When planning a trip to Tanzania you will probably at some point find yourself considering the northern cities of Arusha and Moshi. You might also be trying to decide where to base yourself, do you stay in one or another, or both?
Arusha is usually the starting point for most Northern Circuit safaris, (the Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro crater, etc) and Moshi usually serves as the starting point for any Kilimanjaro climbing. Once you are in Moshi, you can engage and explore one of the following activities as follows.
1. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Number one of the best things to do in Moshi is to challenge yourself with 5 to 8 days Kilimanjaro climb, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the highest mountain in Africa, nicknamed “The Roof of Africa” You can find more tips about climbing Kilimanjaro itineraries and preparation here.
2. Go for a Kilimanjaro climb day trip
If you don’t have enough time to climb Kilimanjaro (say 5 to 8 days), you can always try to get a tester on a day hike. This hike is usually done through the Marangu route, from the starting point to the first Kilimanjaro camp. This challenge takes 10 hours to ascend and descend and starts around 08:00 am finishing it at 04:00 pm.
Destination: Mount Kilimanjaro, Mandara hut.
Hiking distance: 8km,
Vegetation zone: Mountain rainforest
Attractions: Rain forest, Monkeys, birds, mountain sceneries, water stream crossing bridges, and Maundi Crater.
Tour type: Perfect for the solo traveler, couple, and family or group.
Departure: This tour can depart any day, no fixed dates.
Itinerary: Morning drive from Moshi/Arusha town to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Marangu gate. At the gate, you will spend a couple of minutes for registration, payments, and permit issuing. After the process is done, you will start hiking to Mandara hut passing the lower Kilimanjaro mountain forest.
At Mandara hut you will have a break for lunch and sightseeing, later you will walk a short distance to the Maundi crater for its beautiful amazing view and then hike down back to Marangu gate. Few climbing gears may be needed especially during rainy seasons.
Price:
Solo climber-$300
Couple-$180 per person
Family/group of 3+…$150
Price Inclusions:
Transport from Moshi town to Kilimanjaro and back, park fee, lunch boxes, and a guide.
Exclusions:
Tipping and personal hiking gear and equipment.
3. Visit Kilimanjaro gate, Marangu waterfalls, and Chagga Caves
Another great day trip near Moshi is to take a village tour. Marangu village is the starting point for the Marangu route up Kilimanjaro, so you will usually see trekkers preparing to climb when you arrive.
On this trip, you will learn about the Chagga tribe and visit Chagga Caves where Chagga women and children used to hide during the tribal wars with Maasai over 200 years ago. You will also visit Kilasiya waterfalls or Kinukamori waterfalls, preparing coffee locally and tasting a traditional brewed drink known as “Mbege” or banana bear.
4. Go for a swim at Kikuletwa Hot Springs.
Kikuletwa Hot Spring locally known as ‘chemka’, is a natural small basin formed by under-grounding running water many years ago the water was hot, but by now we can simply say it’s just warm.
Activity: Swimming
It’s a very famous place for swimming and nicknamed the ‘natural swimming pool’
Itinerary
It will take a 2-hour private drive from Moshi town to Kikuletwa. The area appears like an oasis surrounded by sprawling fig trees in the middle of a semi-arid landscape. You will enjoy seeing crystal clear water bubbling from underground caves, giving the impression that it’s boiling. The water is perfectly refreshing; you will have to spend up to 5 hours of swimming and resting. Later afternoon you will be driving back to Moshi/Arusha town.
Price:
Sole……..$100
Couple: …..$55 per person
Family/group of 3+…. $40 per person
Inclusions:
-Private drive to and from Moshi town.
-Lunch box (Hot lunch-fried wage potatoes and barbecues.), soft drinks + beer available.
-Entrance fee
Exclusions:
-Personal expenses and tipping.
5. Visit Materuni village for coffee and waterfalls
The Materuni village tour gives room for a client to interact and socialize directly with the native villagers, learning about their day-to-day social and economic activities.
By visiting this village, you can get a clear picture of how ordinary Tanzanian lives in their remote areas alongside the daily activities routine they engage in to make life survive. You will have time to visit the attractions available in this village and later attend an orientation class on how to prepare a coffee drink locally.
The revenue collected from the fees payable by clients for visiting the village is used to boost the development in the village including providing lunch for pupils in primary schools, renovation of village dispensaries, and remote road constructions.
Activities:
Walking in the village, waterfalls, swimming (option), and coffee-making class.
Itinerary:
It takes an hour of private drive to Materuni Village, the tour starts by walking 2km to the big waterfalls. On the way you will cross small water streams and waterfalls, experiencing the real life of people in the village, while learning about different species of trees, coffee trees, banana trees, crops, and local lifestyles.
