Moshi

Moshi is a municipality in Northeast Tanzania, the mountain region of Tanzania.

Understand
Moshi is home to three main cultural groups: the Chagga, the Maasai and Pare. However, most Maasai are employed as watchmen or are selling traditional medicines, and their homeland is further north. The Pare are from the Pare Mountains from about 50 km on the way to Dar es Salaam.

Talk
Usually you will be able to find people with a decent command of English, but people appreciate it if you are able to use a bit of the native language, Swahili.

Get in
To get into Tanzania you must have a visa. This can be done in your home country by finding an embassy or consulate, or when you arrive in the airport or at a border crossing.

Don't over-economise on bus travel, since the cheaper companies often don't have very high safety standards, and you don't want to risk having a drunk driver. This is a very serious warning!

By plane

 * Kilimanjaro International Airport is approx 30 min from Moshi and taxis and buses are available from each. An approximate cost would be TSh 60,000, though this all depends on your bargaining skills! Flights come from various non-domestic destinations, and this is how most tourists arrive. Direct flights from Amsterdam daily and direct from Doha (Qatar)
 * Flying to Dar es Salaam is also an option. A little bit farther from Moshi than Kili Airport, but it will almost certainly be cheaper. You'll need to catch a bus from Dar to Moshi--probably about 7 hours.
 * Flying into Nairobi, Kenya is significantly less expensive than Kilimanjaro, however you will need a Kenyan transit visa (available on arrival) and it is an 8-hour bus ride to Moshi (about US$20 for a single trip).

By bus
Buses arrive in Moshi from all of the main cities in Tanzania, and this is the cheapest way to travel. Dar Express and Kilimanjaro bus lines run from Dar es Salaam to Moshi (and beyond/vice versa) at a cost of TSh 20,000 one way and takes around 8 hours. Hood and Abood go to Morogoro for TSh 13,000. Buses also go to Arusha, Mwanza, Tanga, Mbeya, Dodoma and Nairobi. All prices are worth bargaining for — locals will get massively lower prices! The bus station is extremely chaotic, however this can be used to your advantage as it means many drivers are vying for your fare.

By train
Twice-weekly passenger trains started running from Dar es Salaam in late 2019. While faster and more comfortable then buses, delays and cancellations have plagued the Tanzanian rail network for years. Make sure to check at the a railway station if the train is running.

There are is a passenger trains from Moshi to/from Arusha 86 kms by rail. two hours 4 times a week. .



Get around
No need to do anything other than walk within the city, though it is strongly advised not to walk around at night, for your own safety.

There are plenty of taxis. As always, negotiate a price before getting in (most fares shouldn't cost more than a couple of dollars). It's a good idea to get the mobile phone number of one for emergencies. Always agree a price before you get in the car.

Local transport around Kilimanjaro can be easy if you take local buses called "Daladalas". They are 16-seater minibuses which usually transport about 30 people and/or children and livestock at any given time. Daladalas can be used to go within Moshi or to the surrounding villages, for instance Machame and Marangu, and are very cheap (less than a dollar). Listen to the conductor shouting the destination as they drive past, and feel free to shout your destination to him. They sometimes have stickers in the front window stating where they go to. Local transport should cost TSh 500-3000. It's not recommended to travel by daladala or by taxi up muddy tracks if it's been raining very hard. It's also essential to check that the vehicle is in a reasonable state of repair and that the driver is sober.

Motorcyle taxis (Boda bodas) are numerous but are the most dangerous way to travel. Drivers are legally required to provide a helmet, just make sure that the strap is working. Some drivers are quite reckless and there have been reports of drivers taking passengers to remote areas to rob/rape.

To hire your own Land Cruiser and driver is around TSh 100,000 a day.

To hire your own motorcycle is around TSh 35,000 per day, or less if rented for a week or more.

See

 * The market can be fun to visit, even if you're not interested in buying anything.
 * There are many religious institutions, most notably the mosque near the center of town.
 * Visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery opposite the Magistrate's Court.
 * Visit the former German administration office between Kilimanjaro Co-operative Bank and BP petrol station on Mawenzi Road/Nyerere Road. You can still see the metal pillar which was used for hanging convicted people.

There are several smaller communities outside of the main town of Moshi that are worth taking a look around.


 * Following Kibo Road north out of Moshi you will come to the YMCA and will be in Shantytown, which is an area of relative wealth. Several restaurants are located out here as well as a few hostels and hotels.
 * Following Station Road out of Moshi to the east you will be in Majengo, a significantly worse off area than main Moshi.
 * Following Boma Road out of town to the west you will be in Soweto, which has many more expensive homes and is also home base for a large European volunteer organization. There is the FalconCrest Hotel and Pub, as well as the Scorpion Pub for a night out. There is a good market near the Scorpion Pub.

