Does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel to stay in in Dar-es-Salaam for 2 days before the hunt starts. My friend needs a good hotel close to the airport. Any info will be nice.

I dont' know of any hotel in which one would want to stay near the airport. There was a discussion here about some renovated hotels downtown... of course there is the Sea Cliff which the the location where one would most likely see safari bound PH's and clients. Breakfast on the "cliff" is pretty special, btw.

See the post in African Travel under Oyster Bay Hotel. There is nothing near the airport of any interest.

IF.....it is still there...I suggest "The New African Hotel". They even have their own brand of bottled wine! Great place to eat.

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
I dont' know of any hotel in which one would want to stay near the airport. There was a discussion here about some renovated hotels downtown... of course there is the Sea Cliff which the the location where one would most likely see safari bound PH's and clients. Breakfast on the "cliff" is pretty special, btw.

Yes i agree it was very nice...

quote:

Breakfast on the "cliff" is pretty special, btw.

And I found dinner to be outstanding

Whatever you do, don't go cheap. I overnighted in Dar in 2000 and made reservations at a moderately priced hotel recommended to me by a local employee of the small airline outfit I was flying with to Arusha. It was around $50-$60. Big mistake as her idea of moderately priced and my idea of moderately priced were about two economic worlds apart.

I knew I was in trouble when the cabbie pulled up in front of the place and there were people sleeping on the sidewalks. This place had seen it's better days back in 1955. Reminded me of a seedy hotel in downtown Detroit. But at 2am I was told nothing else was available. I stacked most of the furniture in the room against the door as an early warning system.

As I finally started to doze off the pre-dawn call to prayer thing started, first time I had every heard that in person. It certainly added to the ambiance.

Bottom line is whatever the high end places get is money well spent.

I would also recommend the Sea Cliff. My wife and I stayed there and felt safe. The food is good and you can't beat the view out on the Indian Ocean with the sea breeze.

MHC_TX:

There is little doubt that you are on the Indian Ocean when you see the dhows sailing up and down the coast!

A Dhow off the Dar

BTW, if time to shop is an issue, there is a little (and very secure) shopping mall now located right next to the Sea Cliff.

My wife and I have stayed at the Sea Cliff everytime we have been to Dar. It is a breath of fresh air and has great views of the Indian Ocean. The Chicken livers are very tasty at the outdoor restaurant and the sunrises are beautiful. The pool and air conditioned rooms at the end of a safari are hard to beat. The new mall is a plus ( under construction when we were last there). They will set up transport for anywhere you want to go. Lots of fellow hunters there ane rusty PH's to talk to.
Robert

I spent two nights at the Sea Cliff going in for my hunt, and got a day room on the night I left after the hunt. The relaxation before the hunt after all the flying and the cleanup and rest before the long flight home were planned but their importance was magnified when looking back. The experience was of the hotel itself was very special, the food the best and the hospitality exceptional. One of the many highlights of the African experience that can never erased from ones memory. It goes without saying that the hotel has an ambience all it's own that starts with the "Masai" door guard and is added too after you enter the threshold. Good shooting.

The Royal Palm and the rebuilt New Africa are quite good but in part because of its location the Sea Cliff is the best.

VBR,

Ted Gorsline