How to get to Moshi Town – Kilimanjaro
To reach Moshi/Kilimanjaro, the best option is flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Several airlines such as KLM/Kenya airways, Ethiopian and Condor serve it. Our shuttle from JRO airport to Moshi is 20 US$ on way.
The tickets to Kilimanjaro airports may be a bit more expensive than flying to Nairobi or Dar es salam, but you save time for bus travel, costs for domestic travel, costs for a Kenyan visa (if flying to Nairobi) and possibly 2 hotel nights in Nairobi or Dar es salam.
Dar es Salaam (DAR)
Busses between Dar to Moshi are around 50 US$ per person one-way and take 8 hours. They only depart in the morning. Domestic flights take around 1 hour and cost approx. 240 US$ per person one way. Safe hotels range from 70-150 US$ for a double room.
Nairobi (NBO)
“The Riverside” bus shuttle connects Nairobi and Moshi. The cost is $40 per person each way and the shuttle takes approximately six hours, leaving Nairobi at 8 am every morning. Arrive at the shuttle 1/2 hour early to get your luggage loaded. These are 25, 35, or 55 person shuttle buses. The route is not the most comfortable (very bumpy and dusty) due to ongoing construction work, but it is a quintessential African experience.
Zanzibar (ZNZ)
If you finish your Tanzania vacation in Zanzibar, you might also find international flights to and from Zanzibar. Domestic flights between Zanzibar (ZNZ) and Kilimanjaro (JRO) are around 240 US$ one way per person.
4 ways to go to Moshi town Tanzania
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Kilimanjaro Region - Moshi - Town FAQ's
You will require a passport valid for at least six months after your date of entry. If you are arriving from a country in which Yellow Fever is endemic (such as Kenya), you will require an immunization certificate or health card.
Citizens of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and most countries in the EU, need a tourist visa to enter Tanzania. Application details and forms can be found on Tanzanian Embassy web sites.
As with all visa matters — contact your local Tanzanian Embassy for the latest information.
The official unit of currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued as TSh10,000; 5000; 1000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins are issued as TSh100; 50; 20; 10, 5 and 1.
The tourism industry prices everything in US Dollars and they are the preferred unit of currency. Major currencies can be exchanged in the larger towns. Foreign exchange bureaux in the main towns usually offer a better rate on traveller’s cheques than do the banks. ATMs are available in major cities only. Major lodges, some hotels and travel agents in urban areas accept credit cards, but these should not be relied on and can incur a 10% surcharge.
See www.oando.com for the latest exchange rates.
Purchasing your visa upon arrival is standard.
The tourist visa is valid for 90 days and the cost is $50 for foreigners, $100 for US citizens. That said, roughly 50 countries from around the world are exempt, including South Africa, India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brazil. For the full list of exemptions, please go here.
For those in need of a visa, note that you’ll be given an entry form on the plane to fill in. When you land, an immigration officer will look over your passport and entry card, then ask about your accommodation and departure date, before sending you to the cashier’s window.
Once the cashier receives your passport and payment, you’ll be asked to wait in a designated area. After processing, they’ll call your name, return your passport (visa stamp in place), and provide you with a receipt. Your new tourist visa is good for one year, but you can only stay in the country for 90 days at a time.
There are no mandatory vaccinations for entering Tanzania. The only exception is proof of a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country with a known yellow fever epidemic.
That said, to ensure your health whilst travelling abroad you should have the following vaccinations: typhoid, TDP, varicella (unless you’ve had chicken pox), and Hepatitis A and B. If you’re an adventurous eater, you might want to add cholera to the list.
Tanzania is in a malaria zone, as shown in the map below. That said, malaria isn’t an issue in all parts of the country. But you might want to consider using anti-malaria medication. If so, please order enough to be able to continue taking them seven days after returning home.
All good accommodations where mosquitoes are an issue provide you with netting around your bed.
Finally, your doctor may recommend a rabies shot – a series of two doses over a four-week period – if you plan on caving or working with animals.
Insect repellent and sunscreen
Please bring enough insect repellent and sunscreen for the trip. You’re heading to a country just south of the Equator, and so it can get very hot. It’s not easy to find insect repellent and sunscreen in Tanzania and, when you do, they’re pricey.
Whilst on safari, you need to protect yourself from tsetse flies. These flies can transmit African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness. It’s best to wear light-colour clothing; tsetse flies are attracted to dark colours, especially shades of blue. Unfortunately products containing DEET usually don’t discourage tsetse flies from biting, so try to find a natural insect repellent containing eucalyptus oil.
