--- title: "Arusha Backpacker vs Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru: which hotel is better?" description: "Pick Arusha Backpacker. It comes out ahead on 8 of 15 compared facts. Arusha Backpacker or Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru in Arusha? Compare guest ratings…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/arusha-backpacker-arusha-vs-kibo-palace-apartments-arusha-arusha/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-20 --- # Arusha Backpacker vs Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru Both are in Arusha, 560 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · Unga L.T.D ## [Arusha Backpacker](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/arusha-backpacker-arusha/) - **Guest rating:** 8.6 · Very good - **Location score:** 6.2 - **Score by category:** 8 of 15 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1156751/agoda/?lang=en) Apartment · Majengo, Levolosi ## [Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/kibo-palace-apartments-arusha-arusha/) - **Guest rating:** 7.8 · Good - **Location score:** 6.1 - **Score by category:** 4 of 15 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1726360/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Arusha Backpacker It comes out ahead on 8 of 15 compared facts. 560 m apart. ### Choose Arusha Backpacker if you want - the more consistently praised stay (8.6 / 7.8) - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 1 / 21) ### Choose Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru if you want - more restaurants on the doorstep (18 / 11) - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 21 / 1) ### Why is Arusha Backpacker better than Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru? 1. Higher guest rating (8.6 vs 7.8) (+0.8) 2. More guest reviews (59 vs 14), so the rating is more reliable (×4.2) 3. Earlier check-in (12:00 vs 14:00) (−2h) 4. Later check-out (12:00 vs 11:00) (+1h) ### Why is Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru better than Arusha Backpacker? 1. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 58 vs 48) (+10) 2. 3 more sights within 1 km (+3) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Arusha Backpacker | Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.6 (+0.8) | 7.8 | | Location | 6.2 | 6.1 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.6 (+0.3) | 8.3 | | Guest rating | 8.6 (+0.8) | 7.8 | | Number of reviews | 59 (+45) | 14 | | Rank in Arusha | top 43% (+40%) | top 83% | | Location | | Location score | 6.2 | 6.1 | | Distance to the centre | 1.8 km | 1.4 km (−360 m) | | To the airport | 5.6 km | 5.9 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 11 | 18 (+7) | | To the nearest food shop | 450 m (−420 m) | 870 m | | Shops within 500 m | 1 | 5 (+4) | | Sights within 1 km | 4 | 7 (+3) | | Rooms & building | | Rooms | 1 | 21 | | Floors | – | 10 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2016 | | Listed amenities | 10 (+3) | 7 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 12:00 (−2h) | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 12:00 (+1h) | 11:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Parking | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | – | | Free breakfast | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | Balcony | ✓ | ✓ | | In-room safe | ✓ | – | | Airport transfer | – | ✓ | | Air conditioning | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Location 560 m apart Arusha Backpacker: city centre: 1.8 km, Arusha Airport (ARK): 5.6 km, 11 places to eat within 500 m, 4 sights within 1 km. Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru: city centre: 1.4 km, Arusha Airport (ARK): 5.9 km, 18 places to eat within 500 m, 7 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Arusha [Arusha weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/tanzania/arusha/arusha/weather) ## Arusha Backpacker or Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru: common questions ### Which is better, Arusha Backpacker or Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru? Arusha Backpacker leads in 8 of 15 categories, including StayVersus score, guest rating, number of reviews. Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru is stronger in distance to the centre, restaurants within 500 m, shops within 500 m. ### Which is cheaper, Arusha Backpacker or Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru is closer: 1.4 km from the centre, against 1.8 km for Arusha Backpacker. ### How far apart are Arusha Backpacker and Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru? The two hotels are 560 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Arusha Backpacker vs Home Villa Eco Boutique](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/arusha-backpacker-arusha-vs-home-villa-eco-boutique-arusha/) - [Kibo Palace Apartments - Aru vs Hotel Aquiline](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-aquiline-arusha-vs-kibo-palace-apartments-arusha-arusha/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/arusha-backpacker-arusha-vs-kibo-palace-apartments-arusha-arusha/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/