The Equator Hotel

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Shauna

The staff were very helpful and friendly. The food from the restaurant was cheap and delicious. Everything was clean and the room was spacious.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

Paritosh

Front office Staff madam Sophia receives guest with smile and ensures you have smooth check-in.

Vegeterian Indian meals are well prepared.

Self

4/10

Poor

10 Aug 2025

Lydia

Overpriced for what you get. Needs updating

The cleaning staff were all very nice. The front desk staff seemed indifferent and maybe preoccupied. Breakfast was terrible but coffee and teapot in the room was nice.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jan 2025

Alex

Comfortable rooms, good breakfast, and incredibly welcoming and accommodating staff. For the price, the Equator is among the best in Arusha.

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

07 Aug 2024

Alex

Great hotel for the price. The property is beautiful, rooms are clean and turned over every day. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Breakfast is good, although there could be more consistency in the coffee amount and quality. Nice little bar as well, prices are a bit more expensive than out on the town, but definitely reasonable.

My only major complaint is the shower/hot water situation, having stayed in 3 different rooms, it is very inconsistent in how well it works. Sometimes its fine, other times its not. The most recent room I stayed in had plenty of hot water, but when showering, you could only get blisteringly hot or cold at once, never a warm blend. However, hot water issues are common even at the more expensive hotels in Arusha, so its expected.

Location is safe and very convenient, right by the clock tower and the museum. I will definitely stay here again next time I am in Arusha

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

12 Jul 2024

kjetil

Very frienfly staff. Good value for the price.
Placed right in city center. Spacey rooms

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

04 Jun 2024

Janice

This was a very conveniently located, safe environment. The breakfast buffet was adequate, but we didn't eat any other meals there. The room and bed were comfortable; great hot water in the shower. We were there in the cooler months, so things were fine, but I'm not sure how comfortable it would be in the hot months as there was no AC in the room, but there is a fan. What they really lack is a way to enjoy their outdoor garden area. There were no seats outside in the grass. Maybe a park bench, some tables and chairs placed around the property so you could sit outside on a nice day and enjoy the fresh air would be a big improvement. I would certainly stay here again, but just set your expectations properly.

Business_and_leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2024

George

This less expensive hotel in Arusha was quite satisfactory! It’s not 5 stars but it is a safe and comfortable hotel! The reason I gave it a 4 was because the smoke alarm binged all night ? Needs new battery?

The bed was fine; mosquito netting was good; breakfast was quite good with lots of fresh fruit!

The staff were very pleasant

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2024

Judith

We stayed at Equator hotel 3 nights during our Safari in Tanzania, before, and after. The staff was always smiling and we enjoyed at lot of fist and elbow greetings. Our laundry was done very timely. The restaurant was spacious and the food was well prepared. Expedia didn’t contact them for our arrival but the Equator staff were able to accommodate us. We eve had a few words in Swahili taught to us by the staff.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

13 Feb 2024

Dave

Dinner food needs improvement

10/10

Exceptional

15 Dec 2023

Rita

Equator in Arusha

Clean , comfortable, good value for the money… staff very accommodating. Excellent location in the center of the town, near clock tower… easy to get transportation to various spots … had a good stay

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Aug 2023

Dana

The rooms were very clean, quiet, and comfortable. The restaurant had delicious food with a beautiful breakfast spread. Thank you to the front desk for being so helpful and coordinating rides for me! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and would recommend Equator Hotel to anyone visiting Arusha.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 Aug 2023

Stanislava

Very pleasant city centre hotel with garden.

