Your Next Big Trip

Dar es Salaam is a bustling, vibrant city on the coast of Tanzania. While city life certainly keeps things interesting, it’s also necessary to escape once in a while. Lately I’ve been trying to travel with friends every month, but it’s often hard to please everyone. When we realised that Sunrise Beach Resort have a campsite, bungalows and suites, we were sold! 

If you’ve read my post on the best beaches near Dar es Salaam, you’ll know that the southern beaches are some of the best. Located in Kigamboni, just south of Dar es Salaam City, Sunrise Beach Resort is the perfect place for a weekend getaway for friends, family or couples.

The Rooms

Suite Rooms

I had the pleasure of being hosted in one of Sunrise Beach Resorts newly refurbished suites and I can honestly say the hospitality was second to none. The suites come equipped with a powerful shower, robes, toiletries, tea/coffee making facilities, a living room and spacious bedroom. Not to mention the bed was one of the most comfortable I have ever slept in, I didn’t want to leave – pure luxury!

I loved that our suite had a view of the pool on one side, and a view of a garden from our balcony. It made the whole stay feel really special.

The living room had its own fridge, which came in handy for storing snacks and our friend’s birthday cake! Room service makes it possible to have breakfast on the balcony. The room was perfect for a romantic getaway.

Seaview Bungalows

The great thing about Sunrise Beach Resort is that they have something to suit every budget. Many of my friends stayed in the beachfront double rooms. These rooms are beautifully located. Golden sand lies just steps from the rooms, which are also close to the bar/restaurant area and beach-side bandas and sun loungers.

The rooms are a little dark, as the windows don’t seem to let in much light from outside. Depending on the heat outside this can be a good or a bad thing. Given the prime location to the beach, it more than makes up for it!

Beach-side Camping

Beach camping is quite rare in Tanzania so it’s great to have an affordable option right here in Dar es Salaam. For just $10 a night, you can bring your tent and fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean. The campsite is located a little bit away from the main bar area which is ideal for a group that want some privacy. There are hot showers close to the campsite.

There is a covered grill area where you can cook your own food. While the hotel restaurant might be above most backpacker’s price range, this option to cook for ourselves made the whole weekend really affordable. We also really appreciated Sunrise Beach Resort providing a cook for us, at an affordable rate, at the very last minute when ours had to cancel.

Amenities

One of the first things that attracted us to Sunrise Beach Resort was the huge swimming pool. The pool is situated near the suites and executive rooms. It has a shallow and deep end and some small water slides. There’s also a playground for children, which is a nice touch for when the sea is too rough too swim.

There is also a spa located on the premises. It has a jacuzzi and when we visited, the smell of aromatherapy oils were inviting even before we stepped into the room. Prices can be found at reception and many of our group managed to get last minute bookings on the same day.

Of course the beach is the main attraction! The beach outside the resort is clean, although the water can get a little rough. It a busy part of the beach, with ice cream and fresh dafu (coconut) easily available.

The Verdict on Sunrise Beach Resort

I had a beautifully relaxing weekend at Sunrise Beach Bungalows and can definitely recommend it for groups, couples and families. Their wide variety of rooms are friendly to every budget and the beach-side location makes it extra relaxing. It’s a great option for a short getaway from Dar es Salaam and I look forward to returning.

We visited Sunrise Beach Resort with a group of 15 friends. Most of our group camped, others stayed in the bungalows. Sunrise Beach Resort gave my partner and I a suite for free, so our group experienced the full range that was on offer. Although we were given this free upgrade, the opinions in this article are entirely my own.

For bookings you can go directly through their website here.

Wondering what else to do in Dar es Salaam? Check out the best rooftop bars in the city. Also make sure you brush up on the best Tanzanian music before your arrival.