Tanzania has a range of accommodation from very good, expensive hotels with all the trimmings in the tourist areas to cheap hotels in the regional towns, which, although adequate, lack comfort and offer little more than a bed in a bare room with a door that may or may not lock. The more popular hotels are often fully booked. The island of Zanzibar has a full range of accommodation, from luxury resorts to beach bungalows to budget hotels. On the beach are large and modern fully contained resorts aimed at package holidaymakers, while in the capital of Stone Town with its atmospheric old buildings, many hotels are located in beautiful old houses decorated with antiques and Persian carpets. For more information, contact the Tanzania Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).

There are wildlife lodges in all national parks and game reserves. Some of these have hundreds of rooms and are aimed at families and tour groups on safari, so while they have high standards they can be a little impersonal. Others are top-end luxury lodges or tented camps with just a few rooms, and offer impeccable service in stunning locations. Reservations can be made through specialist tour operators or by contacting the lodges.

These are often offshoots of local bars and provide cheap accommodation, but there may be problems with drunken behaviour and theft. Sharing a room is advisable and special attention to possessions should be paid while staying there. These cannot be booked in advance. Prices are higher in the larger towns, but in general the quality can be assessed from the tariffs.

There are public campsites in many of the national parks. Some have standard facilities, including taps, toilets and firewood; others are more basic with just a cleared space to park a vehicle and pitch a tent. Permits for camping in the parks must be paid for along with entry to each park. It is advisable to check the prices and site procedure before arrival. A list of public and private campsites is available on the Tanzania National Parks website (see below).

There are YMCA hostels in Dar es Salaam and Moshi (website: www.ymca.int), and a YWCA hostel in Dar es Salaam (website: www.worldywca.info). These all accept couples.

Tanzania National Parks
PO Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: (27) 250 3471.
Website: www.tanzaniaparks.com