The hotel is ideally located in the centre of Arusha. It has wonderful large garden and the spacious balcony of our room overlooked that garden. The rooms were also spacious with comfortable beds. The breakfast was varied with fruits, fresh pancakes and eggs at your choice prepared on the spot. The hotel might need a little update of the bathrooms but currently it is excellent value for money.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Feb 2023

Douglas

Very Good Value for Money

Great location. Friendly staff. Fine and abundant breakfast. Spacious room. Beautiful gardens. Full-service restaurant . Under $40 USD per night

Self

2/10

Poor

03 Jan 2022

Chiedozie

Sadly horrible everything

No AC, rooms smell and roaches in room. No safe

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

03 Jun 2021

Verified traveler

The garden is very nice, well looked after. They try very much to keep the rooms and everywhere clean and even the linen. The building needs some tender care, painting and there is a smell that hits you as you enter the lobby or sitting or bar area or the kitchen. I dont know what it is, could be from the building or burning some stuff. That place has a good potential to be a comfortable destination

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

10 Aug 2020

Verified traveler

A garden hotel in the city

The Equator Hotel Arusha is conveniently located near the Clock Tower, a mini-grocery, and coffee shops like Bamboo Cafe and Africafe.

The hotel has a nice garden, courteous staff, and a welcoming owner/manager. The spacious rooms are relatively old, but well-kept.

Wifi internet was supposed to be available in the rooms, but the staff couldn't make it work. The staff, and the owner/manager eventually found a way to address the issue. The electricity socket extensions didn't function, too.

On our check-out day, we were allowed to store our suitcases; and given packed breakfast to-go, as our safari tour started early in the morning.

The receptionist, Fatuma, is courteous and helpful. She can further improve her service by answering questions properly instead of asking questions back*.

* a couple of examples:

1. When asked \"what is the normal time for breakfast?\" Fatuma's response was \"what time do you want for breakfast?\" We eventually learned that it's 7:30-10 AM.

2. Me during our first breakfast: \"What are the options for breakfast?\"
Fatuma's reply: \"What do you want for breakfast?\" As it turned out, there was a menu for breakfast. She could have told me about it or shown me the menu right away.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Mar 2020

Verified traveler

great green space. breakfast had good variety. bathroom was a bit run down. lots of atms around.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

This place has a 70s retro feel, it's basic, safe but a bit grungy. The staff are lovely and very helpful. I enjoyed staying here and highly recommend it as a great budget option

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

05 Jul 2019

JosephA

It is an old hotel and they try to keep it up as best as possible. Nice staff, eager to please. Patrick the GM was very good, welcoming and personable. Thumbs up to the good work they are doing with such an old property.

For USD 40 it is good value, great location. Garden facing room is very pleasant. Avoid city facing if possible, facing a very old dilapidated building.

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2019

Verified traveler

Staff is very nice and welcoming. Our airport pick-up that was arranged by hotel was on-time, friendly, and safe. The restaurant located inside the hotel was delicious! Very pleasant stay.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Feb 2019

susana

Nice Hotel in Arusha

Great place at downtown Arusha.
The best rooms are the ones with the garden view.
Very nice service and the Indian food at the restaurant was excellent.

Family

4/10

Poor

23 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

Budget stopover

Had a pretty poor experience here. The location is very central, but the comfort is subpar. The beds were very hard. And we weren't even provided with blankets. I spent my coldest night here. And one was available at reception to remedy this issue. The rooms are also quite loud.

6/10

Pleasant

06 Jul 2017

Eddie

The hotel was ok

The room was big and comfortable, but the hot showers didn't work and the shower handle kept breaking off. The staff was really nice and accommodating though. Fine for one night passing through.

8/10

Excellent

22 Jun 2017

Catherine

Will definitely stay here again if I'm in Arusha

The hotel staff is very friendly and provide useful information about Arusha. Though the hotel room is a bit outdated, but it is spacious and clean.

8/10

Excellent

12 Dec 2016

Mohammad

Great hotel to crash in

Very good spacious room. We got here at 9pm at night after 36 hours of flights and buses. Glad that the hotel did a good dinner. Mosquito nets were useless as they did not close.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

16 Oct 2016

Verified traveler

Liked the location. Very central... Walking distance to restaurants, market etc

6/10

Pleasant

27 Sep 2016

Verified traveler

hotel need renvation specilley bathroom so bad

8/10

Excellent

25 Apr 2016

Edward

Will come again!

Nice garden. Very nice staff. Good restaurant. Wifi could be better.

