Johari Rotana

Johari Rotana is a five-star hotel on Sokoine Drive in Dar es Salaam's central business district, overlooking the harbour and the Indian Ocean. Run by the Rotana hotel group, it combines a business hotel with serviced apartments, so it works for longer stays as well as short trips.

There are 193 rooms and suites with harbour or city views, including Club Rotana rooms, which are larger and have panoramic views, alongside 60 serviced apartments ranging from studios to one-bedroom units. The apartments suit families and anyone in the city for a few weeks who wants more space. Facilities include an infinity pool on the eighth floor with views over the city, the Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club, which is open 24 hours, and the Zen Spa, with massage rooms, a steam room and a sauna, available by appointment.

Dining covers a wide range. Zafarani serves all-day buffets and à la carte dishes from the Mediterranean, India, the Arab world and the Swahili coast; Noble House specialises in Chinese cooking; Hamilton's Gastropub offers British and American classics in a colonial-inspired setting; the Kibo Lobby Lounge serves coffee, pastries and light meals through the day; and the Cigar Lounge offers cigars and spirits. The hotel's 816-square-metre ballroom is described as the largest hotel ballroom in Tanzania, and there are six meeting rooms.

The location is convenient for both business and sightseeing. The National Museum is about a kilometre away, St Joseph's Cathedral is on the same road, and the Kivukoni waterfront, Azania Front Lutheran Church and the Askari Monument are within a short walk. Coco Beach on the Msasani Peninsula is about six kilometres away, and Julius Nyerere International Airport is around 11 kilometres or 30 minutes by road, although traffic can stretch this considerably at peak times.

Reservations can also be made by email through the hotel's reservations team. Ask for a harbour-view room to make the most of the setting, and consider a Club Rotana room or an apartment if you need extra space or are travelling on business. With five restaurants and lounges in the building, you can eat well without leaving the hotel after a long day.