Equipped with everything you would expect from a business hotel, but without the impersonal atmosphere and higher prices, The Courtyard is a genteel little oasis from the traffic jams and honking horns of Dar es Salaam.

As the name suggests, old-style rich wooden Swahili balconies surround the inner leafy courtyard and small pool that is not terribly private, but still worth a dip if the humidity soars during the afternoon. Rooms are clean and neat, as you might expect from a hotel that has a constant stream of returning clients and business travellers who demand a certain level of service. With atmospheric colored glass shutters, all rooms face inwards to the center of the building, creating a feel of a riad, protected from the city sound and heat. There is even a great gym for those that want to work off some of the holiday calories collected while on safari.

The waiters do have a tendency to become hard to locate during certain hours of the day, but the food served is consistent and tasty, with many dishes influenced by Indian curries and flavors. I personally recommend the highly addictive ‘fish fingers’, which are more grilled slices of soft and tender kingfish seasoned with a bit of spice and dusted in a tantalizingly light batter. Something I could not stop myself wanting to eat almost every day — it’s that addictive!

A real plus of staying at the Courtyard is its very central access to a wide variety of top-class restaurants and activities that Dar Es Salaam has on offer, particularly around the nearby waterfront and Oyster Bay areas, so you are not limited to spending your time in your hotel room.