Climbing and safaris
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the obvious reason for being in Moshi. Safari is also essential, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park and Arusha National Park are within a fairly easy distance. Tours can be arranged through several companies, and it is advisable to use common sense when finding a company. Your best bet is to ask other tourists who they used. Or, ask your accommodation for a referral to a safari company. Do not deal with a random person on the street; look for a real office! You can also book ahead of time but you will be spending a lot more. Otherwise, you can almost certainly bargain prices down, within reason.

When you pay for safari most of it goes to cover park fees, lodging, food and gas. The guide gets little money, especially when working for a large organization; most of their income is from tips. Also, if you are traveling with a cook it is a good rule of thumb to tip them as well or to incorporate their wages into the overall tip. For example, on a 3-day safari an estimated tip would be US$50 for each, though if you're traveling with more people this amount is to be divided amongst everyone and if traveling for an extended period of time it would be recommended to tip more. A well paid guide is a happy guide, who will try their hardest and give you the best experience.

Other activities

 * Cultural trips to Maasai villages are very worthwhile and informative, but be aware most of the villages are not authentic.
 * Hiring a Local Guide is a fantastic and inexpensive way to see the Moshi that you wouldn't see otherwise. Guides can be hired at virtually any hotel.
 * Day trips to Marangu Waterfalls are often fun, you can stand underneath the waterfall, even jump off one and go swimming. Day trips to Lake Nyumba ya Mungu can also be interesting, lots of local fishing culture, aloe vera plantations and sugar cane plantations. There is also a snake park and camel riding centre in nearby town Arusha. These can be arranged individually by taking a bus or organizing with a safari company. Also make sure that all employees at the safari-company you decide to go with get a good salary, it is better to pay more and be assured quick service with a possible car break down or other unforeseen situations.
 * Walking tours across the rice paddys make for a nice day and you can also visit the local forest to see some monkeys! These are usually arranged through a safari company but are significantly less expensive as you are only paying for a single guide.
 * Even if you aren't getting a bus, the bus station is worth visiting for its chaos. It is highly recommended to take a daladala just to be able to say you have, and no doubt you will have an adventure.
 * If wanting to just have a relaxing day in Moshi it is recommended to head to the Impala Hotel where you can relax by the lovely pool (in your bikini and whatnot without fear!) and also enjoy a meal pool side. The cost to hang out by the pool and to go swimming is TSh 3,000. Meals cost around TSh 5,000.
 * Another good place to go swimming is the YMCA located a bit north of town, and has a large, deep pool.
 * The Social Reality Tour is a 3 hours' walk with a social worker through deprived areas of Moshi, visiting people who are affected by HIV/AIDS. These individuals are happy that visitors are interested in them and the social worker can provide background information about the situation of HIV/AIDS in the region. You pay US$10 which will go 100% to support the HIV patients that you visit. The tour is an important income for the NGO KIWAKKUKI, allowing them to continue their home-based care program..

Volunteer activities
Moshi is also home to several volunteer organizations though they tend to be very overpriced and badly managed. However, there are many opportunities to volunteer in orphanages, schools and women's centers without being connected to these organizations.

Global Volunteer Programs Kilimanjaro(GVP)http://www.gvp-tanzania.org/Tel: +255 (0) 2727 54652 Mobile: +255 (0) 7543 91121, Email:f_masawe@hotmail.com. Global Volunteer Programs Kilimanjaro is a grassroots organization based in the town of Moshi in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. It is committed to improving the lives of Tanzanians through a comprehensive program of volunteering projects tackling social, economic and environmental problems with an emphasis on education, healthcare, rural development and capacity building. As life-long residents of the community, the founders of the organization are well aware of the needs of the local population and, through GVP’s programs, focus on those needs with a dedication to excellence.


