Things to do in Moshi
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Moshi
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Long dry season, best overall. Clearest views, driest trails and highest summit success.
Short dry season, best value peak with thinner crowds and full waterfalls.
Long rains, worst for climbing and views, best for green foothills, quiet and low prices.
Short rains, mixed and improving to festive. November is a month climbing guides advise against.
What's on
- Kilimanjaro Marathon Late February / early March
Destination race in Moshi under the mountain. Book accommodation months ahead or steer clear.
- Tanzania Independence Day 9 December
Parades and festivities in Moshi as nationally, a good local life window.
- Maasai cultural events July
Listed for West Kilimanjaro and Arusha area in festival roundups. Confirm locally for your year.
Best things to do in Moshi
Materuni Waterfall
Waterfall hike through banana and coffee farmland paired with a hands on Chagga coffee ceremony and village lunch.
Kikuletwa Hot Springs
Clear turquoise spring oasis under fig trees with a rope swing, best on a quiet weekday morning.
Chagga Live Museum
Historic Marangu day covering Chagga caves, museum, coffee farm, banana beer lunch and Ndoro Falls.
Mount Kilimanjaro
See Kibo at dawn from town before cloud builds, using the station area, Clock Tower and hotel rooftops.
Moshi Town Walking Tour
Guided walk through markets, the Clock Tower, Hindu temple and old railway station to understand daily Moshi life.
Union Cafe
KNCU cooperative cafe serving Kilimanjaro arabica, iced coffee and breakfast, with beans to buy for home.
Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village & Museum
Maasai run village and museum with medicinal plant walks, spear throwing, dance and proper cultural explanation.
Rau Forest Reserve
Flat groundwater forest trails with huge mvule trees, colobus and blue monkeys, springs and the Rau River.
Where to stay in Moshi
Shanty Town
best all round base
Leafy affluent suburb with the best small lodges and garden restaurants, a short walk or ride to the centre.
Town centre / Uru Road / Clock Tower
one night climber logistics
Walk to restaurants, gear shops, banks and operator offices, with street and bar noise as the trade off.
Kiboriloni / Arusha-Himo Road
pool lodges and groups
Larger properties east of town with bigger pools and easy road access toward Marangu Gate.
Machame / foothill villages
quiet, views and Machame route climbers
Cooler coffee and banana country near Machame Gate with direct Kibo views and lodge dinners.
Marangu village
Marangu route climbers and culture days
Historic Chagga heartland at the gate itself, lovely for a night but too far out as a general base.
Think twice about
- Central bus station and Memorial Market at night
Pickpocket and tout hotspot, crowded by day and unlit in patches by night. Arrive and return by taxi.
- Arusha-Himo highway strip motels at Kiboriloni
All night truck traffic and a long dark walk to anything. The named set back lodges manage this fine.
- Unlit residential lanes in Majengo and Soweto after dark
Ordinary friendly districts by day, but little street lighting at night. Taxi door to door.
- Kilimanjaro view lodges far south on the TPC / Kahe road
The view comes at 30 to 45 minutes each way to every restaurant and operator in Moshi.
Best restaurants in Moshi
Kuonana Restaurant
Garden restaurant for African and European cooking, serious vegetarian options and properly done nyama choma.
Milan's Restaurant
Pure vegetarian Indian restaurant for thalis, rotis and dal at local prices, the best cheap eat in town.
More Than A Drop Restaurant
Garden terrace serving mainly vegan and vegetarian fusion from its own permaculture garden, food first.
Jackfruit Cafe
Leafy garden cafe with wood fired pizza, Italian plates, serious coffee, juices and homemade cakes.
Jay's Kitchen
Korean led Asian and healthy cooking, the change of pace climbers crave after mountain food.
Indoitaliano Restaurant
Famous Indian and Italian restaurant where the ruling is to order Indian, especially Punjabi dishes and naan.
Union Cafe
Cafe for full breakfasts, pastries and the best own grown Kilimanjaro coffee by the cup in town.
