First trip to Tanzania. Any Dar Es Salaam hotel recommendations?

[Slickshooter]

First of all I want to say what a great resource this website has been for me over the past 6 years or so. As with many of you I have dreamed about going to Africa on Safari since I was a kid and finding the AH forums has helped bring this dream to a reality. I have been driving my wife nuts with all my research and potential landing spots for a grand African adventure and the majority of it has been spurred on from these pages on AH...I have learned so much.
Here's the deal, I am headed to the Selous this summer for my very first safari experience (along with my wife and 11 yr old son) and am looking at booking a hotel in Dar Es Salaam before and after the hunt. We plan on staying two nights in Dar before heading into the reserve and again one night prior to departure back home. The recommendations I have received are to stay at the Sea Cliff Hotel which looks ok but not ideal. Has anybody stayed in the other hotels in the city? There seems to be some nice ones downtown that actually have housekeeping if staying less than 3 consecutive nights as opposed to what I have gathered from the Sea Cliff. I have looked at a few on Expedia but was just seeing if anyone here had some first hand experience. Thanks

 

[spike.t]

Long time since I been.....but traffic I believe is horrendous...so take into account..last time stayed at the sea cliff but as said was years ago....seem to remember the bar was good ...who you hunting with?...ask where they recommend

 

[Safariswestcam]

I will say I have stayed at both the Sea Cliff and Blue Sapphire and without question the Sea Cliff is an amazing place to stay. The Blue Sapphire was fine for me with a super late arrival into Dar and early morning charter out of terminal 1. With the Sea Cliff being on the Indian Ocean and in a beautiful part of the city it is absolutely wonderful. Cannot speak to downtown Dar and will be interested to hear what others say, but I look forward to my Sea Cliff G&T and stay every year!

 

[mdwest]

https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/darhr-hyatt-regency-dar-es-salaam-the-kilimanjaro

The Hyatt (formerly the Kempinski) in Dar is excellent. It’s on the waterfront, near city center, etc…

For what it’s worth, my favorite restaurant on the planet is an Ethiopian place called Addis in Dar. It’s near the US Embassy… just a little hole in the wall… definitely not a [emoji6] star locale.. but the food is outrageously good, the atmosphere is eclectic and cool, and the coffee is divine…

Ethiopian Restaurant in Dar es Salaam

Addis in Dar is a family business serving Ethiopian cuisine in Dar es Salaam since 1998. We bring in our spices directly from Ethiopia where they are all homemade by family. We strive to offer the best we can to our customers and promote Ethiopia, its culture, history and people.

addisindar.com

 

[Slickshooter]

Long time since I been.....but traffic I believe is horrendous...so take into account..last time stayed at the sea cliff but as said was years ago....seem to remember the bar was good ...who you hunting with?...ask where they recommend

Thanks for the reply Spike. They recommend the Sea Cliff but the rooms that are available are not ideal for 3 people (2 twins or 1 King) along with no housekeeping lol. Now I do love G&T's but the wife may not be super impressed.

 

[spike.t]

What about adjoing rooms?.....I doubt you will find a family room like in usa ..or one with settee bed from my experience it's not a type of room you will find very often in hotels this side.and the first time I came across no housekeeping daily in hotel was in usa...at sci first time in Nashville....the madam was not impressed when we came back and room hadn't been sorted...went to reception and was informed only when you asked for it.....i was ....

 

[Rafiki]

Hunted TZ twice both times staying at Sea Cliff. Very nice hotel, good food, good service. I will stay there again in 2026.

 

[Graham Hunter]

I stayed at the Sea Cliff in 2023. Excellent Hotel in a good area. Lot's of bars and restaurants and a Casino. Great food. Great scenery. Rooms are cleaned on request. I wouldn't stay downtown. Too crowded and you are pretty much stuck in the Hotel.

 

[DLSJR]

I’ve always stayed at the Sea Cliff. It’s a great old hotel in a great location. Next time I’m in DAR, I’ll be staying at the Sea Cliff again.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Sea Cliff Hotel is great. Dar es Salam is organized chaos to say the least. Rent rooms and move on…also it’s the worst traffic I’ve seen.

HH

 

[DLSJR]

Sea Cliff Hotel is great. Dar es Salam is organized chaos to say the least. Rent rooms and move on…also it’s the worst traffic I’ve seen.

HH

You’ve never been on the 405 in Los Angeles! Worst traffic of all.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

[emoji6][emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]" data-quote="DLSJR" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

You’ve never been on the [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji6] in Los Angeles! Worst traffic of all.

Unfortunately I have. At least the 405 has dedicated lanes.

HH

 

[Hunting Hitman]

HH

 

[matt vejar]

Stayed at the SeaCliff Hotel in 2021 on hunt into Selous. Two restaurants for dining. Casino. Hookers everywhere but easy to stay clear of them. Tip- outfitter wanted to book room for me $350 a night . I booked it myself was around $180 back then. Do your own booking moral of story. It’s in a safe area.. My flight back to states was in early morning 4am ish. No traffic. 15 minutes to airport. Arrival was afternoon 1 hr plus for the ten mile drive. Choose early or late arrivals if possible. They cater to hunters and many outfitters use them.

 

[mdwest]

The Karenbezi restaurant at the SeaCliff is excellent… we didn’t stay there on my last trip (we stayed at the Hyatt/Kempenski…), but I had a meeting there… the jumbo prawns were the size of small lobsters, and were absolutely delicious.

 

[Slickshooter]

Appreciate the input fellas

 

[jpg]

Seacliff is when I stayed. The restaurant is awesome.
The seafood platter for one was
Delicious.

 

[Skshyk]

What you will be hunting I will be in the Selous June 1st!

 

[rafter3]

Sea Cliff was amazing!!

 

[Slickshooter]

Atta boy! I will be in the reserve on Aug 10-21. My focus is on 2 buffalo and also have availability for hippo, wildebeest, hartebeest, waterbuck, zebra, warthog, impala and duiker I believe. How bout you?