Kunduchi Resort Dar es Salaam

Update Mar ’23: Kunduchi Beach Hotel is currently closed for renovation but the adjacent Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Water Park is fully operational.

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Kunduchi Beach Hotel & Resort
1 Mtongani
Kunduchi, Dar es Salaam

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Kunduchi Hotels: Kunduchi Beach Hotel and Resort Location/Kunduchi Beach Location

Kunduchi Resort Dar es Salaam is located approximately 21 km from Dar es Salaam’s city centre.

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The Calm at Kunduchi Beach Dar es Salaam

There, especially if it is low tide, I walk down a particular patch of sand that seems like a road leading deep into the ocean.

At the end of this road is a point where sand meets ocean meets sky (with the hotel itself far, far behind me). I’ve recently decided that this is my spot.

You know that place where you go to clear your mind and get an instant mood lift? Yes, it’s definitely my spot.

But…enough about my spot. Let’s talk a bit about the hotel itself.

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Kunduchi Beach Hotel Dar es Salaam

I first (re)discovered Kunduchi Beach Hotel on a random Monday in December 2007, when a girlfriend invited me to spend the day at the beach playing hooky with her and her sister.

I say rediscovered because I’ve always known of Kunduchi Beach Hotel; the original hotel was first opened in 1971 and was a regular haunt of my parents during my earliest years.

Some time in the ’90s (or thereabouts), Kunduchi Beach Hotel faced serious beach erosion that was so severe that it even affected the hotel’s foundation.

Eventually, the hotel closed down, was sold off to private investors, and didn’t reopen again until March 2005, after having undergone extensive renovation and land being reclaimed back from the ocean.

That Monday was my first visit to the hotel since 1991.

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Revisiting Kunduchi Hotel Dar es Salaam

I loved what I saw.

The first thing that struck me was the visual appeal of the hotel. From the stone-finished parking lot to the grandiose front façade, the new Kunduchi Beach Hotel was a lot nicer than anything I’d expected it to be.

I liked the reception area with its fountain and Swahili-style colorful seats.

The Louis XIV furniture in the lounge area, which might seem over the top to some, worked well in my opinion, especially in contrast to the pristine beach which can be seen from as far as the hotel’s entrance.

As you can tell, I  still vividly remember that first visit today: it was a visual barrage that had me smiling inside.

The Service at Kunduchi Resort Dar es Salaam

My friends and I decided to settle down at a table in the sandy area closest to the ocean.

Big mistake!

We were a distance away from the main bar and restaurant and it took us forever to get service.

Once we were finally attended to (despite the fact that there was almost no one else there) the service was horrible.

I hate to break it to you, but service is not one of Kunduchi Beach Hotel’s strong points!

Anyhow, we had a good day at the beach that day, despite the bad service and bad food.

Oops, need I break another one to you?

The food at Kunduchi Beach Hotel is nothing to write home about. It’s passable at best!

Still, I’ve found myself going back to the hotel again and again, especially since the renovation of the boat-inspired S.S. Mawimbi Bar (which I love).

Kunduchi Beach Entrance Fee

Kunduchi Beach Hotel is currently under renovation and is closed to the public. It is not possible to access the beach through the hotel.

Kunduchi Water Park Entrance Fee/Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Entrance Fee

The adjacent Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Water Park is fully operational though.

The entrance fee to the waterpark, which includes usage of all water slides as well as the pool is Tsh. 25,000 for adults, Tsh. 22,000 for children under 120 cm, and Tsh. 25,000 for children 120 cm tall or taller.

You can also purchase entrance, use of slides and pool, the selected food menu of the day, along with a drink (soda or water). This package that includes refreshments costs Tsh. 35,000 per person.

Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Water Park opens 7 days a week, i.e., every day.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor, SafariNow