A pleasant addition to any journey through northern Tanzania, Moshi serves as the launchpad for the Kilimanjaro ascent via the Machame route.

While it lacks architectural landmarks or upscale shopping centers and fine dining restaurants, it offers a unique atmosphere that will quickly immerse you in the daily life of Tanzanians from the moment you arrive. Its streets bustle with activity, its markets pulse with energy, and its bars thrum with quality reggae sounds.

Moshi, Capital of Kilimanjaro

For residents of northern Tanzania, Moshi is a significant city with a population of nearly 200,000 inhabitants. Bean, maize, coffee, and sugarcane cultivation thrive here, but coffee farming remains the region's dominant crop. It was introduced by Catholic missionaries in the early 1890s. The Kilimanjaro Cooperative Union largely manages the sector while supporting the Chagga people, native to the region, in remaining competitive on the international coffee market.

On the education front, the city is home to Mweka College, an international wildlife management school. It trains safari guides and future managers of safari companies and lodges. Moshi is surrounded by enchanting natural sites, making the region a must-visit destination in Tanzania. The Kilimanjaro, tropical forests, magnificent lakes, stunning waterfalls, and northern national parks make the Moshi region extraordinarily rich. Each year, the city hosts the international tourism fair, known as KiliFair.

What to Do and See in Moshi?

Adventure to Kilimanjaro, Africa's Highest Peak

There's no mistaking it—in Moshi, people come to prepare for Kilimanjaro's ascent. A dream expedition for countless travelers, Kilimanjaro offers several routes to conquer it. From Moshi, the Machame route is easily accessible—one of the most celebrated trails for scaling Africa's roof.

For the less daring, you can embark on treks from Moshi at the mountain's base and enjoy equally incredible scenery and unique views of Kilimanjaro.

Spend a Day in Rau Forest

A community conservation project was launched to protect Rau Forest, once plundered and poorly maintained. To raise villager awareness of preservation, conservation initiatives were created. Tourism is now the forest's primary revenue source, offering visitors pleasant hiking and biking trails—a perfect warm-up before tackling Kilimanjaro's heights.

Kahawa Shambani Coffee Tours

This organic farm offers tours of coffee and banana plantations. You'll also venture into the Chagga cultural village. Located on the Kenyan border, Kahawa Shambani Coffee Tours showcases this cooperative enterprise representing 70,000 producers across more than 92 coffee-growing villages.

Lake Chala and Lake Jipe

Both lakes sit on the border with Kenya, near Mount Kilimanjaro. They offer pleasant family excursions. Lake Chala, located 55km from Moshi, is a caldera lake fed by underground springs from Kilimanjaro. You can walk its shores to spot blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and occasionally elephants and zebras. Canoe rides and fishing are also possible.

Continuing further east along the Kenyan border, you'll discover Lake Jipe near the Pare Mountains. This shallow lake teems with active wildlife. You can observe hippopotamuses, elephants, and zebras.

Practical Information

Getting Around Moshi

For tourists, taxis and tuk-tuks are the most convenient transport in Moshi. This peaceful, pleasant town also invites exploration on foot or by bicycle. For more authentic encounters with locals, hopping aboard a dala dala—the local minibus where passengers pack in until there's literally no more room—is quintessential.

Moshi is typically reached by taxi or private vehicle from the Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Moshi is also accessible by bus from Arusha. From Nairobi, Kenya, buses also serve Moshi—expect roughly 5 hours of travel, including border crossing time.