Moshi Town

Moshi Town is a small town which is located at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro which is Africa’s tallest mountain at 5895 meters. Coffee is among the crops grown in Moshi which is also a major coffee-producing center in Tanzania. Some of the coffee plantations are on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro covering a big area.

The town is also a starting point for hiking experiences on Mount Kilimanjaro and it has a warm welcoming environment. Apart from the coffee plantations, there are also banana plantations along the slopes of the mountain.

During tours around Moshi, visitors can go to the plantations and learn more about the coffee and its production and how it is cultivated and also how beans are grown and picked. Tourists also get to interact with the farmers and get to know more about their way of life.

There is also a coffee roasting factory in Moshi where the coffee is produced. Coffee auctions are also carried out in the town as tourists visit the town during their hiking safaris on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Moshi is part of the Kilimanjaro region in the northern tourist circuit of Tanzania and its local population is made up of mainly Chagga people who have been living in the town for centuries and also practicing agriculture.

The vegetation around Moshi town is also lush and the town has volcanic soils which have contributed to the growth of the crops grown by the locals who live around the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Activities carried out in Moshi

There are various activities which tourists engage in during their visits to Moshi in Tanzania and they include the following;

Hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro is a major activity which is carried out and this activity starts in Moshi town. This is one of the main reasons for visiting the town since many tourists have interest in hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
Cultural tours are also part of the experience tourists get during their visits to Moshi town. The Chagga people live in Moshi and have a unique culture which is shared with tourist as they visit the local villages.
Coffee tours in Moshi are also part of the activities tourists can engage in as they visit the coffee plantations around the town and get to know more about the production of coffee among other activities.

How to get to Moshi

Moshi can be accessed by driving from Arusha which is a short distance away from Moshi. Taxis are also available to Moshi from Kilimanjaro international airport which is the closest airport to the town.

Attractions in Moshi

The different attractions which tourists can enjoy seeing as they explore Moshi during their safaris include the following;

Kilimanjaro national park

Kilimanjaro national park which is home to various wildlife species such as black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, blue monkeys, elephants and many others. Different bird species can also be seen in the national park during a safari.

The national park was established in 1973 and it also includes Mount Kilimanjaro which is a major attraction in Kilimanjaro national park.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls are among the attractions found in Moshi town which also has other attractions such as springs and a tropical forest. The waterfalls in this town are known as the Kuringe waterfalls which are found at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This waterfalls which is about 70 meters falls is one of the highest in the area and it flows into a clear stream. To get to the Kuringe waterfalls, the path goes through a valley, rainforest as well as coffee and banana plantations.

Locals of Moshi

The Chagga people live on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and are known for their beautiful cultural heritage and also for their home brewed banana beer. Tourists who interact with the Chagga people also enjoy tasting the traditionally roasted coffee.

Chagga are bantu speaking people who practice agriculture who grow crops such as coffee and bananas, millet, maize, beans and cassava. They also keep livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep.

The homesteads of the Chagga people are found in the middle of banana plantations. The language which is spoken by the Chagga people is Kichagga and they also speak Swahili which is spoken by other people in Tanzania.

The traditional way of dressing of the Chagga people is clothing made of cowhide and they also dress up in kanga and kitenges. The staple food of the Chagga people is bananas.

Materuni caves

The Materuni caves are also part of the experience tourists get during their safaris around Moshi. These caves are of importance and great significance to the Chagga people who dug the caves to protect themselves from the Maasai people.

The conflicts between the Maasai and the Chagga people were as a result of the Maasai people targeting the livestock and food of the Chagga.

Lake Chala

Lake Chala is also an attraction which can be seen in Moshi town. The lake is a caldera lake which is fed by underground water sources with beautiful surroundings. The lake is good for activities such as fishing, canoeing and also walking safaris which give the tourists a close experience with nature.

The lake is found between Kenya and Tanzania east of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Accommodation in Moshi

The different accommodation facilities which tourists can stay at during their visits in Moshi include luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations as well as budget or basic accommodations which include the following;

Kilimanjaro wonders hotel, Altezza lodge, Ameg lodge Kilimanjaro, Aishi Machame hotel, Kaliwa lodge, Babylon lodge, Kilimanjaro safaris lodge, Springlands hotel, Amans Kilimanjaro villa, Pink Flamingo boutique hotel among others.

Tourists on hiking adventures on Mount Kilimanjaro tend to stay in the lodges and hotels around Moshi before and after their safaris which makes it convenient since the town is at the foothills of the mountain. Another option of where to stay while on safari would be in Arusha which is also a short drive to Moshi.

Visit the town of Moshi and explore the various attractions in the town and enjoy views of Mount Kilimanjaro.