Nestled at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, Moshi is the coffee producing centre of the country. All around the town, and on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, vast plantations of coffee blanket the area. Coffee is a mainstay of life in Moshi, and the seasonal coffee auctions, when wholesale coffee is bidded for by international buyers, packaged, and sold, is an event not to be missed if you’re in town. In addition to the coffee auction, Moshi’s coffee roasting factory is a sweet-smelling insight into the production of this famous beverage. Sugar plantations are also of central importance to the region’s economy, and can be seen outside of town. Cultural tourism programmes can arrange short hikes and day-trips to tribes and villages, and also tours of nearby crops and coffee farms.
Walks around Moshi town and a trip to the coffee auction that is held here are activities of interest to passing visitors, but the main reason visitors come to Moshi is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the mountain whose thick clouds and snow-capped peak towers over the agricultural town. Climbing expeditions depart from the town into Kilimanjaro National Park early in the morning, before the clouds that cluster daily around the mountaintop have risen, and when the air is fresh and cool. Whether you’re in Moshi to scale to the top of Africa or learn more about coffee growing and production, Moshi is a quiet haven of tranquil peace whose quiet streets offer a warm welcome in a beautiful setting.
