The African Tulip Hotel stands on Serengeti Road, close to the centre of Arusha, and is described as an upscale four-star property. It is a three-storey building without a lift, with Deluxe Rooms and Suites that sleep up to three. Rooms have air conditioning, a desk, a laptop-compatible safe, a minibar, a coffee and tea maker, complimentary bottled water, bathrobes and slippers, and designer toiletries. The suites add extra space, which suits a pair who like room to spread out or a parent travelling with a child.
Dining and facilities
A free buffet breakfast is served each morning from early to mid-morning, which helps before a safari pickup. The Baobab Restaurant serves other meals, and there is a bar and lounge, a poolside bar, a coffee shop and a snack bar. The outdoor pool is open through the day and into the evening. No spa is listed, so this is a hotel for a swim and a quiet drink rather than treatments. Free Wi-Fi covers rooms and some public areas, and parking is free.
Location
The hotel is about a fifteen-minute walk from the Arusha Clock Tower and the Maasai Market and Curios Crafts, and a couple of minutes by car from the International Conference Centre, the golf course and the Arusha Declaration Monument. The airport at Arusha is about a half-hour drive away. This central position makes it easy to explore the town on foot between park days, and it saves time on evenings out.
Who it suits
Couples and small groups who want a comfortable, well-run base without the scale of a large resort will find it a good fit. It is also practical for business visitors, with a business centre, a conference centre and meeting rooms. Families are welcome, and children under five may stay free using existing beds. Babysitting can be arranged for a surcharge.
Good to know
Because the building has no lift, ask for a ground-floor room if you have heavy luggage or limited mobility. Check-in is in the late morning to early afternoon, and the property notes that no front desk is staffed in the usual way, so a host greets guests on arrival; tell the hotel your arrival time in advance. Check-out is early. Card payments carry a surcharge, so carry some cash. Smoking is not allowed, and only registered guests may enter guest rooms. It is a calm, central option that balances comfort and value.
A few more tips
Confirm your arrival time before you travel because the hotel is run with a host who greets guests rather than a conventional front desk. Ask for a quiet room if the street is busy, and use the pool in the late afternoon after a day out. The walk into town is pleasant in the morning but take a taxi after dark, and ask reception to recommend restaurants within easy reach.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Baobab Restaurant
- ✓Poolside bar
- ✓Free buffet breakfast
- ✓Coffee shop
- ✓Business and conference centre
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Free self parking
Good questions
Is the hotel walkable to town?+
Yes. The Clock Tower and the Maasai Market are about a fifteen-minute walk away.
Is breakfast included?+
A free buffet breakfast is served daily.
Is there a lift?+
No. The building has three floors and no elevator, so ask for a ground-floor room if you need one.
