Moshi

Moshi lies at around eight hundred metres on the southern side of Kilimanjaro, and when the cloud lifts the mountain fills the northern horizon completely, which is the town's defining feature. It grew as the centre of the Chagga coffee trade, and coffee still runs through it: the auction, the cooperatives, the roasteries and a run of cafes. Most Kilimanjaro climbs are organised from here, so the town is full of outfitters, gear shops and climbers on either side of the trip.

History

Before the Germans came the area belonged to the Chagga kingdoms of Moshi and Mbokomu. The Germans set up Neumoschi in August 1892, the railway arrived in 1912, and the town grew from 3,000 people in 1920 to 29,423 in 1967 and 96,631 in 1988; it became a town in 1956 and a municipality in 1988 (Wikipedia, Moshi, Tanzania).

What you'll find

• The mountain view - Kilimanjaro filling the horizon when the cloud clears.
• The coffee trade - cooperatives, roasteries and cafes through the town.
• The clock tower - the landmark at the centre of the grid.
• The market - the main produce and goods market, busy through the week.

When to go

June to October and January to February are the climbing seasons and the town is busiest then. Mornings give the clearest mountain views. The long rains from March to May are heavy.

What to expect

Touts for climbs and safaris approach visitors constantly. The mountain is hidden in cloud for much of most days. The town itself is functional with few sights.

Nearby

Marangu is east, and Kikuletwa is west.

Key facts