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2026

James

Toujours satisfait de cet hotel

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

31 Jan 2026

James

Très bien situé

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2025

YOKO

市内のほぼ中心地にあり、非常に便利でした。部屋も広く清潔で、お湯も問題なく使用できました。バルコニーから広いお庭が見えて美しかったです。テラスでの朝食が爽やかでとてもよかったです。スタッフの方々も親切でフレンドリーでした。チェックイン時間より早く到着したのですが、荷物を預かってくれたので助かりました。

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

27 Sep 2025

James

Rapport qualité prix bien

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2024

Francine

Bon rapport qualité prix

Accueil très agréable, literie très confortable. Parfait, tout est positif pour moi.
Situation centrale dans la ville. Restaurant à des prix abordables pour éviter de sortir le soir.
La réceptionniste a même accepté de changer de date de réservation au dernier moment.
A recommander.

Self

8/10

Excellent

18 Jul 2024

Tarald

Balcony facing the garden

Very basic, big plus for large rooms, lots of hot water, really nice garden - and location (very near the Clock Tower, most hotels here are much more expensive) and price. No thrills, but definitely worth the money. We have stayed here several times and will be back. Ask for room with balcony facing the garden.

8/10

Excellent

26 Jan 2024

RJP

Simple but very nice and especially the restaurant, good location near the clock tower.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jan 2023

HOI KEI

Nice location with quiet environment

I came early and they allowed me to check in before noon. Friendly staff asked me did I need mosquito spray at night. Nice location near the centre.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

Very well located place with an excellent service. On-site restaurant and peaceful garden.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Nov 2019

Tone

Good value

Basic hotel, cheap but good. I had a nice and quiet room with balcony facing the garden. The bed was good, all the fixtures worked, the shower was warm, the room was spacious. Breakfast was African and basic, but if you asked for something else, they might be able to help you. E.g. I don’t like the flavoured and sweetened yoghurts, so instead they gave me a bowl of natural yoghurt from the Indian kitchen. II tried the restaurant for dinner also and you can have a very decent meal if you stay away from dishes that may be tough or bony! Their Indian vegetarian dishes are excellent! No elevator in the hotel, so this is not your place if you’re infirm. Very central location - I would stay there again.

Self

8/10

Excellent

23 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Hotel sicuramente molto vecchio ma pulito, i bagni spno piccolini, ma non manca mai l acqua calda, personale molto cortese e disponibile discreta colazione e posizione insuperabile le camere sono molto molto spaziose e letto comodo, le camere sul giardino sono molto silenziose,il wifi funziona molto bene ci tornero sicuramente

6/10

Pleasant

20 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Zimmer mit Stadtblick ist falsch!

Ausblick in einen schmutzigen Hinterhof!
Nur für Übernachtung ist dieses Hotel OK.

8/10

Excellent

17 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Feeling good

Totally speaking, this hotei is completely acceptable.
The cost performance is good.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2017

Jeroen

Great midrange place

This place is a really good deal for midrange budgets. Great value for money, close to the clocktower, a supermarket, the masaai market and restaurants. Definitely worth the money.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Sep 2017

Babsan

Nice hotel. Facilities in need of someT renovation. Very pleasant and helpful personal. Comfortable room.
Good breakfast..

8/10

Excellent

22 Oct 2016

Verified traveler

Good price and nice people

Very nice hotel, clean, good people they want to help you. The room are not beautifull, but clean. It's the oldest hotel in Arusha. Location is very great.

8/10

Excellent

07 Oct 2016

Klas

Mycket prisvärt hotell centralt i Arusha

Enkelt men mycket bra hotell.
Bra frukost och en bra indisk restaurang.
Mycket serviceinriktad personal som ordnade saker blixt snabbt

Family

6/10

Pleasant

13 Jul 2016

Verified traveler

可もなく不可もなく

朝食のコーヒーがインスタント、ちょっと残念。キリマンジャロコーヒーを期待した。ルームサービスは追加費用なしなので、一人旅なら部屋でゆっくり晩酌(?)を楽しめます。