Rating: Mid-range
The African Tulip is a modern hotel in a quiet Arusha sidestreet providing comfortable accommodation and faciilities including a lounge, restaurant, bar and outdoor pool. It makes an ideal stopover at the start or end of a northern circuit safari. There are twin, double and triple rooms plus some larger suites, all air conditioned and en-suite. Each room has a TV, phone, Wi-Fi and minibar, and is decorated with African-inspired fabrics and artworks. Suites offer extra space and some have their own balcony.
The aptly-named Baobab Restaurant is built around a baobab tree, and is a light room with large windows. You can choose between local, Indian and international dishes. The large lounge is a great place to unwind and enjoy the company of other guests in a convivial ambeince. There's a separate bar where you can catch up with sporting fixtures via the wode screen TV. The outdoor pool, complete with elephant statues on the sundeck, is a great favouirte with guests, offering gentle exercise and the chance tio lie back and soak up some sun.
Open: The African Tulip is open all year.
Location: The hotel is on Serengeti Road in the centre of Arusha. It is 15kms (30minutes' drive) from Arusha airport and 51kms (45 minutes' drive) from Kilimanjaro airport.
Rooms: There are 29 guest rooms comprising 22 deluxe rooms, 5 suites and 1 family suite with 2 bedrooms. Rooms are arranged over 3 floors. They are decorated in African style, with local textiles and artworks. Amenities include flatscreen TV, Wi-Fi, IDD phone, safe, minibar and air conditioning. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom with a bath and a shower. The suites are larger than the deluxe rooms and some have balconies. The family suite has 2 en-suite bedrooms and a large lounge.
Activities: Visit markets, shops and museums in Arusha. The hotel can be used as a stopover before or after a northern circuit safari.
Facilities: The Zanzibar Lounge serves hot and cold drinks and tapas snacks. The Serengeti Bar has a wide-screen TV and provides drinks and snacks indoors and by the pool. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and sunbathing area. Other facilities include a gift shop, a jewellery shop and a business centre. There is a same-day laundry service.
Dining: The Baobab Restaurant specalises in Tanzanian and Indian cuisine and also offers international fare. Meals are eaten at individual tables.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome. There are triple deluxe rooms and a 2-bedroomed family suite.
Health: This is a low risk malarial area.
Communication: There is Wi-Fi internet access, payable locally.
Excellent
1Good
0Average
0Poor
0Terrible
0"Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. And, one young man was able to figure out how to connect my phone to the wifi so that was very helpful! Breakfast was very nice and the lodge itself was lovely. "