Safe and convenient stay in the city centre and other Mwanza, Tanzania Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

The Lake Hotel is a good place to stay in Mwanza if you don't mind too much about a bit of noice and somewhat shabby rooms. To Tanzanian standards, however, this is a perfectly nice place with OK rooms. You can get single, double and family rooms to a good price which includes breakfast (bread, marmelade and coffee). The rooms have a bed, clean sheets, zink, toilet, shower (cold water unless you ask specifically for one of the rooms woth hot water) and a fan. Admittedly, the rooms look pretty worn down, and if you are not used to travelling in Tanzania, living in budget hotels and guest houses, maybe you would be better off getting a room at the New Mwanza Hotel, Tilapia, or Aspen. However, I think the combination of affordable rooms, nice staff, safety, (don't leave anything valuable in the room though), and short distance to the city centre makes it a good place to stay if you're in town for the weekend and don't plan on using the hotel for anything else than sleep and showering.

Unique Qualities: Small bar with a TV, taxis waiting outside at all hours of day and night.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 28 2500658
Directions: Next to the roundabout with a petrol station leading out of the city and to Tilapia - Fourways Junction

This is a good place to go if you're betting for a bit more comfort than the Lake Hotel. The X-mas Tree offers nice, safe rooms in a good neighborhood (breakfast included). All the essential facilities are there and as an extra bonus also a TV! I think it's definately one of the best good priced hotels in Mwanza, but keep in mind that it's by no means luxurious. They provide good service in the reception, and if you're going out at night the watch man will be more than happy to find you a taxi. Furthermore, there is a good bar down stairs and a restaurant.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 28 2502001
Directions: Kaluta Street

Tilapia is not only a wonderful restaurant, but also a hotel. Overviewing the lake it's the perfect place to stay if you want to relax and don't particularly fancy being in the town. They have a house boat on the lake with VERY nice rooms that look like cabins on a ship, or the regular rooms with all the facilities you can ask for. It's quite luxurious. You're garanteed good service, good food, peace and quiet, safety, and beautiful surroundings. If you're travelling with small children, this is probably the place to go. If you're a back packer, I would go somewhere else in town, as the prices here are very high. If you're resident you get a discount, and sometimes if you are lucky enough to run into the manager you can get a really good deal on the rooms.

Unique Qualities: Clean, good swimming pool, good restaurant, 24-hour service, bar, great view over the lake, best neighborhood in Mwanza, away from town.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Directions: Pass the train station and continue straight forward pass Capricabana. You can't miss it.

This is the biggest (and most fancy) hotel in town situated in the city centre. This is probably what comes closest to European/American standards when it comes to hotels. I haven't stayed there myself, but just by the looks of it, it's what you want to go for if you're not interested in more 'tanzanian' hotels. It really looks like all the nice hotels in Dar with a huge reception, hair saloon, bar, restaurant, juveller, sectretary, piccolos and what have you. This is also the place where well-to-do Tanzanians and white business men stay for the night. There is also a swimming pool that is a bit cheaper to swim in than the one at the Tilapia.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 28 501070/40622/56
Directions: You can't miss it. It's on one of the main roads. Ask anyone.

Check a peek at www.utalii.com/Hotels/Mwanza_hotel.html
Other Contact: E-mail: nmh@sukumanet.com

This is a very, very nice hotel in a good nieghbourhood in Mwanza. Slightly better than x-mas tree. Nice rooms, good beds, nice bathroom, tv, good service in the reception and very safe. A good choice if you're staying for the weekend or longer and want to experience Mwanza.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 28 42337
Directions: Uhuru Street
Other Contact: Fax: 2500988

This guest house is rather shabby and cheasy and I think only back packers and people who have stayed in Tanzania for a long time consider staying there. It's not only a hotel, it's also a night club (se description) and that makes it virtually impossible to get any sleep, unless you've got malaria or sleeping sickness! The rooms in themselves are actually OK with a clean bed and a bathroom. but still..... It's not exactly safe, and I only recommend it if your'e going partying anyway and only plan on staying for the weekend. On the positive side, it's extremely cheap and it's right in the city centre


Leave a Comment

Theme: Pension/Guesthouse
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Directions: Behind Salmas Cone

Geita Guest house lies in the same street as Deluxe Hotel, so it has all the disadvantages of Deluxe; hookers in the street, drunks and a lot of noice. But it is also very cheap and very central. It is a bit better than Deluxe and you CAN actually get a good nights sleep here. The rooms are OK - you can get everything from a single to a four-room with or witout bath, and it's more safe than Deluxe. The sheets are not always too nice, so bringing your own might be a good idea.... There are mosquito nets. There is also a very nice roof terrace - that is, it's not as much a terrace ad it is a roof, but it's nice to go up here at night time and watch the people in the street. Also there is a mini bar downstairs where you can get water and breakfast.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Pension/Guesthouse
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Directions: Near Deluxe behind Salmas Cone - Bantu Road

If you hate down-town Mwanza and just want to sit on the beach watching the sun set over the lake in beautiful, almost tropical, surroundings you should stay at Tunza Lodge. They have wonderful bungalows right down on the beach, a beautiful garden and absolutely no hazzle or disturbance (apart from the mosquitoes) as it's far away from the city-


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 028 2562215
Directions: Around 6 kilometres from the city centre on the way to the airport. A sign should lead the way - otherwise just ask locals

Check out www.ultalii.com/Hotels/Tunza_lodge.htm