The Walkgard Transit Hotel

The staff were happy to add an extra bed for the kids, including a box spring. The local food was tasty, and the service was excellent. The rooms were lovely, much better than I expected. A highly recommended place to stay in Bukoba. Get the best room available.

The staff were humble and helpful enough, and the Wi-Fi was excellent. The location made it easy to get around, though attractions weren’t easy to access. I can’t really rate the food since I placed a last-minute order. The hotel seemed neglected, despite having once been grand. I’ve stayed in other old hotels that were nothing like this. The bed had white sheets that looked clean, but I didn’t inspect them closely. The towel was beige-grey, as if it had suffered years of poor washing. There was dirt, dust, cobwebs, stains, old furnishings, a long futon at the end of the bed, an old armchair, and old curtains. Those things must have been behind my misery, with stains of all ages on them. I had an early flight, so I thought I could put up with it. Within 20 minutes, though, I was coughing and sneezing, and couldn’t get past the musty smell of dirty old fabric. Opening the balcony door and window didn’t help, so I gave up and left, despite having tried to stay. Cleanliness: 1/10. I tried Jadora, but it was fully booked. They gave me a few other options to check, and I eventually ended up at the very clean G7 Motel up the hill.

The inside is great and the staff are very kind, but the outside needs fresh paint. They need a new chef or should train the current one as soon as possible. The food was an F. Whatever you do, don’t order the chicken biryani. You can thank me later.

Walkgard Transit was a lovely place to stay in a beautiful, peaceful part of Bukoba. The room was small but comfortable, with a boutique feel and elegant furnishings for a very reasonable price. I appreciated having hot water at both the shower and sink, a luxury compared with my modest stays in towns and villages around TZ. My only regret was leaving my shampoo and conditioner behind in Dar es Salaam. It’s close to the lake, so Lake Victoria’s picturesque views are an easy walk away. While the main road has a few busy hotels, quieter residential streets are just around the corner. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and hope I’ll be back in Bukoba. Accessibility is the one limitation. There are rooms on the first floor, but no single rooms there. Prices are affordable for westerners, so that could be an option, and the entrance is easy to navigate for people using wheels. I use a rollator walker and kept the second-floor room I’d booked because I mainly need it for energy and stability, and the stairs weren’t a problem that day. I don’t recall any steps at the entrance, bar patio, or restaurant. Several attendants were available to help with luggage and other items, and the desk was happy to keep my wheels downstairs so I wouldn’t have to carry them up and down.