Sitima inn - Hostel

Our room was clean and the sheets were clean, and the desk clerk was friendly and welcoming. Dinner tasted good, though it was expensive, and the dining terrace was pleasant with a view over part of the harbor. The place is a bit run down. Our door didn’t lock, so we had to put our bags in front of it, and the mosquito nets had big holes. They advertised air conditioning, but there was only a fan. At dinner, the owner greeted us and acted overly friendly and strange. Then he went to four Japanese women travelers, put his hands on two of their shoulders, and told them they were beautiful. He obviously made them uncomfortable. Overpriced at $46.

The inn’s main advantage is how close it is to the ferry, and we thought its quaint old ship parts made it seem like an ideal place to board the Ilala. But the pier had been destroyed by a storm long ago, so getting to the ferry’s dinghy meant wading, which is dangerous in medium or heavy winds. We chartered a fishing boat for four to avoid wading chest deep, then climbed aboard the ferry. The price felt steep for a run down former brothel. When we said we wouldn’t stay a second night, the elderly owners’ hospitality quickly disappeared. They gave us a sob story, responded angrily, and literally threw the bill at us. We were disappointed.

We’ve only tried the bar, but it’s so cool in more than one way! It’s very, very hot today, yet the breeze coming in from the lake feels lovely. I don’t want to leave.

The food was good, and we enjoyed the view over the lake. It’s a good place to be when getting on the Ilala ferry, and they were helpful in arranging a boat to take us to it.