The main selling point of this 93-room hotel is its marvelous location on a low cliff at the tip of Dar es Salaam’s Msasani Peninsula, with wide views over Dar es Salaam Bay from its cliff-side gardens, stiff sea breezes and the soothing sounds of waves crashing against the rocks below.

The hotel itself is unimposing from the outside – a long, low whitewashed, thatch-roofed building. It has the feel of a boutique hotel, and is complemented by a full range of amenities. Standards are high, with attentive staff, well-appointed sea view rooms and tasty dining. The small but lush sea-facing garden is filled with colorful flowers and bird song, and flanked by the popular Karambezi Café, which offers seafood, as well as meat and vegetarian selections.

Adjoining the hotel is Sea Cliff Village, a small mall frequented by Dar es Salaam’s expatriate community with a well-stocked supermarket, several cafes and eateries and a children’s play area. Also in Sea Cliff Village are additional hotel rooms overlooking the small mall courtyard, although these cannot compare in class and ambiance with the rooms in the hotel’s main building. There is an ATM machine in the hotel, Wi-Fi throughout rooms and common areas and a small business center that operates with somewhat limited hours.

The only drawback of the Sea Cliff is the distance from the airport. At 22km away, it takes 45 minutes to get there without traffic, and up to 2 hours plus at peak travel times. But if you’ve got the funds and are keen to avoid a rush-hour traffic jam, the hotel also offers a helicopter shuttle service.

But the location is also an asset. Situated on the placid Msasani Peninsula (the city’s main diplomatic quarter) it offers a nice respite from the bustle of downtown, and puts guests in close proximity to a decent selection of fine restaurants. Many frequent visitors to Dar es Salaam wouldn’t dream of staying anywhere else.