The three international airports in Tanzania are in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar. There are many other airports, as well as airstrips, that one can use for travel within Tanzania.
Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam
This airport is on the east coast. It’s the biggest airport and you may need to fly here and then catch a connection to one of the smaller ones. This airport makes the most sense if you’re heading to west, central or southern Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) near Arusha
JRO is just outside of Arusha, the main city of northern Tanzania. This is the ideal airport if you’re heading on a Northern Circuit safari or a Kilimanjaro climb. As you can see in the map below, it’s very close to Moshi, the closest town to Kilimanjaro National Park.
JRO is also the closest major airport to the large game reserves of the north like Serengeti National Park. That said, Tanzania is a big country and it will take a day to drive from JRO to the Serengeti, for instance, especially as much of the drive is on dirt roads that require four-wheel drive. You might like to consider flying to one of the various airstrips across northern Tanzania to reduce travel times.
Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar
If you’re heading to the Zanzibar archipelago, then you want to fly into ZNZ on Unguja Island. If you’re heading to Zanzibar from elsewhere in Tanzania, then you could also use Pemba Airport (PMA) depending on your planned itinerary.
Zanzibar is famous for its beautiful, warm-water beaches, unique cultural history, beautiful game parks and wildlife, and water sports. We find that many like to fly there from Kilimanjaro International Airport after having completed a Kili climb in order to relax and unwind after their epic trek.
Fly into Kenya and drive south
Note that you could also choose to fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya, and then drive southwards for 800 km to reach the Tanzania border. This works well for those wanting to visit both Kenya and Tanzania.
Note that if you’re going to visit more than one nation in the region, you’ll probably want to obtain an East African visa over just a Tanzanian visa.
Moshi has two rainy and dry season. The best time to visit is in the warm months of January to February and also June to September. This is the best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Try to avoid the rainy season if you are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro during your stay in Moshi. The rains reduce visibility and cause hiking routes to get slippery. The rains also come with more cloud cover hence limiting the quality of views while hiking up the mountain. The rains come between March to May and also November to the beginning of December.
YES! It is important to note that you will be required to have a Tanzanian Visa on arrival if you are an international tourist. Visas can be got from the nearest Tanzanian consulate or Embassy in your country. A Visa can also be got at all major border crossings and airports. Apart from the Tanzanian visa, Visitors are also expected to have a yellow fever vaccination card before entering into the country.
Among the things you can do in Moshi are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, hiking Mount Meru, and visiting the Pare Mountains.
In addition, you can also go on banana and coffee tours, visit the Maasai Cultural Museum and Village, and much more!
Moshi is a friendly city in northern Tanzania. It is an oasis of beautiful, expansive coffee plantations with an attractive blend of African and Asian influences.
It is where Kilimanjaro’s skyline dominates.
Moshi is the only place where you can view Kilimanjaro.
The good thing here is that you can get a breathtaking mountain view from any position when you are at Moshi, unlike when you are in Arusha.
Moshi of northern Tanzania is known for its coffee farms and busy, colorful streets, where there is always something fascinating to discover and people to meet.
The city can be found at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. That said, anyone can behold Kili’s majestic stature during clear sky days.
| Distance: 35 | Time: 30ms |
Moshi Town in Tanzania
The town of Moshi is the second-largest tourism hub of Tanzania, the capital of Kilimanjaro region and the place from where most Kilimanjaro adventures begin. Built in the early 19th century by the German colonists in Africa, it has a rich and turbulent history worth knowing about.Though Moshi is seldom viewed as a travel destination in itself, those who are interested in knowing more about Swahili culture should definitely consider visiting. Numerous local cafes are just right for getting a glimpse into the Tanzanian cuisine, while Moshi curio art shops are among the best places in the region to buy memorable souvenirs with symbols of the country.
Serengeti Trips Tanzania
Find all the transport options for your trip from Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater right here. We displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best.
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most accessible high summits and can be climbed without technical skills, making it a beacon for visitors from around the world. But make no mistake, it is a demanding and challenging endeavor. There are hundreds of outfitters to choose from, locally and internationally, but only few are considered reputable.The best ones not only have the best safety records and client success rate, they also care about the fair and ethical treatment of their crew.
