Lake Victoria
Despite cramped rooms (some with hot water) and peeling paint, this OK place is Nansio’s best lodging. It has the top restaurant, too.
Must-see hotels in East Africa
Lake Manyara National Park
One of two public campsites in the park, Campsite 1 is close to park headquarters and the park gate, with toilet and cold-water shower.
Kenya
Pitch your tent on this platform high up in a tree, overlooking an elephant watering hole. No facilities but great wildlife encounters!
Southern Highlands
An acceptable and clean town-centre option, Sativa's has reasonable facilities, and a decent restaurant and bar are around the corner.
Northern Kenya
Managed by the friendly Abdul, this is an excellent choice with several immaculate bandas and a sun-battered camping area.
Zanzibar Town
This unpretentious place has bland but reasonably comfortable rooms. Not all have nets or air-conditioning, so choose carefully.
Central Tanzania
The bizarrely named hotel is a cheery yellow-painted place with clean rooms, hot water, mosquito nets and en-suite bathrooms.
Dar es Salaam
Camping with your own tent is possible on Mbudya with advance arrangement (by calling, or when purchasing your boat ticket).
Lamu Archipelago
This friendly homestay between Faza and Kizingitini is run by a helpful family that can organise trips around Paté Island.
Fort Portal
A good budget choice, this central hotel has some large, clean rooms with pastel walls. Some rooms feature flat-screen TV.
Kenya
This pretty campsite is just after the main gate. Facilities include one long-drop toilet, a rusty tap and free firewood.
Nungwi
Safina has simply furnished no-frills bungalows (some with air-con) set around a scruffy garden, just in from the beach.
Uganda
This basic lodge has a mix of private and dorm beds in bandas (thatched-roofed huts), plus camping on the lawn.
Kenya
Very basic cottages with smelly shared toilets, but it’s about the only ‘formal’ accommodation in Kipini village.
Laikipia Plateau
Protected by dense foliage but with good river views, this is probably the pick of the sites in the park centre.
Mwanza
This is where the big, overland tourist trucks stop. It has a great lakeside location, hot showers and security.
Uganda
The former government-run Soroti Hotel is a very good choice with large clean rooms, a bar and restaurant.
Southern Highlands
Simple, clean rooms and meals with a garden setting. It's along the main road before the tarmac begins.
Southwestern Uganda
A mix of cleanliness and good prices makes White House one of Kasese’s most popular budget options.
Laikipia Plateau
Along the Ngobit River in the conservancy's far south, this is the quietest of Ol Pejeta's campsites.
Kenya
Basic campsite near the Kararacha entrance to the reserve, with cold showers and pit toilets.
Masai Mara
This site by the Sand River needs to be booked in advance through the park authorities.
Lamu Archipelago
Friendly Abu puts up travellers at his humble home and can arrange home-cooked meals.
Northeastern Tanzania
Anjela Inn has unappealing, noisy doubles in the main building and larger, quieter rooms in an annex next door, plus meals on order. It’s 10 minutes on…
Southern Rift Valley
Well, they've gone to the trouble of cheering up the concrete yard, splashing it in baby blue and pink, so that counts for something, even if the paint is…
Uganda
This bush camp in the northern sector, 7km from Wankwar gate (and 10km from Purongo town), has basic bandas (thatched-roofed huts) and dorms in a peaceful…
Southern Highlands
The functional Genesis, on the highway 2.5km east of the Ifakara junction, has small, closely spaced rooms (ask for a newer one), a restaurant and an…
Rwanda
Something of an institution, the Lake Kivu Serena still attracts Kigali-based holidaymakers looking for serviceable rooms, a large swimming pool, a slice…
Mwanza
This hotel is ageing and very tatty, but its shortcomings are easy to overlook if you've just disembarked from a 24-plus-hour haul on the Central Line…
Northeastern Tanzania
There's a basic guesthouse and camping at this local secondary school at the top end of Usangi. If you sleep at the school, you can prepare your own meals…
Eastern Uganda
In a busy part of town, this budget hotel has the feel of an Indian guesthouse with cheap rooms and a fantastic rooftop hangout. Room 11 has splendid…
Lake Nakuru National Park
If you're travelling in a large group, this stone farmhouse represents good value inside the park. Four bedrooms sleep up to eight people, and there's a…
Mombasa
If you don't mind the inconvenient location (lack of proximity to attractions and dining scene) or the Dickensian-orphanage-meets-the-tropics vibe, this…
Amboseli National Park
Just inside the park's southeastern boundary, the KWS campsite has toilets, an unreliable water supply (bring your own) and a small bar selling warm beer…
Samburu Sports Centre Guesthouse
Northern Kenya
One of the only places to stay in South Horr, this sports centre usually functions as a sports camp for local children. There is a full-size basketball…
Southwestern Uganda
With the entire forest at its feet, this community-run camp would be a good budget choice but for the water problems and poor management that can present…
Kenya
Although still nominally functional, this campsite is no longer recommended – the once-nearby park headquarters has moved elsewhere, making security an…
Kenya
The architects here have done themselves proud, managing the tricky task of incorporating both a petrol station and a couple of castle-like towers into an…
Northeastern Tanzania
This dilapidated and unsignposted local guesthouse is in Saadani village, just down from the bus stand. It's only worth considering if you have no other…
