Moshi, a lively town in northern Tanzania, sits at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, making it the gateway for climbers heading to Africa’s highest peak. But beyond its role in tourism, Moshi has a fascinating history shaped by indigenous cultures, colonial rule, and economic growth.
Long before colonial influence, Moshi was part of the Chagga kingdom, an ethnic group known for their advanced agricultural practices, including the ingenious Irrigation Furrow System that still supplies water to farms today. The Chagga people lived in small chiefdoms, often competing for power and resources, until they were later unified under external influences.
When German explorers arrived in the late 19th century, they recognized Moshi’s potential due to its fertile land and strategic location. The Germans established Moshi as a colonial administrative center and built roads, railways, and coffee plantations.
During World War I, British forces took over Moshi from the Germans, and it became part of British Tanganyika. The British continued coffee production and infrastructure development, further integrating Moshi into the regional economy.
After Tanzania gained independence (1961), Moshi flourished as a center for coffee production. The Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union (KNCU), one of Africa’s oldest coffee cooperatives, played a major role in empowering local farmers.
Today, Moshi is a vibrant town known for its coffee culture and tourism industry and as a base for Kilimanjaro climbers. Despite modernization, it retains its rich Chagga heritage and colonial-era influences.
How to get there?
By Air
The nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), located about 40 km from Moshi. It serves international and domestic flights.
Taxi/Private Transfer from the airport to town takes 45 minutes and costs about $30-$50. Alternatively, some hotels and tour companies offer shared transfers (~$10-$20) or just take a local tuk-tuk and negotiate the price.
You can also fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam or Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar and take a domestic flight to JRO or Arusha.
By Road
From Arusha (80 km, 1.5-2 hours) – Buses, shared taxis, and private transfers run frequently.
From Dar es Salaam (500 km, 8-10 hours) – Luxury buses like Kilimanjaro Express or Dar Express offer comfortable rides for 15-20 USD.
From Nairobi, Kenya (350 km, 6-7 hours) – Shuttle services run daily, costing about 30 USD. Border crossing at Namanga is required.
By Train
Tanzania’s rail network is limited, but there is a train from Dar es Salaam to Moshi (though infrequent and slow). Buses are a better option.
The best time to visit
June to October (Dry Season)
Clear skies, warm days, and cooler nights. Best time for Kilimanjaro climbing and outdoor activities. Ideal for coffee tours, cultural visits, and exploring waterfalls.
January to mid-March (Short Dry Season)
Great for trekking in warmer temperatures. Lush green landscapes after the short rains.
Months to avoid:
Mid-March to May (Long Rainy Season)
Heavy rains make trails slippery. Not ideal for Kilimanjaro trekking, but the waterfalls are at their fullest.
November to early December (Short Rains)
Unpredictable weather, but fewer tourists.
For coffee lovers:
If you’re visiting for a coffee tour, aim for September to December, when the coffee cherries are being harvested. It’s a great time to see the full process from picking to roasting, with the added bonus of lush green scenery.
Where to stay?
I recommend Karibu Africa House and The Better Inn. Both places offer good quality at an affordable price, and they also offer day trips to Lake Chala or Marangu, but Karibu Africa House is significantly cheaper in that aspect.
Places worth seeing in Moshi
You don’t need a lot of time to get around the town as most of the interesting places to see are located out of it. Luckily, the distances aren’t long!
Mbuyuni Market
It is one of the busiest and most vibrant local markets in town. You can find there a variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and spices, butcher stalls and fresh fish from nearby lakes, colorful kitenge and khanga fabrics, plus second-hand clothes, traditional Maasai jewelry, woven baskets, and souvenirs.
Places worth seeing outside of Moshi
Rau Forest Reserve
It is a lush, tropical forest located just a few kilometers from Moshi, offering a peaceful escape into nature. Home to colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, dik-diks, and a variety of bird species. The forest can be explored on guided nature walks or bike tours.
Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Tour
The road to the waterfalls was quite bumpy as it was going up the hills. I just got a boda boda driver on the street and asked him to take me there and back. Remember to negotiate the price before you jump on the motorbike, and make sure that waiting time is included.
Once we arrived, I was immediately offered an expensive package of waterfall and coffee plantation tours, but luckily, during the first weeks in Tanzania, I improved my negotiation skills and was able to get a much better deal.
We started with coffee plantation. It wasn’t harvesting season, so we didn’t see many coffee beans on the trees, but after introduction, I was shown how to dry the beans, smash them into powder and separate them from the shells, and in the end, there was a tasting session. Everything was accompanied by a group of villagers singing. Pretty cool!
Afterwards, I changed the guide, and we walked to the waterfall. He was a nice guy, and the route was pretty too, packed with white tourists. It’s rather an easy 30-40-minute slow walk through the community area and a forest rather than hiking. The guide is not necessary as the path is clear, but they try to earn money, which is understandable. It’s crazy that this trip is offered by tour agents for about 100 USD from Moshi, while by doing it yourself and coming on a motorbike, you can cut costs to 20-30 USD.
The waterfall was impressive! It’s about 80 meters tall, with lots of water and green surroundings but not suitable for swimming. It was worth coming here!
Kikuletwa Springs
Clean blue water with small fish that nibble you if you stay still in the water, but they are not harmful. You can rent rubber tubes for 5.000 TZS or swimming googles for 10.000 TZS. There is also a swing. You can either decide to get a transfer there from Karibu Africa House for 50 USD or save yourself money and go independently by hiring a boda boda (motorbike) driver from Moshi and negotiate the price. It should be fair to pay between 30.000 – 40.000 TZS with waiting time as it is about 40 kilometers one way.
Marangu
Tucked away in the lush foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Marangu is a charming Tanzanian village that offers far more than just the most famous route to Africa’s highest peak. Verdant coffee farms, waterfalls cascading through dense rainforest, and hidden caves tell stories of both nature and history.
Read more about Marangu in a separate post HERE.
Lake Chala
Lake Chala is a stunning crater lake on the border of Tanzania and Kenya. It was formed over 250,000 years ago due to volcanic activity associated with Mount Kilimanjaro. It sits in a deep caldera, which was created by a massive eruption that caused the land to cave in, forming the lake basin. Over time, underground springs fed by Kilimanjaro’s glaciers filled the crater, creating the lake we see today.
Lake Chala is about 55 km from Moshi. Many tour operators in Moshi and Arusha offer guided day trips, including transport, meals, and activities like hiking or kayaking. I found the best price at Karibu Africa House in Moshi – 80 USD, all-inclusive. Ignore other offers asking for 150 – 200 USD as this is a typical Tanzanian rip-off.
Read more about Lake Chala in a separate post HERE.
Kilimanjaro
Suppose you’re in Moshi but don’t have time for a full Kilimanjaro climb. In that case, day hikes offer a perfect way to experience the mountain’s beauty, diverse landscapes, and rich culture without the intense commitment of a multi-day trek. Here are two popular variants:
1. Kilimanjaro Day Hike via Marangu Route
From Marangu Gate (1,870m) to Mandara Hut (2,700m). The distance is approximately 8 km round trip (4-6 hours). You will walk through lush rainforest, hopefully spot colobus monkeys, and enjoy views of Maundi Crater.
Difficulty: Moderate
2. Kilimanjaro Day Hike via Machame Route
From Machame Gate (1,800m) to the First Campsite (~2,835m). The distance is approximately 11 km round trip (5-7 hours). You will walk through dense rainforests with very scenic trails, but this option is tougher than the Marangu variant.
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