Things to do in Kilimanjaro Region - Moshi
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro: The first thing that catches your eye when approaching Moshi is the amazing snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. This dormant volcano is the highest mountain in Africa. It rises up to 5,895 meters above sea level and its peak is sometimes referred to as the “Roof of Africa”. Mount Kilimanjaro receives about 45,000 tourists each year and reaching its summit is 
considered one of the most challenging in the world. You don’t have to be a seasoned mountain hiker to get the top. All you need is mental preparedness and a certain level of fitness. Hiking the mountain takes between five to ten days depending on your budget, ability and time at your disposal. There are 7 different hiking routes all leading up to the summit including Umbwe, Shira, Rongai, Mweka, Marangu, Machame and Lemosho.
Each route offers a different experience in terms of scenery (wildlife, volcanic features, forests, coffee and banana plantations) and climatic zones. Machame is thought to be the most difficult route but with the best scenery. Regardless of which route you choose to use, you will be rewarded by great views of the nearby towns, national parks and Mount Meru. If you have little time to spare or are tight on budget, you can opt for the one-day Mount Kilimanjaro hike which leads to the Mandara hut.
As a coffee town, Moshi is an excellent place to go and discover how the beverage is grown and processed. Most of the private coffee plantations are found at the foot of the Mount Kilimanjaro and in villages like Materuni.
To reach the plantations, you might need a to hire personal car or daladala and take a journey of roughly 15 kilometers. The coffee tour is often led by one of the farmers. Expect to learn about the entire coffee planting process – the planting, best season, how it is roasted and how farmers find market for their products. Visiting the private coffee plantations will give you firsthand experience of just how difficult it is to come up with the final products.
If time is not on your side, you can choose to take coffee from within town itself and at a reasonable price. The Coffee Union at the city center is the most popular Arabica coffee shop in town and they have been in business since the 1930’s. I shouldn’t forget to mention that apart from coffee, bananas also do amazingly well in Moshi. Most of the bananas are eaten as food or used to make local beer.
The Chemka is one of the most beautiful natural hot springs in Tanzania. It is located in the middle of an arid landscape (the Sanya plains) in the village of Rundugai. 
The boiling/bubbling water comes from underground and by the time it reaches up, it is warm enough to allow for swimming. Rundugai village is found between Moshi town and Kilimanjaro airport. You can get amazing views of two of Africa’s tallest mountains (Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro).
The waters offer a soothing power and are surrounded beautiful scenery, baobab trees and natural caverns. Apart from swimming in the hot spring, you can also go for primates viewing, birdwatching and cultural visits to one local tribes in the area. If you find the place amazing, you can choose to camp for the night. It takes 1.5 hours of driving by road to reach the hot spring.
The Materuni Waterfalls are found outside the town of Moshi. They are surrounded by beautiful valleys, hills, coffee/banana plantations and rainforest. Day tours are arranged to discover this hidden attraction to discover the waterfalls or get amazing views of the Mount Kilimanjaro and Moshi Town.
Hiking to the top of these waterfalls can be physically demanding especially if one is not mentally prepared or used to walking in mountainous areas. On the way to or back from the waterfalls, tourists can stop for a cultural encounter with the main local tribe. The Chagga people in the area are known for growing large coffee and banana plantations. They are a very progressive, resourceful and hardworking tribe.
Lake Chala is a crater lake found at the edge of Mount Kilimanjaro along the border between Kenya and Tanzania. It was formed 3 million years ago as a result of a major volcanic eruption. The lake is surrounded by a crater rim (100 meters high) and has a depth of about 3 kilometers. Lake Chala is the deepest inland water body in Africa. The lake changes color depending on the month of the year ranging from deep blue to crystal clear waters in some months. Most of the water is drained and filled by underground streams.
A day trip to the crater lake rewards visitors with great views of the area, Mount Kilimanjaro and the savannah grasslands. The lake offers a rare tranquil environment, fresh air and an opportunity to be close to nature. One can choose to go for birding, kayaking, canoeing and nature walks in the forest surrounding the lake. On a good day, you might even find a herd of elephants cooling by the shores of the lake, monitor lizards, small monkeys, baboons, snakes and monitor lizards. Lake Chala is an excellent place to escape the noise in the town and it’s only an hour’s drive away from the town center. We recommend that you spend at least a night in one of the quality tented lodges at the site. The government charges a small amount to enter the lake area.
Kilimanjaro Region - Moshi Town
The agricultural town of Moshi is located in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania, surrounded by the plantation-covered slopes of majestic Mt Kilimanjaro.
The scenic rural area around Moshi also features sugar plantations, playing an important role in the region’s economy.
The Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is about half an hour’s drive from Moshi. Moshi is close to the Kenya-Tanzania border and about a two-hour drive from Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital.
