Most travelers find themselves in Moshi because of its proximity to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's from there that trekking companies depart early every morning and head into the Kilimanjaro National Park to commence the climb to the top. The region is particularly fertile because of the volcanic soils and melt-water streams fed by the mountain's snow.
Moshi's other major feature is that all around town and on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro are vast coffee plantations; this is the country's principle coffee-producing center. The beans are auctioned to international buyers at the Coffee Board in town.
Moshi is fairly compact, with the former European administrative areas clustered around the clock tower, while the main commercial areas are southwest of the market. It's a pleasant town to wander around—there are shops, cafes and tour operator offices (you may get some hounding from touts selling Kili climbs)—and most visitors stay there just long enough to arrange their trek up the mountain and to enjoy a hot shower when they get back. Ensure that your hotel will store your luggage safely while you are on the mountain. Moshi is 340 mi/548 km northwest of Dar es Salaam.
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