ASB Holdings Ltd. is the investor who is bringing the Hotel, dormant for 10 years, back to life. The new Kilimanjaro hotel, located on a prime five-acre site on the Dar es Salaam harbor front, will feature world-class accommodation, including 170 rooms and seven presidential suites as well as banquet and conference facilities. Plans also call for a shopping and entertainment complex to be built adjacent to the hotel. The Kilimanjaro is likely to be operated by Kempinski and will also have a sister hotel in Zanzibar, the 250 room Zamani Zanzibar.

This major investment in downtown Dar es Salaam will play a key role in upgrading the surrounding waterfront area.  In addition, the hotel will serve as an anchor for the development of Tanzania's "Southern Wildlife Circuit" intended to provide for expansion of the important eco-tourism business in Tanzania, while simultaneously reducing environmental pressure on the current Northern Circuit Wildlife assets.

Coastal Travel Services Reopens The Marine Park Lodge, Formerly Known as the Government Lodge

The Marine Park Lodge, formerly known as the Government Lodge, which had been dormant for many years, has now been reopened and renovated by Coastal Travel Services. The new 40-room upscale lodge, stands amidst tall palms on a white sandy beach on the East side of Mafia-Chole Bay.  Horseshoe in shape, the beautiful bay is a protected deep-water anchorage, and the Mafia Island Marine Park, with its beautiful coral reefs and some 400 species of fish, are within easy reach for excellent snorkeling, diving and sport fishing. Marine Park Lodge offers tourists all the amenities including private baths and air-conditioned rooms. Coastal Aviation has made the island more accessible with its new, convenient twice-daily flights from Dar es Salaam, on mainland Tanzania. 

Mafia Island, only a 30 minute flight from Dar es Salaam, but seemingly much farther than the 30 miles away from the hustle and bustle of Tanzania's commercial Capital, is a true remnant of the old Swahili coast, a place unspoiled, and timeless. The largest of a small archipelago of Islands with a population of about 40,000, Mafia lies across from the great Rufiji River Delta and the world famous Selous Game Reserve. 
Arriving at the local airstrip, and traveling the 30 or so minutes on a bumpy dirt road to one of the beach front lodges, the visitor truly gets into the local rhythm of "pole pole" (slowly slowly).  Mafia has so far escaped the invasion of mass tourism, as building has been restricted to three tourist lodges with a combined bed capacity of 120.