Here’s a detailed and up‑to‑date profile of the Kempinski Dar es Salaam, also widely known as The Kilimanjaro Hotel or simply “the Kili”.
Table of Contents
History & Background of the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel
Originally built in 1965 by the Tanzanian government, the Kilimanjaro Hotel was Dar es Salaam’s first landmark modern luxury accommodation.
By the early 2000s, the property had declined. In 2005, after being acquired by ASB Tanzania (led by Ali Albwardy), the hotel underwent a USD 40 million refurbishment and re‑opened under Kempinski management as the Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski Dar es Salaam, featuring 180 rooms and suites, many with panoramic Indian Ocean harbor views.
The Kempinski Dar es Salaam Becomes the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro
In August 2011, Hyatt Hotels took over management, and the hotel was re‑branded as Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro, marking the first Hyatt branded property in Tanzania. The ownership remained with ASB Tanzania Ltd., while the Kempinski management contract ended at that point.
Accommodation & Design of the Kempinski Hotel Dar es Salaam
The hotel comprises 180 elegantly appointed rooms, including 18 suites, spread over eight floors.
Guests can choose from sea‑view rooms, deluxe suites with separate living areas and panoramic vistas, and exclusive accommodations in royal or presidential suites.
The design elegantly fuses African warm tones and textures with modern European luxury, providing spacious layouts and high‑end furnishings.
Guests enjoy modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, minibars, and well-appointed bathrooms with rainfall showers or deep soaking tubs.
Suites often include private terraces and dedicated butler service.
Dining & Bars
Upon rebranding under Kempinski, the hotel offered a variety of dining venues: a signature fine-dining restaurant (e.g., Oriental fusion cuisine), an alfresco sea‑view terrace restaurant, a casual lounge with cocktails and light bites, and themed buffet breakfast venues.
Under Hyatt Regency management, these offerings continue, with two restaurants and three bars, providing international and local cuisine, plus lighter fare in more casual settings.
A rooftop bar and poolside bar add to the leisure experience.
Wellness & Leisure Facilities
Highlights include a 20 m infinity-edge outdoor swimming pool overlooking Dar es Salaam harbor, a fully equipped fitness center, and an Anantara Health & Beauty Spa (formerly Mandara Spa) offering treatments inspired by ancient wellness rituals.
Guests can also access tennis courts and nearby golf facilities, and the hotel provides concierge services for arranging city tours, golf, yachting, and excursions to attractions like museums, markets, or beaches.
Conference & Events
The hotel offers over 900 m² of flexible meeting and event space, including up to 13 function rooms and a grand ballroom that can host up to 600 guests. This makes it a choice venue for business conferences, corporate events, and upscale social functions.
When the Who’s Who stay in Dar es Salaam, there is a great chance that they will stay at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro.
The Hyatt Regency, located on Dar es Salaam’s downtown waterfront offers magnificent views of Dar es Salaam’s harbour (best enjoyed from Level 8), the hotel’s rooftop bar.
The rooms are beautiful and comfortable.
Frankly, though, I find them a little underwhelming given all the hype surrounding The Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam.
The Hyatt has some excellent eateries, including Oriental, a great East Asian restaurant, and the Flame Tree Lounge, which is where in my family birthday cakes are always ordered (they are simply delicious!).