For location it was really nice being right on the lake but walking distance to the town. My room was on the African Queen and it was clean and comfortable and roomy. The staff was friendly and pleasant. They even remembered me from last year. When there was a storm and they lost water to the boat, they gave me a temporary room that had hot water so I could shower. I thought this was very thoughtful and customer service orientated. The food at the restaurants was good.

The morning breakfast buffet which was included, lacked freshness. It also lacked variety. It was generally the same each day, fruit which wasn't always ripe, pancakes that were small and thin and 3-4 local hot dishes which looked like they were cooked too long, along with bread, juice and coffee. Though I did appreciate being able to order freshly made eggs which were very good and again the staff were extremely nice.

This place lives off its great location and amazing garden restaurants (a lot of locals also come for a nice dinner). But the hotel by now is old, borderline run down and has definitely seen better days. Air Cond anemic, mosquitos screens with holes, ant colonies upstairs and downstairs, room service uses insecticides frequently but blind to other dirt (hair all over!). None of this shows when you take pictures and the views over Lake Victoria are amazing. Sunrise over the lake from your bed is stunning!!!! Make sure you get a room overlooking the lake. Food in restaurants (especially the upstairs one overlooking the lake to one side and the pool to the other) is decent quality and good value for money, however, the hotel rooms are way overpriced. But as of mid 2023 there is not enough competition among the hotel offers in Mwanza. Next year a Marriot is supposed to open close by, but not ON THE LAKE!

Already all said!

The decor was very cute and appropriate. It was always clean even the public restrooms. It is right on the lake and had beautiful views. It also was close to the center of town so you could walk to markets, shops and restaurants. If you didn’t want to walk there was boda bodas or taxis right outside that were very reasonable. My room was fabulous on the African Queen. The staff were the best. Always gave you a big warm smile and if you take the time to talk to them, they remember you and will go out of their way to show their appreciation and make sure you are ok and have everything you need. They are the standard of Great Customer Service. The food was delicious. Very safe with security always around. If you haven’t already guessed, I absolutely loved it.

I hope they renovate the first floor of the African Queen to make it handicap accessible.

The hotel is very well managed and is run passionately ..The staff is well trained. It's beautifully located on banks of Lake Victoria .. Restaurants and bar overlooking the lake make for a perfect evening .

Everything about the hotel is good , maybe some pieces of furniture need to be replaced.. Small irritant In an otherwise well managed and run hotel .

The hotel is located on the shores of the lake, with an amazing view of the bay. The rooms are nice and comfortable, and the staff is always willing to help with a warm smile. The restaurant has an extensive menu, so one would not get bored. Though every meal is prepared fresh, the waiting time can be quite long.

The breakfast could use some spicing up!

Arguably the best hotel to stay in Mwanza, we were happy to come to Tilapia. The hotel is famous for its location and great perks, like the restaurant and pool, and waterside dining. Staff were amazing and we got a nice comfortable room, with a good shower.

We had arranged an airport transfer with the hotel, which didn't show up. In the end we could easily get a taxi (if you're considering this: the price for the trip to Tilapia should be 20.000-30.000 TSH), but it was not a good start to the 5-star experience.

Hotel Tilapia is situated on the side of Lake Victoria with lovely views. We had our own balcony and plenty of space. The bed was comfortable with mosquito nets. The place is well maintained and the pool is clean. The staff were lovely, the food good (and in huge portions) and you can eat looking over the lake on the bar level or the garden level. It’s a great place to watch birds and is right by the private boat ferry to saa nane park. we enjoyed our stay and would recommend it to travellers in Mwanza.

The quality of the service of the employees are like a 5* hotel in Europe. The restaurant food and the pool are great aswell. The rooms are clean and really nice beds! We had a lake view room with a balcony. Perfect for in the morning

The breakfast could be more extensive.

This hotel is fabulous. An absolute gem. The owners and staff were all so amazingly warm and welcoming and made me feel like part of the family. It is a small hotel and immaculately well kept. The pool is spotless and the restaurant and bar area are just beautiful with fantastic food and a superb view of the lake. The hotel is in a great location where you can easily walk the short distance to the city but are in a peaceful setting amongst gardens. I spent 6 weeks in Tanzania and this was by far my favourite hotel. I even extended my stay I liked it so much.

We loved our quiet the room on the lake but very close to town. The views were really beautiful. We also really enjoyed the mashed potatoes.

We didn’t like the way that the sheets smelled but other than that, no complaints.