Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam The Kilamanjaro

"Since Zanzibar and Lamu have become some of the hottest winter-sun destinations in the world, Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania and the jumping off point for these trendy islands in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, desperately needed a good before-and-after hotel. At last, in 2006, it got one with the reopening of this completely renovated 180 roomer under the Kempinski banner, and it’s a low-slung modernist beauty to boot. Located in a beautifully landscaped park just across the street from the Indian Ocean, “the Kili”, as the locals call it, dates to the early sixties when the newly independent (from Britain) country was full of optimism for its future. Socialist economic fumbling followed, and the hotel eventually shut down for a decade. Happily, Hyatt has given the property a strong sense of place, with a stone façade and rooms that use the same bright colors you’ll find in the local markets along with rich tropical hardwood floors. Satellite TV, wire-less internet access, air-conditioning and spacious baths mean world-class comfort, and there’s a big pool in the garden. The Kili’s first-rate Chinese restaurant has instantly become the hottest table in town, and whether you need air tickets to Zanzibar and want to do a trip to Mount Kilimanjaro at the last minute, their concierge service is fast and reliable."