At the waterfalls you will spend time taking some photos and enjoying the falls, swimming is allowed, later go back to the coffee orientation center where you will directly participate in the coffee-making process from the ground. While making coffee, you will have lunch boxes or hot lunch, locally prepared if you are interested.
After all, coffee will be ready and you will have a cup to drink. Perhaps you will see the guys showing you handmade crafted art, and a package of roasted coffee beans, if you get interested you can support them by buying ones of your interests. Later afternoon you will be driving back to Moshi.
Price:
-Sole…..$110
-Couple…. $70
-Family/group of 3+…. $55 per person.
Inclusions:
-Private drive to and from Moshi town, lunch box, soft drinks & fruits, village visiting fee, and coffee-making class.
Exclusions:
Any personal expenses and tips
6. Take a bike tour- Explore Moshi on two wheels.
A popular day trip around Moshi is to take a bike tour. Kili Bike Adventures has a few trips to offer, including day trips and multi-day adventures. You can bike around town or the outskirts of the city to different attractions. You will be accompanied by a local biker guide who will choose and lead the trail. Cost: $100
7. Connect with nature at Rau Natural Forest.
Rau Forest is located on the outskirts of town, approximately 5km from the center of Moshi town. It is better explored by walking, and cycling. You can take a nature walk, visit an herbalist, practice yoga, meditate, go bird watching, visit sacred trees, and keep an eye out for black and white colobus monkeys jumping from one tree to another. This tour costs a minimum of $20.
8. Visit these Restaurants for coffee, lunch, or dinner
- Indo Italiano: This is one of my favorites and I eat here every time I pass through Moshi. They serve Italian and Indian food. I usually order a pizza with curry sauce on the side to dip my pizza crust in!
- More Than A Drop Restaurant: One of my favorites. The restaurant at More Than a Drop serves great vegetarian food and it’s also a vocational school training young women in the hospitality industry.
- Union Coffee: One of the most popular hangouts in town. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, and cakes. Best coffee in town.
- Maembe Cafe: Maembe is Swahili for mango and the restaurant is named after the mango trees found in the garden of this restaurant. They serve a good mix of food.
- Jay’s Kitchen: Really popular restaurant, serving Korean food.
- Milan’s: Indian vegetarian restaurant, popular with both locals and visitors.
- Kili Kahawa Lounge: Serving a mix of foods including burgers, sandwiches, salads, African dishes, and snacks.
- Chris burgers: Mixed menu including western foods like burgers, to local specialties like samosas and great juices.
- The Kitchen Flavor Restaurant: Nice place with great food and a great atmosphere. Veggie and vegan options.
9. Go shopping at local markets
If you love shopping in local markets, Moshi is a good place to visit! The markets give you a great insight into what local life is really like so I recommend adding this to your list of things to do in Moshi. At the markets, you can pick up all kinds of things, from fabrics (Khanga and Kitenge, Common pairs of clothing that women wear) to foodstuffs and souvenirs. The main markets in Moshi are the Memorial market for cheap second-hand clothing and the Mbuyuni market for food and home kinds of stuff.
10. Buy Tanzanite jewelry – The best souvenir from Tanzania
People like to be reminded of special moments in their lives and to hold evidence of those special moments. A souvenir is usually interpreted as a reminder of the experiences lived during a trip. In this way, souvenirs can be material objects that link with place and memories.
The souvenir is an important component of the tourist experience, with the tourist bringing back memories and souvenirs as evidence. Once you visit Tanzania to either climb Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Safari, or Zanzibar beach holidays, you can be rewarded or reward yourself with different locally made products such as Tanzanite gemstones and jewelry, African paintings, Printed t-shirts and hats, famous traditional women wear “Kanga & Kitenge” spices, Maasai handmade crafts, Maasai Blankets/shuka, Local handcraft leather items, Makonde wood carvings and sculptures, kikoi fabric, handbags and cases, postcards and roasted African Arabica coffee beans.
Selling Souvenirs has been frequently considered a way for communities to benefit economically from tourism and improve their livelihood especially people from rural areas.
10. Party at the Bars and Clubs
Like Arusha, Moshi has a great nightlife scene. Some of my favorite places to go out include:
- Redstone: Big nightclub with both indoor and outdoor areas.
- Mimiz
- Amuz
- Hugoz and Kilimanjaro Home.
11. Go for a sunset cruise tour and Mount Kilimanjaro view point at Moshi Railway or Maisha Halisi Camp
12. Charity and give back to the community
Take time to volunteer at orphanages and elders’ houses.