection of huts and cottages, set within a sandy and shady grove of coconut palms, is deservedly…

  • Bonthe Holiday Village

    Sierra Leone

    The only hotel on Bonthe, this place is firmly aimed at game fishermen, who come down from Freetown to search for tarpon in the local estuaries…

  • African Dream Hotel

    Ghana

    Set in pretty landscaped gardens complete with wandering chickens, African Dream offers charming, if slightly careworn, rooms as well as a decent…

  • The Place

    Sierra Leone

    The most luxurious hotel on the peninsula, The Place offers airy bungalows with soaring ceilings, large bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks and coffee…

  • Centre Songhai

    Benin

    Built to accommodate its numerous visitors, the 70 rooms at Centre Songhai are spartan but clean. Fan rooms have a shower cubicle but shared toilets; the…

  • Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel

    Accra

    Originally a gift from the British government after Ghana’s independence in 1957, the Ambassador Hotel was rebuilt in 2011 for Swiss chain Mövenpick. But…

  • Almond Tree Guesthouse

    Ghana

    It's the hosts' friendly welcome that makes this guesthouse so special. Originally from Jamaica, the family settled in Britain and then here. The rooms,…

  • Lango Camp

    Republic of Congo

    A satellite camp of Mboko Camp, Lango has the more enchanting position, overlooking a massive jungle clearing and bai, where buffaloes, elephants and many…

  • River Lodge

    Gabon

    Modern two-storey wooden cottages look out onto the river or the beach here. It's an idyllic setting with palm trees and a pool. The beach-side restaurant…

  • Chez Sandro

    Santo Antão

    The last lodging option up the valley from Vila das Pombas is Chez Sandro, a hostel-like guesthouse run by a Frenchman and his Cabo Verdean wife. It has…

  • Hotel Seme Beach

    Cameroon

    Not in Limbe itself, but 18km beyond along the rain-lashed coast, this is a good choice if you want to enjoy the beach and creature comforts. The location…

  • Tokeh Beach Resort

    Sierra Leone

    Tokeh Sands, which has sleek, white rooms with 24-hour power and air-con, opened here in 2013. You can swim out to the old helipad nearby, or kick off…

  • Roc Heights Lodge

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    This three-storey villa sits in a quiet garden that makes the bustle of Bakau suddenly seem very far away. Self-catering apartments, with a decor of…

  • Complexo Mira Rio

    São Tomé & Príncipe

    Your best in-town option, this spick-and-span hotel is nicely located opposite the Papagaio River bridge, with a small grocery store downstairs. The rooms…

  • Casa Marisa II

    Cabo Verde

    About 1km before reaching the village, this German–Cabo Verdean-run guesthouse has pleasant rooms set around a lava-stone-filled courtyard. It also has a…

  • Leybato

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    This lush, oceanside property has a fantastic location, though the aging accommodation is in need of an update. Thatch-roof bungalows vary in quality and…

  • Praia N'Guembu

    São Tomé

    This bungalow resort was about to open during research. It's similar to neighbouring Praia Inhame ecolodge, but with a few disadvantages: the beach is not…

  • Quinta da Montanha

    Cabo Verde

    The hilltop Quinta da Montanha has pleasant if a little chintzy rooms, most with terraces and gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. The restaurant…

  • Kongou Camp

    Gabon

    This camp is close to the Kongou Falls in the national park and is run by the NGO Fondation International Gabon Eco-tourisme (FIGET). Visits here to view…

  • Hôtel Savanah

    Guinea

    With a wonderfully helpful management who'll go out of their way to please, and quiet, tidy rooms with floral bedsheets, this is as good as it gets in…

  • Kakatar Residence

    Dakar

    A peaceful option tucked on a sandy backstreet in Yoff, Kakatar is a four-storey building topped by a lovely roof terrace with sea views. It has well…

  • Paloma Guesthouse

    Sierra Leone

    The scrupulously clean rooms come with TV and mini-fridges. Plump for one of the deluxe rooms on the first floor, which are a good deal more spacious and…

  • Sasakawa Guesthouse

    Cape Coast

    Originally built to accommodate Cape Coast University's visiting lecturers, this modern facility on the university's beautiful campus is now open to all…

  • Family Kingdom

    Sierra Leone

    Don't mind the deer, they're tame, and part of the weird, wonderful family at this Lumley Beach hotel. The rooms, some of which have kitchenettes, are…

  • Hexagon

    Nigeria

    Owned by a prince of the Benin royal family, Hexagon has a gallery which displays ancient artworks as well as contemporary pieces; the outdoor Coconut Bar…

  • Les Alizés

    Sal

    Right at the heart of town, the French-owned Les Alizés, has a mix of comfortable rooms with all the mod cons (flat-screen TVs, in-room fridges) but stiff…

  • Ocean Bay

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    This massive, 195-room property in Bakau has bright, handsomely furnished rooms and suites with all the mod cons – air-con, in-room safe, flat-screen TVs…

  • Residential Avenida

    São Tomé

    An easygoing mix of locals and foreign visitors, this is the best midrange option. Spread out on ground level, it has a communal vibe, with a central…

  • Mboko Camp

    Republic of Congo

    Mboko's current incarnation dates from 2015, and it's an impressive place, set on an open strip of savannah peppered with giant termite hills. The rooms,…

  • Torre Sabina

    Cabo Verde

    Run by a German couple, Torre Sabina consists of one amazing double room with panoramic ocean vistas inside a funky tower right on Baixona beach in…

  • Fannabara

    Senegal

    This simple place with a few simple bungalows surrounded by greenery makes a fine but rustic base for exploring the delta. Knowledgeable guides offer…

  • Aylos Bay

    Ghana

    Set in lush green grounds right on the Volta River, Aylos Bay has clean, airy bungalows, some of which have small balconies with pretty garden or lake…

  • Aldeia Jerome

    Santo Antão

    This lovely garden hideaway with rooms and suites in two buildings is tucked away from the coastal strip along a footpath through banana and mango trees…

  • Radisson Blu M'bamou Palace Hotel

    Brazzaville

    Despite its architectural unpleasantness, Brazzaville's only international-standard hotel has a superb location in the centre of town overlooking the…

  • Hotel Akwa Palace

    Cameroon

    If money's not a concern then this is still the best choice in town, if for nothing else than its superb location in the heart of things in Douala. Rooms…

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