Maembe Cafe
Healthy garden lunch spot for salads, juices and lighter Swahili and international plates in a breezy setting.
Outdoor things to do in Moshi
Marangu Gate
Guided day hike through rainforest to Mandara Hut and Maundi Crater, a hard 16 km day at altitude.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Full guided climb from Moshi on Marangu, Machame, Lemosho or Rongai, chosen on days and porter ethics.
Lake Chala
Crater lake on the Kenya border for a steep shore walk, swimming near shore, kayaking and birding.
Arusha National Park
Day safari with giraffe, buffalo and Momella Lakes flamingos, plus walking safari and canoeing options.
Shira Plateau
Drive via Lemosho to 3500 m then walk among giant heather with Kibo in front of you.
One Bike Tanzania
Social enterprise bike ride through rice fields, Rau Forest and villages, ending at the old railway station.
Moshi Club
Historic modest 9 hole course on the western edge of town, a casual round with Kibo behind you.
TPC Club
Better kept course south of town with clubhouse restaurant, pool and guest houses for an expat style escape.
Best hotels in Moshi
Kaliwa Lodge
Design lodge at 1300 m near Machame Gate with valley deck, glacier views, pool, spa and whisky bar.
Pink Flamingo Boutique Hotel
In town boutique with 12 garden rooms, pool, terrace bar and Italian Mediterranean restaurant.
The Maridadi Hotel
Newer full service hotel, the highest rated full hotel in town.
Chanya Lodge
Best all round mid range lodge with 32 rooms, large pool, gardens, spa and multi cuisine restaurant.
Brubru Lodge
Ten room boutique lodge a short walk from the centre with pool, garden, strong WiFi and personal service.
More Than A Drop
Hospitality school lodge in a permaculture garden where proceeds fund womens training and rooms feel calm.
Keys Hotel
Climber institution on Uru Road with cottages, restaurant, live music bar and rooftop peak views.
Springlands Hotel
Large climb group base with gated gardens, pool, buffet, luggage storage and communal climber tables.
Is Moshi expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | TZS 60,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | TZS 180,000 a person |
| Splurge | TZS 450,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Materuni Waterfall: a few days ahead
- Kikuletwa Hot Springs: a few days ahead
- Chagga Live Museum: a few days ahead
- Moshi Town Walking Tour: a few days ahead
- Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village & Museum: a few days ahead
- Rau Forest Reserve: a few days ahead
- Uru Village: a few days ahead
- Marangu Gate: weeks ahead
- Kilimanjaro climbs book 3 to 6 months ahead for June to September and December to February.
- Day trips book 1 to 3 days ahead in low season and before arrival in peak season if days are fixed.
- Reserve More Than A Drop and Kuonana for dinner in peak season and on weekends.
Is Moshi safe?
- Petty theft around the bus station and markets is the realistic risk, not violent crime against visitors.
- After dark taxi rather than walking quiet unlit streets, and keep phones and jewellery low profile.
- Roads are the biggest risk. Use a recommended driver and wear a helmet on a boda boda.
- Drink bottled or filtered water only. Moshi is low malaria but not no malaria, so take medical advice.
Moshi travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Flycatcher commission touts at the bus station and Clock Tower steer visitors to commission shops.
- Roadside Maasai villages sold as a 20 minute dance and hard sell. Do Olpopongi properly or skip it.
- Chemka on a weekend afternoon is busy, not secluded. Go on a weekday morning.
- Do not pay for a Kilimanjaro view tour in town. The dawn view from town is free.
Getting around Moshi: public transport and more
- Walk the centre by day and use taxis or bajaji at night, agreeing the fare before you set off.
- JRO airport is 45 to 50 minutes east. Pre book a hotel or operator pickup rather than negotiating at the curb.
- Daladalas run Moshi to Marangu and Moshi to Arusha for pennies, an experience rather than a luggage solution.
Who Moshi suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Moshi your trip
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