Situated at the heart of a major coffee-growing region about 80km east of Arusha, the smaller town of Moshi (population approx 250,000) is a busy commercial centre with a spectacular location. Situated on the lower slopes of the Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, it enjoys one of the most dramatic backdrops in Africa. ‘Moshi’ is the Swahili word for smoke but why the town acquired the name is a mystery. Some suggest it is because Moshi served as the terminus for the steam railway from Tanga, which arrived in Moshi in 1911 and was the prime reason for its establishment. 

The cleanest town in Africa?

Describing itself as ‘the cleanest town in Africa’, Moshi features some attractive tree-lined streets, and is surrounded by the agriculture that thrives in the well-watered volcanic soils of the mountain. Acting as a base for climbing the mountain, it also offers a wide range of hotels, the majority of which act as ‘base hotels’ for the climb. It is also close to two attractive freshwater lakes: Chala and Jipe

The home of Arabica coffee

Moshi is also the home of the Tanzanian coffee industry. It was here that the Arabica coffee seeds introduced by the Catholic missionaries were first grown at the end of the 19th century while The Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union (KNCU) was probably the most efficient and progressive cooperative organization in Africa.

Moshi plays a host to a number of agri-industry activities including horticulture and coffee blending and packing. The town also has a flourishing bottling and brewing industry. 

Location:

Moshi is the end of the northern railway line from Dar es Salaam or Tanga. From Nairobi, via either Namanga or Taveta, the drive takes four and a half hours. A regular minibus shuttle service operates between Nairobi, Arusha and Moshi. The town is linked internationally via Kilimanjaro International Airport (34kms to the west). 

Other: Moshi is home to the Chagga and Maasai tribes. It is also host to the Kilimanjaro Marathon and a number of cultural tourism programmes. 

The Kilimanjaro Marathon

To promote tourism prospects in the town, an international accredited Kilimanjaro Marathon was established in 2002 and every year, at the end of February. During the race that attracts nearly 4000 people, a standard 42.2 km marathon, a 21.1 km half marathon and a 5 km fun run are run from the town of Moshi, Tanzania. Apart from acting as touristic niche, the race has been set up to promote the sport in Tanzania and has the official backing of the Tanzania Tourist Board, the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association, the IAAF, and is registered with AIMS.

Climate

Moshi features a tropical wet and dry climate. The town has a relatively stable climate, which is highly controlled by the presence of Mount Kilimanjaro. This, as well as the altitude of the town, keeps the temperatures lower than surrounding cities, even without the maritime effects that a coastal city enjoys. While night-time temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the course of the year, averaging around 17 degrees Celsius, Moshi features noticeably higher daytime temperatures during the months of December, January and February when average high temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius and noticeably cooler daytime temperatures in the months of June and July, when average high temperatures hovers around 25 degrees Celsius.