Moshi has a tropical climate with two rainy seasons. The best time to visit Moshi is during the drier, warmer months best suited for climbing Mt Kilimanjaro – these are January to February and September.
Other times that are good for climbing Kilimanjaro are from June to August, when conditions are cooler but still outside of the rainy seasons.
If you are travelling to Moshi to climb Kilimanjaro avoid the two rainy seasons in Tanzania – one is from the end of March to the start of June and the other is from November to the start of December.
This bustling, yet peaceful town is a pleasant and colourful place to explore on foot, visiting local markets and shops that sell fresh produce, curios and all kinds of interesting things.
The main reason for visiting Moshi is of course to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano.
Attractions in Moshi include the seasonal coffee auctions, where international buyers bid for wholesale coffee. The coffee-roasting factory in Moshi is also worth visiting to learn about coffee production and enjoy the sweet aromas.
From Moshi you can embark on short hikes and day-trips to visit local tribes and villages, as well as crop and coffee plantations.
One of the best ways to discover the town of Moshi is by touring the center and suburbs. This can be done by walking, taking a daladala, bicycle or motorcycle. The starting point will depend on your location but it’s better to start your tour at the town center before moving to the suburbs.
You can begin by checking out the town shops, restaurants and inner streets. After exploring the ton center, you can proceed to the residential areas outside the town center and finally to the town slums.
For the best views of the town, we highly recommend spending time relaxing at the sitting area on the top floor of Selig Hotel. You could spend the entire day watching residents go about their day while enjoying the amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Lushoto and its people; it would be hard to know where to start. It is a town that exists in a nebulous state of optimistic beauty after being hardened by stunning scenery and a breath of fresh air. Like all places where winter likes to settle in for a good, long stay, the people of Lushoto nearly always embrace every moment of cool weather. When you live, visit or grow up in Switzerland, Lushoto sounds about as close and familiar as Switzerland.
It has sweeping landscapes with their towering peaks with farms, the breathtaking view and endless vistas (green and lush scenery) that interest many visitors.
Lushoto boasts of a rich hinterland ideal for farming, which includes bananas, pears, pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes, yams, maize, cabbage, carrots, capsicum, plumps or apples and more that find their market within the Tanga region and beyond.
Its rainforest is one of the most popular bio diversity places in Africa. Now, it is a centre of one of the best cultural tourism programmes in Tanzania – The Friends of Usambara (www.usambaratravels.com.).
The cultural tourism enterprise provides various activities for visitors, such as guided hikes and cultural visits to the Irente view point, Irente farm, Usambara farms, Magamba rainforests and more. Most of the incomes go to fund development projects such as drilling well in remote areas, building primary school and funding reforestation efforts.
In Lushoto, people live a more traditional lifestyle, and the locals are genuinely happy to see visitors walk by, greeting everyone with big smiles.
Location and access:
Lushoto is accessed via Mombo town on the Arusha to Dar es Salaam highway. Public transports to Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi and Tanga are available daily.
Accommodation:
Lushoto has several up-market facilities which include: Mullers lodge, The executive lodge, Irente Cliff lodge, Lawns hotel, Lushoto White House, Swiss farm Cottage, Irente Biodiversity Reserve, Mkuzi creek Resort and more.
Tour Guides:- The guides of Tanga Cultural Tourism Initiative are indigenous of Tanga region who speaks good English and have ample experience in tour guiding in the area
Historically, Moshi gained prominence during German colonial rule, when it was initially set up as a military encampment at the end of the nineteenth century. With the extension of the railway line in 1912, Moshi became an important trading post for the highly prized coffee grown on the volcanic plains surrounding the town. In the years that followed, and following the transfer of colonial rule from Germany to Great Britain after the first world war, the town attracted a migrant Indian population who helped to develop new businesses and small industries, creating a bustling marketplace of goods. Moshi was formally designated a town in 1956.Following independence in 1961, Moshi continued to grow and its population is estimated to exceed 100,000. Whilst the coffee trade has now collapsed, other important industries have come to dominate such as TPC Limited, an 8,000-hectre sugar plantation, Serengeti Breweries, a leading alcoholic brand and Bonite Bottlers, which manufactures Coca Cola products.Tourism is also an important industry for the town, which attracts thousands of thrill seekers and adventurers each year for trekking or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The town also has a growing student population. Moshi is home to Moshi Co-Operative University and Mwenge Catholic University as well as countless private vocational colleges.As capital of Kilimanjaro Region, Moshi attracts significant local migration, which includes a sizeable population of child labourers in search of work, as well as destitute families from surrounding areas and villages.
