The Alexander family designed and built their boutique 12 room hotel in 2006. The family pride themselves on the warm and friendly welcome that they provide to residents and guests dining in their famous roof-top restaurant.
Perhaps it is the nature of a family run hotel that sustainability feels like an integral part of their approach rather than a box that needs to be ticked. Gordon oversees the sourcing of all food from local suppliers. He is passionate about sea food and beyond ensuring the best of the local catch – he insists on only sourcing from suppliers he personally knows to be fishing responsibly and sustainably. Knowing each of the fishermen is critical. By sourcing most food through local suppliers, the hotel does a good deal to help the local community – but also ensures a great supply of the best that Dar and Tanzania has to offer.
Acting responsibly and reducing waste obviously does not mean that staying at the hotel is any less enjoyable. The locally sourced seasonal fresh food is always excellent. All the toiletries provided are organic and hand produced in Zanzibar – dispensed in each room to minimise plastic waste. The best available and supplied sustainably.
The family consider themselves fortunate that the design of the hotel, with a small well trained staff, is conducive to providing the health and hygiene protocols which larger hotels have struggled to deliver. All rooms having their own outdoor access and no covered corridors, social distancing measures are straightforward. Even the roof-top terrace is open on all sides so remains well ventilated through the year – a great advantage of Dar’s warm climate. The small team have upped the already fastidious cleaning regime to include A/C filter cleaning between guests and additional surface cleaning.
Arriving in the middle of the night at Alexanders, it’s very likely that you’ll be met by Gordon Alexander himself, together with the Masai guards, ensuring that guests are safe and settled whenever they arrive and however short or long their stay. The unobtrusive attention to detail, be that flight connections, travel recommendations or more practical advice on medical or other personal needs, is a hallmark of Alexanders. Many guests have made Alexander’s their home away from home during many stays since the hotel first opened. They are very likely to remark on this tailored and relaxed assistance as a major reason why they chose to come back.
The Alexander family’s desire to meet the varying needs and preferences of their guests remains a priority for the hotel. The varied menu, well known in Dar, is complemented by one of the best wine cellars in the city – specialising particularly in the best South African wines. Gordon is always on hand to provide a recommendation – which extends far beyond eating and drinking to anything that will make your stay more enjoyable. Alexanders is a boutique hotel, but it is also a family hotel with a very personal and warm welcome – which is why guests keep coming back.
