This classy family-run hotel is named after the tulip tree, whose brilliant orange flowers – together with an abundance of lavender jacarandas – turn many of Arusha’s side streets into a profusion of color. With just 21 rooms (plus seven suites), it offers a cozy, boutique hotel ambiance plus all the amenities normally expected with a full-service hotel. It is one of my favorites in Arusha town, and makes a reliable choice for travelers seeking Western standards in a central location.

Rooms are spacious, quiet and well-appointed, with large, paned windows, cozy, cushioned window seats, large beds with firm mattresses, flat screen cable TV and Wi-Fi (the latter comes at a modest additional cost). Bathrooms are spotless, with spacious shower stalls and hair dryers. Décor throughout is modern, fresh and Africa-themed, in shades of ochre, orange and rust set off by dark brown woodwork. The hotel’s two upper floors are accessed via a wide, wooden staircase (there is no elevator) which winds up from the lobby.

For meals, there is the Baobab Restaurant, which serves a good buffet breakfast plus lunch and an evening Indian buffet. The hotel is on a quiet side-street just off of one of Arusha’s main roundabouts, and there are also many restaurants nearby. In the walled courtyard garden is a small swimming pool, and flanking this, a spacious but intimate Zanzibari-themed lounge. There is also a business center, and an ATM just across the street.

The African Tulip is run by Roy Safaris, which offers safaris and tours in northern Tanzania and beyond, as well as discounted room prices to those booking with them.

Overall, the African Tulip is one of the best value-for-money choices in pricey Arusha town for mid-range and upper-range travelers.