 * Moyo Mmoja is a women's center open only to fellow women to volunteer.
 * Give a Heart To Africa (www.giveahearttoafrica.org) is a small NGO in Moshi operating a vocational school for adult women. They offer the women free education in English, business and computers and help some of them start their own business.  This NGO is run solely by volunteers, and is a very hands on experience.  Volunteers are welcome any time of year; no prior experience is necessary.
 * Hostel Foot Prince is run by the organisation Foot2afrika. They only charge for food, and accommodation while project volunteering is free.
 * World Unite!; info@world-unite.de have been active in Moshi since 2005, placing volunteers and interns into a variety of NGOs, hospitals and government institutions. They offer support services such as arrangement of accommodation in shared houses or host families, residence permits, preparation & ground support at very affordable rates. World Unite are also running their own development projects where volunteers can participate, in cooperation with local and foreign NGOs, development organizations and private partners. Result of such a project in Moshi is the Kiwakkuki Social Reality Tour (http://www.social-reality-tour.com), a no-profit tour for visitors to Moshi, supporting families affected by HIV through revenue generated by tourism. Short-term volunteering is possible, but generally World Unite! focus on volunteer placements with a duration of 2-12 months, and on individuals rather than groups. Being one of the bigger and better-run volunteering organizations in Tanzania, they also offer volunteering options in Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Ngorongoro and Lake Victoria, besides cultural travel options.
 * World Unite!; info@world-unite.de have been active in Moshi since 2005, placing volunteers and interns into a variety of NGOs, hospitals and government institutions. They offer support services such as arrangement of accommodation in shared houses or host families, residence permits, preparation & ground support at very affordable rates. World Unite are also running their own development projects where volunteers can participate, in cooperation with local and foreign NGOs, development organizations and private partners. Result of such a project in Moshi is the Kiwakkuki Social Reality Tour (http://www.social-reality-tour.com), a no-profit tour for visitors to Moshi, supporting families affected by HIV through revenue generated by tourism. Short-term volunteering is possible, but generally World Unite! focus on volunteer placements with a duration of 2-12 months, and on individuals rather than groups. Being one of the bigger and better-run volunteering organizations in Tanzania, they also offer volunteering options in Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Ngorongoro and Lake Victoria, besides cultural travel options.
 * World Unite!; info@world-unite.de have been active in Moshi since 2005, placing volunteers and interns into a variety of NGOs, hospitals and government institutions. They offer support services such as arrangement of accommodation in shared houses or host families, residence permits, preparation & ground support at very affordable rates. World Unite are also running their own development projects where volunteers can participate, in cooperation with local and foreign NGOs, development organizations and private partners. Result of such a project in Moshi is the Kiwakkuki Social Reality Tour (http://www.social-reality-tour.com), a no-profit tour for visitors to Moshi, supporting families affected by HIV through revenue generated by tourism. Short-term volunteering is possible, but generally World Unite! focus on volunteer placements with a duration of 2-12 months, and on individuals rather than groups. Being one of the bigger and better-run volunteering organizations in Tanzania, they also offer volunteering options in Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Ngorongoro and Lake Victoria, besides cultural travel options.

Buy
Major banks ATMs in Moshi accept international credit and debit cards accredited with Master card, the plus logo, and Visa card. Stanbic Bank and Equity Bank have MasterCard/Visa ATMs. Make sure your card issuer is aware you are travelling in Tanzania as your card may be blocked for security measures. They all deal in local currency, the Tanzanian shilling. To convert currencies there are several foreign exchange offices near the banks.

As of August 2009, don't expect to be able to take US dollar traveller's cheques and change them to US cash in Moshi. All the banks in town and most forex offices refuse to do it. If you're desperate, the only place that would do it is Executive Change Bureau, on Boma Rd., but they charge 10% commission. If you're going to Moshi, better bring US cash, or verify in writing that the places you are planning to deal with will accept US traveller's cheques (and what the fee is, if any) if you plan to carry them.

For souvenirs, Downtown Moshi is probably cheaper than the big 'out-of-town' places for tourists, which hideously overprice things. Even better, with a 15-minute walk from town on the Dar Road, you will find a community of artists who create the wood carvings and paintings that sell in town. They will sell direct to you at a far better price than can be found in shops. There are lots of fabric shops up and down the main street, as well as tourist shops selling carvings and paintings. If you do get hassled by street sellers, do not be afraid! Their only interest is to take you to a shop where you might buy something and they receive commission for taking you there (they are not the artists themselves!). Generally speaking there isn't a lot buy, but a lot to look at. If you've just been up Kili, the 'Just done it' t-shirts are probably worth a look! Or if you've spent a lot of time drinking, you might want to pick up a Safari or Kilimanjaro Lager t-shirt! Tanzanite is sold in several shops.


 * The market is fantastic, and should be thoroughly explored. It consists of many narrow alleyways selling fruit, vegetables, meat, dried fish, general household stuffs, tapes, clothes, and of course the cheapest souvenirs (A drum costing TSh 30,000 in the main streets would cost TSh 5,000 here).
 * There are several bookstores but most deal primarily with school and religious texts. There are many stationary shops with everything you could need.

Banks and ATMS

 * Kenya Commercial Bank. Boma Road has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
 * Kenya Commercial Bank. Boma Road has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
 * Kenya Commercial Bank. Boma Road has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.
 * Kenya Commercial Bank. Boma Road has a Mastercard/Visa Card ATM.

Eat
Most restaurants offer a variety of food and range in price from TSh 2000 to TSh 8000 for a meal.



There are also many other nameless restaurants that serve as decent lunch spots, you should look for a busy restaurant, that's always a good sign. If wanting to try the local food ask for ugali (translates as stiff porridge, a bit bland but harmless) or "wali na maharage" (beans and rice).

