The Equator Hotel

3.0 star property
Hotel in Arusha with free breakfast and a 24-hour front desk

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Equator Hotel

Property grounds
Lobby
Property grounds
Interior entrance
Standard Double or Twin Room, 1 Double or 2 Twin Beds, City View | Garden view

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Business services
  • Bar

Explore the area

View in a map
Boma Road, Arusha, 3002
  • Place, Arusha Clock Tower
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Arusha International Conference Centre
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Maasai Market and Curios Crafts
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Airport, Kilimanjaro (JRO-Kilimanjaro Intl.)
    ‪58 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Double or Twin Room, 1 Double or 2 Twin Beds, City View

7.2 out of 10
Good
(10 reviews)
  • 215 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Arusha

The Equator Hotel places you next to Natural History Museum and within a 5-minute walk of Arusha Clock Tower. This 24-room, 3-star hotel has free breakfast along with conveniences like free in-room WiFi and free self parking.

What's nearby

  • Natural History Museum - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Arusha Clock Tower - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Arusha International Conference Centre - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Maasai Market and Curios Crafts - 12 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium - 17 min walk - 0.9 miles

Getting around

  • Arusha (ARK) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Kaffé Koffee Arusha - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪The Chinese Dragon - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪George's Tavern - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Hot Plate - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Karibu Uzunguni City Park - ‬10 min walk

About this property

The Equator Hotel

Hotel in Arusha with free breakfast and a 24-hour front desk
Guests of The Equator Hotel enjoy access to free WiFi in public areas, a business center, and a meeting room. There's free parking if you drive. Front-desk staff can answer questions 24/7, and assist with concierge services, luggage storage, and access to locker space. Additional amenities include a terrace, laundry facilities, and a garden.
Guests can expect to find free WiFi and TVs with satellite channels. Bathrooms offer rainfall showers and slippers. Balconies, ceiling fans, and safes are also standard.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Lockers
  • Luggage storage
  • Newspapers in lobby
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)

Business services

  • Business center
  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Handrails in stairways
  • No elevator (single-level property)

More

  • 1 building
  • 2 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Mosquito nets

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Bathroom

  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Fan
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 10:30 AM; Check-in end time: 9:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • This property doesn't allow pets

Children and extra beds

  • One child 6 years old or younger stays free when using existing bedding
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 15 per day

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

These fees and deposits will be charged at check-in, check-out, or the time of service.

  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 15 per day

This list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits might not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cribs/infant beds and rollaway/extra beds
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
  • Check-in: 10:30 AM—-9:00 AM
  • Check-out: 10:00 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Driving? This property offers free parking.

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
  • This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cribs/infant beds and rollaway/extra beds.
  • This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted. 
  • Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • There are no elevators.

Property is also known as

Equator Hotel Arusha
Equator Hotel
Equator Arusha
The Equator Hotel Hotel
The Equator Hotel Arusha
The Equator Hotel Hotel Arusha

Frequently asked questions

What's there to do around The Equator Hotel?

This hotel is located in Arusha, just steps from Arusha Clock Tower and Natural History Museum, and within a short walk of Maasai Market and Curios Crafts. You'll also find Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium and Arusha Declaration Monument less than a mile away.

How much does it cost to stay at The Equator Hotel?

As of Jan 19, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Equator Hotel on Jan 28, 2026 start from $71.43, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Will I be able to park at The Equator Hotel?

Yes, self parking is offered for free at the hotel.

Does The Equator Hotel feature a casino at the property?

No, The Equator Hotel doesn't have a casino.

Is there an indoor pool at The Equator Hotel?

No, there is no indoor pool at this hotel.

Is The Equator Hotel good for couples?

Couples staying at this hotel will appreciate amenities like a rainfall showerhead and slippers as well as a bar.

Are there hot tubs at The Equator Hotel?

No, there isn't a spa tub at this hotel.

Does The Equator Hotel have a restaurant that serves breakfast?

Yes, The Equator Hotel serves free buffet breakfast each morning from its restaurant.

Does The Equator Hotel allow pets to stay free of charge?

No, pets aren't allowed at The Equator Hotel.

Are there connecting rooms at The Equator Hotel?

No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this hotel.

How far is the airport from The Equator Hotel?

The closest major airport to The Equator Hotel is Arusha (ARK), which is 5.7 mi away (25 minutes by car). Another top airport is Kilimanjaro (JRO-Kilimanjaro Intl.), which is around 25.8 mi away.

Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at The Equator Hotel?

Yes, every guestroom at The Equator Hotel comes with a balcony with some featuring city views.

The Equator Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 78 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 41 out of 78 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 11 out of 78 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 78 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 78 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.4/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Princess

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Room was very clean and staff very attentive

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan, Kirkland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Lydia

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities

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.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alex, Fort Collins

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Comfortable rooms, good breakfast, and incredibly welcoming and accommodating staff. For the price, the Equator is among the best in Arusha.
Stayed 12 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan, Kirkland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan, Kirkland

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Alex, Fort Collins

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Alex, Fort Collins

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

kjetil

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Very frienfly staff. Good value for the price. Placed right in city center. Spacey rooms
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Janice, Saint Petersburg

Traveled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

George

Traveled with group, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richie

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Judith

Traveled with partner
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.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

6/10 Okay

Dave

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Dinner food needs improvement
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rita

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dana

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stanislava

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Sara-Jane

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Douglas

Liked: Room comfort

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
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

2/10 Terrible

Chiedozie

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Sadly horrible everything

No AC, rooms smell and roaches in room. No safe
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Helen

Business traveler
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
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
Stayed 5 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

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.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2020

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
great green space. breakfast had good variety. bathroom was a bit run down. lots of atms around.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020