5 Best Things To Do In Moshi, Tanzania

If you’re thinking about taking a vacation to Africa, and want the authentic experience from this incredible continent, then the city of Moshi in Tanzania is the perfect place to come. Located in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, not only is the city itself a great place to explore, but it’s also in the perfect location to enjoy all that Tanzania has to offer.

You could certainly book a Tanzania tour that include the Kilimanjaro ascent, but also most of the longer Africa overland tours will include the Kilimanjaro region. It’d be crazy to skip it!

If you are wondering what to do in Moshi, well, you’ll be glad to know that Moshi boosts some of the best things to do in Tanzania. Whether you’re out rhino watching, tackling the so-called “roof of Africa”, or simply digging in to some delicious local food, there’s so much to do in Moshi. To help you decide how to spend your time here, we’ve put together this list of our top picks- make sure you give them all a try!

Go On Safari

Tanzania is home to multiple safari parks, which attract tourists from all over the world. The country, and this part of it in particular, are home to an abundance of animals, including the legendary “big five” safari animals – elephants, rhinos, buffalo, lions, and leopards. While these creatures were once the targets of big game hunters from far and wide, this naturally had a devastating impact on their population, and nowadays there are conservation efforts in place to help restore their numbers.

Nevertheless, it’s still an incredible experience to see these beasts in their natural habitat, so while you’re in Tanzania, you should certainly try to spend at least one day out in the bush.

See Where Your Coffee Comes From

As well as attracting visitors from around the world, Moshi is also a big name in exports, with dozens of local coffee plantations shipping their produce abroad. If you can’t start your day without a cup of java, then why not find out just where it comes from, and take a trip to a private plantation? Here, you’ll see first-hand just how the crop is grown, and then roasted the traditional Tanzanian way, on an open fire. You’ll never take your cup of coffee for granted again!

The local farmers also have coffee beans in stock that you can buy, with a kilo costing around $8 USD. You can’t get much more fairtrade than buying directly from the farm itself!

Hike Up Mount Kilimanjaro

When you arrive in Moshi, the first thing you’ll notice is the spectacular peak of Mount Kilimanjaro towering in the distance. As the highest mountain in Africa, climbing Kilimanjaro is on plenty of people’s bucket lists. When you’re so close by, it would be a shame not to have a try yourself at this Kilimajaro adventure. Don’t be daunted by the height, though- you don’t need to be a pro mountaineer to tackle this challenge.

So long as you’re relatively fit and have a positive attitude, you can hike up one of the designated routes and reach the summit in a few days. It’s a trek that will tire you out, but once you reach the top, it’s definitely worth it. A breathtaking panorama stretches out around you, and you can see for miles upon miles across the landscape.

Take A Day Trip to Lake Chala

Moshi is certainly a spectacular city, with plenty to explore, but sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy some peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of tourists. Even Kilimanjaro can get fairly crowded at times, so we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to take some time out for yourself while you’re on vacation. In that case, Lake Chala is the perfect place for you to visit. Located a couple of hours away from Moshi by car, it’s believed that this vast lake was formed by a volcanic eruption some three million years ago.

Nowadays, though, the site is a world away from such destruction- the clear blue waters are surrounded by lush forests that make for the ultimate picturesque landscape. The trees are home to plenty of monkeys and tropical birds, and if you’re lucky you might just see a herd of elephants cooling off in the water.

Taste The Local Food

For a relatively small city, plenty of visitors to Moshi are surprised by the variety of food on offer. You’ll find a little bit of everything on offer, as people from all over the world have made Moshi their home, and brought their local cuisine with them. If you really want to get a taste of Tanzania, though, then make sure you tuck in to some traditional Swahili cuisine. Their national dish is Ugali, a kind of dumpling made with cornmeal or cassava flour, which is usually served up with a stew and eaten with others from a large dish.

Alternatively, you can try out nyama choma, a quintessentially East African dish of grilled meat that’s often paired with grilled bananas for the perfect sweet-and-savory combo. Alongside traditional dishes, you’ll find that Indian cuisine has had a big impact on this part of Africa, so there are many delicious Eastern-influenced foods on offer, too.