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Moshi
Moshi is in Northeast Tanzania, the mountain region of Tanzania.
Travel to Moshi, visa requirements
FLY Kilimanjaro national airport is approx 30 mins from Moshi and Taxis and Buses are available from each. Flights come from various non-domestic destinations, and this is how most tourist arrive.
BUS Buses arrive in Moshi from all of the main cities in Tanzania, and this is the cheapest way to travel. The journey from Dar Es Salaam to Moshi costs approx. €40 pp (negotiable with drivers), and takes around 8 hours. Buses also go to Arusha, Mwanza, Tanga, Mbyeya and Nairobi. All prices are worth bartering for - be aware that the 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.
Get around
No need to do anything other than walk within the city. There are Taxis, but they are almost always stationary. As always, negotiate a price before getting in (most fares shouldn't cost more than a couple of dollars). Dalla dallas can also be used to go to the outskirts, or to all the villages in the surroundings, to Machame and Marangu for instance, and are very cheap. You will be sharing the minibus with up to 30 other people though.
Moshi attractions and sightseeing
There isn't very much to see in Moshi, the market can be fun to visit, even if you're not interested in buying something.
City tours
Climbing Kilimanjaro is the obvious reason for being in Moshi. Tours can be arranged through several companies, and it is advisbale to arrange this before arrival as there are many fake companies.
Safari is also essential, and the Ngorogoro crater is within a fairly easy distance. Again, check that any tour companies are genuine. You will be offered safaris by people on the streets, but chances are you will be ripped off.
Even if you aren't getting a bus, the bus station is worth visiting for it's chaoticness.
Shopping, Moshi souvenirs
This is probably the cheapest place to buy any souveniers, as the big 'out-of-town' places for tourists hideously overprice things. 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 (known as 'Rafikis'), do not be afraid!! Their only interest is to sell you something, and the best deals can usually be got from them; plus they really genuinely need the money, more so than the 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 souveniers (A drum costing TS30,000 in the main streets would cost TS5,000 here). 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 too!!
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Unfortunately eating in Moshi does tend to be a rather shambolic affair. Although much is available in the market, any accomodation is unlikely to have facilities so eating out (or fruit) is the only option. A meal costs around TS1500-TS3000 going up to about TS8000 in the nicer restaurants. Food is limited to curries, spaghetti and often cold chips; if you are craving Western food there is a very modern bagel shop, but this isn't comparable to decent Local food!! Most meals come with either rice or Ugali, which is a maize flour mixed with water or milk. It tastes like overcooked rice, and is very filling.
If you want a light lunch then you could do a lot worse than visit the cafe next to Pub Alberto. They do burgers, samosas and fish plus other comfort foods, at very low prices.
In the evening there isn't a great deal of choice. For decent pizzas and nice curries (but questionable food prep hygiene) visit Indo Italiano, opposite the Buffalo hotel. For reasonable Chinese you could try Panda Garden, but don't expect too much. Whatever you do, do NOT visit AMEG mountain lodge. The food is poor quality and overpriced and the management are very, very unpleasant to staff and guests alike!
There is a nice deli "Deli Chez" near the "Coffee Shop", which is also pretty good, directly across from the Police Station. Prices are reasonable.
About 2km north of the center is the "Salzburg cafe", a place in a nice Austrian style, and the food is ok.
About 300m from the clock roundabout are two western style shops, one of them primarily a baker. You can get things like yoghurt, wine, muesli, cheese, even ice cream there. The baker also has brownish bread (and great samosas!).
Moshi nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
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). If you feel the need to keep the party going into the small hours then you'll need to make your way to Pub Alberto opposite the KNCU building. Open until around 3:30am, Pub Alberto enjoys a reputation as something of a seedy dive. Indeed, the dance floor is usually a writhing mass of tourists, local people having a good night out, and ladies of negotiable virtue touting for business! If you do go to Pub Alberto then leave your valuables at home and only take the money you'll need for a good night's drinking. It's not as bad as some people make out and as long as you're sensible (sometimes difficult when you've drank an entire large bottle of Konyagi and several Bia Bingwas)you'll have a fantastic night!
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
- Sal Salinero Villa Kilimanjaro ($65-$120 / night) adviced! got most facilities, good relaxing beautiful garderns with pool.
- Buffalo hotel ($15 / night) Cheap but decent. Try to get a room on one of the upper floors, on the lower floors people can walk in through the bar, so your stuff isn't so safe inside your room.
- Bristol Cottages Kilimanjaro ($40 - 60 / night)
- Parkview Inn ($30-50 /night)
- Zebra Hotel
- Aishi Hotel Protea (outside of Moshi)
- The Keys Hotel
- Kindoroko Hotel Located on double road. Good view of Mt. Kilimanjaro from roof-top bar. Internet cafe.($30-$40 / night)
- Kilimanjaro Backpackers Formerly known as Hotel Da Costa, located on double road. Clean, simple, and cheap rooms. Avoid eating there, but stay as long as you can.($10 / night) - This can be bartered down to $5 a night if you're willing to share two to a bed. Undoubtedly the BEST bargain option in Moshi and utterly central.
Get out
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 16.00pm to Stone Town. The Dar Express office is located near the clock roundabout, opposite the Kahawa house. Don't save too much money on the bus, since the cheaper companies often don't have so high safety standards, and you don't want to risk having a drunk driver.
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