Hotel Slipway forms part of the Slipway complex, a series of shops and restaurants alongside the waterway with a distinct aquarium mural rooftop, wooden balconies, and light and bright African decorative touches. The Souk is considered the “economy” section of Hotel Slipway, and is located directly above the square mess of trinkets and curios on the ground floor.

Simply decorated with Swahili-influenced furniture and colorful patterned cloth, the eight rooms that make up the Souk are by far the best mid-budget option in Dar Es Salaam, with some having ocean-facing windows. While some rooms can be decent, clean and tidy, others are in serious need of some maintenance, with the standard and economy rooms offering the barest of basics and are located in the nosiest section of the hotel. (If you prefer an upgrade on arrival, you can always opt for the newer updated executive rooms that are part of Hotel Slipway, they offer up fantastic views over Masasani bay and have all the modern amenities.)

There is a lovely revamped pool area across from where they serve all the meals; this is also where the wi-fi signal is the strongest, as the internet signal can be intermittent. Be warned though, if there is a private function at the circular bar and terrace restaurant it can get quite noisy, but generally it will not go into the early hours. The staff are generally very helpful and friendly and the location makes it easy to grab any items you might have forgotten. Here you are located close to banks, cell phone shops, ferries for the islands, and travel agents (if you are needing access to options for onward travel).

In a city that has generally pricey hotels, this is a decent mid-range option and perfect if you are looking for a place to lay your head during a quick overnight stopover, or need easy access to restaurants, or if you are a large group travelling together.