Heading along the road of the banks and Immigration office there is Abba Ali's Hot Bread Shop that sells excellent bread, honey, doughnuts and other desserts, especially nice cakes. Opposite the bakery is Aleem's Grocer, a decent grocery store.

A great place to buy groceries is at the local market, which can be found easily from the double roads or the alleyway by the Tanzanian Coffee Shop on Chagga St.

Restaurants outside Moshi:

Drink
As Moshi is situated on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro it is largely populated by members of the Chagga tribe. Chaggas are known for their keen business sense, their warm hospitality and their love of a good drink, so getting a beer in Moshi is rarely much of a problem! In the daytime and early evening you can head to the Police mess, The East Africa Bar, the KNCU restaurant (up on the top floor of the KNCU building) or the Siesta inn (a 15-minute walk from the main street). All these places serve food so you can keep your stomach lined as you sip a few of the fine local beers (don't bother with European imports - they're no better than the local stuff, but considerably more expensive). Some of the local beers are Kilimanjaro, Safari and Tusker. The most common local liquor is Konyagi.



Sleep
Be sure to avoid touts. If you are travelling as a couple, a good idea is for one person to sit in a lobby or restaurant with the bags, while the other scopes out rooms. You are likely to get a cheaper price without them, and not be targeted by sneaky touts that will raise the price US$5-10 for you for their commission. Often they follow you and stay outside signaling reception.

Respect
Moshi is a popular tourist destination so most will not be offended by your clothing choices. However, women will gain much more respect by wearing clothes covering their legs at least to the knees, as local ladies rarely show their legs.

Connect

 * There is a post office near the Clock Tower on Market St. for mailing letters and packages, you can also rent a P.O. box. There is also a DHL office opposite the Dar Express office on Station Rd.
 * Kili Hub is a co-working space providing fast internet, back up power and a place to work and Skype for the whole day for only a couple of dollars.
 * There are several internet cafes in town, two are located Hill Street near the Coffee Shop, Fahari and Duma  (beside The Coffee Shop). Duma acts as a safari tour operator as well as an internet cafe. Located near the Clock Tower is one called EasyCom. Rates for usage vary, but usually around TSh 1500 per hour. Another cafe, called Dot Cafe, is near the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Ltd. (TANESCO) on Rengua Street. The first internet cafe in Moshi, Twiga is on Old Moshi Road, up the road from KNCU Hotel. It offers fast internet connection. They also rent out novels, movies and have trekking/camping equipment for hire.
 * If your phone operates on GSM 900/1800 and uses a SIM card then you can buy a Tanzanian SIM card (Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo or Zantel) (cost is Tsh 1000). You can also buy a phone locally for around US$50. You have to prepay for minutes by buying credit. Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo and Zantel offer relatively fast internet (buy mb bundles by sending sms), which can be used on your phone as well as laptop (using phone as a modem).
 * All internet cafes in Moshi use the same backhaul internet connection, so if the connection is down in one cafe, it's usually down in them all.
 * Some internet cafes offer Skype, although others allege that internet telephone services are illegal in Tanzania (presumably because the state owns the telephone system and does not want to loose out on international phone charges).

Cope

 * There are several hospitals and dispensaries, most notably KCMC. However to even see a doctor you have to pay around TSh 50,000. There are other clinics in Moshi but again there is usually a charge just for admittance. If you travel just outside Moshi to the village of Soweto there is St. Joseph's Hospital (10 minutes by taxi), run by nuns, and you only pay for tests and medication.
 * There are many different religious centers, a large mosque is present in town, there is a prominent Catholic Diocese, a few SDA churches such as Majengo SDA Church  , a Sikh Temple, plus many others. There are many churches which have both English and Swahili services.
 * There are dental services in town, just look around. There are also optometrists with very decent prices for glasses!
 * The Immigration office is located up Boma Rd from the Clock Tower, just a bit further than the banks. You can renew visas here.
 * There are several banks with 24-hour ATM machines. They are usually protected round the clock by an armed guard.
 * There are several Forex Bureaux De Change in Moshi that charge reasonable rates. Most hotels will also exchange travellers cheques, although at a less favourable rate.  It's not impossible to pay for general goods and services in US dollars, although locals prefer shillings.

Go next
You can get to Zanzibar in one day, if you take the early bus (6:30AM) to Dar es Salaam, operated by Dar Express, and from there take the ferry at 4PM to Stone Town. The Dar Express office is located near the clock roundabout on Station Rd, opposite the Kahawa house.

There are several day trips possible. Mkomazi, Arusha, Tarangire and Manyara National Parks are possible as day trips. Banana/Coffee plantation tours on the lower slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro along with a visit to one of the waterfalls that are nearby. Union Cafe (listed in the restaurant section), owned by Kilimanjaro Coffee Growers Cooperative organizes the most popular coffee plantation tour (Kahawa Shamba Tour). Lake Chala and hotsprings are also popular excursions.