The Moshi Town is the capital of Kilimanjaro region and it is located North Eastern Tanzania at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Moshi Town is known for its coffee farms and colourful streets. It has some popular tourist attractions such as the Kikuletwa Hot springs, Lake Chala Safari Camp making it worth a visit. The town was built during the 19th century by the German colonialist and it has rich history. Moshi is largely viewed as a travel destination but it has more to offer especially to those who are interested with the swahili culture. The town has several local cafes which are rich and you can get a glimpse of Tanzanian cuisine and the curio art shops in the place are among the best places in the region to buy memorable souvenirs with the symbols of the country.
The town has a bustling nightlife with bars, restaurants and clubs which makes it a perfect place to chill out enjoying some dance and music after a Kilimanjaro hike or safari. It is the best spot to start exploring Tanzania and it is also the place where most Mount Kilimanjaro day hikes start.
Old Moshi Town
The German colonial authorities were the ones who established the town closer to the railroad to make goods transportation easier but they failed to suppress the booming of the local culture.
The old Moshi is the home of the swahili culture, here you’ll see all you need to know and learn about Swahili culture at its rawest. It is also the cradle of Chagga civilization. The town has traces of its rich history and colonial past which has mixed with the modern civilization, here at Moshi you will find women in their traditional attires ,Youths with Rasta or dreadlocks and even business men and women on their suits, all the colonial architecture and modern buildings this makes the town an extraordinary spot for culture photography.
The Moshi Town is one of the densely populates regions of the country with its last census in 2017 showing that the town has a population of over 200,000 people who live there. The area of the town takes up only 60km² ,despite it having sizeable population which makes it the smallest town by size in Tanzania, but it is administratively divided into 21 wards.
Major social amenities such as shops ,travel companies, cafes, bars and businesses are centred along Arusha and Mawenzi roads of Old Moshi. This area is always busy and bustling with street vendors touting their goods, the bus station is located on this side of the town for those travelling to Dar es salaam, Arusha or other cities in Tanzania on the land. There are also numerous “fly catchers “ who are trying to sell a climbing or a safari package at a knockdown prices, though they may seem to be so attractive and lucrative. They are always a risk of numerous hidden costs or it might also turn out to have been an outright scam, it is always the best option to book your safaris in advanced and to the right licensed operators.
In the westwards there are more quite neighbourhoods which are popularly known as shanty Town. The best hotels of Moshi are located in this side office, which makes the town ideal place to unwind before and after the wildlife adventures in the National parks.
Moshi Airport
The airport of Moshi is completely different from the Kilimanjaro international Airport ,which is 40 kilometers westwards from the town of Moshi which serves as the main tourist gateway to Tanzania.
Moshi Airport is located in the Western part of the Moshi Town and is mainly used for domestic flights within Tanzania. It takes just less than 10 minutes to get to some of the nearby lodge such as Altezza and about half an hour from Aishi Machame Hotel.
From Moshi Airport you can fly to Dar es salaam, Arusha, Tanga, Mwanza and some of the other local destinations. It is also the base of the Mount Kilimanjaro helicopter rescue and transportation service. This is used in case you decide to get down from the summit camps of the Mount Kilimanjaro by Helicopter, your landing place will be the Airport of Moshi.
Accommodation facilities in Moshi Town
Aishi Machame Hotel
Aishi Machame, this is one of the most popular places to stay in Kilimanjaro region. It is located on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, just a 20 minutes ride from Moshi and it is enclosed in lush green. From the comfort of your lodge ,you can spot wild animals and birds from the restaurant, it is very rewarding place for the nature enthusiasts will especially enjoy this place. The hotel has Helicopter pad which is available for the fast track trips from Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro view lodge
It is one of the hotels in the region which has the panoramic view of Mount Kilimanjaro. From your relaxing point in this hotel you will be able to enjoy a clear unobstructed vista of the iconic mountain of Mount Meru from which to take some epic shots.
Altezza Lodge
This fantastic lodge is one of the quietest areas of Moshi, the lodge is always a perfect choice foe those who prefer to stay near the city life. The hotel is just 15 minutes way to the city centre . Altezza lodge will provide almost everything you need to feel at home and enjoy the safari vocation from exploring the natural wonders of Tanzania or in for a business trip in Kilimanjaro.
Both Hotels have everything necessary for unforgettable Tanzania safari from comfortable rooms that are regularly cleaned and ventilated, swimming pools and professional staff on duty to help you with everything. Their restaurant menus offer variety of meals that will suit you, from their local swahili, Indian continental to American cuisine . The hotel also have taken care of people with special needs such as vegetarian, gluten-free and halal meals.
There are good taxi service is available at both hotels to perform two way transfers to the nearby cities of Moshi and Arusha as well as to Kilimanjaro international Airport which is 40 kilometers from both hotels at affordable rates.
Weather in Moshi
Dry season
This is a brisk and joyful atmosphere which makes this time perfect for socialising, finding new friends and adventure. The town is bustling with tourists from all corners of the world from late June to late October and January to early March.
Rainy season
The rainy season in Tanzania starts from early March till late June and the other season being October till early January.
