Over the weekend I decided to visit Moshi, for the first time. It is among the popular tourist cities in Tanzania.

Moshi is located  in the northern part of the country (Tanzania) also known as the gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. It's near the Kenyan border in Taveta, Holili.

So, I applied for my temporary permit (my passport has expired, i haven't renewed it yet) to Tanzania a day before my journey (Friday, May 10) thanks to the new digital process through e-citizen that has now made it easy to apply for the permit and other services from the government. 

The temporary permit costs kshs 350.

I left Mombasa at exactly 7am (Saturday) by bus since i had opted to travel by bus so i can at least also have a first hand experience of the journey from Mombasa by road and of course see the wild animals at the Tsavo national park in Taita Taveta County on my way to Taveta.

We arrived at the border at exactly 12 pm and it's here where my journey almost came to an end. I had no clue that i was also supposed to have a copy of my invoice (from my permit application), an extra passport size photo ,a copy of my national identification card and also a photocopy of my permit.

I only had one copy of the permit, the original one that i downloaded from e-citizen and my original ID card. The officer at the Kenyan immigration office informed me that it was mandatory that i have the documents.

"I'm very sorry that this might be the end of your journey Mr Omar" the officer told me.

However, i must thank the officer since he called one of the guys from the bus company and told him to assist me in getting copies of the documents which i successful did from one of the bureaus outside the offices, in the Tanzania side and quickly came back to present them to him for him to stamp my permit which he did and proceeded to the Tanzanian immigration offices where it was also stamped and i rushed to the bus to continue with my journey.

The bus was still waiting for me all this time, it took me about an hour to be cleared and was the only passenger waiting to be cleared before the bus leaves.

We finally arrived in Moshi at around 2:30 pm. I took a taxi from the bus station to my hotel, Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel which is just some 4km away frrom town centre. Upon arrival at the hotel i was received by one guy who we quickly bonded and became friends as if we knew each other yet we were total strangers. Moses Alen the door man at the hotel was very good to me, i liked his hospitality, friendly and joyful nature.

By the way the hotel was my official host, special thanks to the General Manager Micheal Solaiman.

This hotel is actually one of the first truly 4-stars boutique hotels in Moshi which provide great ambience and facilities, it is located 4km from the Town of Moshi, 45 km away from Kilimanjaro national park, 40km away from the Kilimanjaro International airport.

The hotel is ideal for visitors visiting Moshi town for adventure seeking or for business travel. 

Started in October 2016, the hotel has a total of 44 rooms with standard rooms, twin rooms, grand rooms and also grand suites. It also has two bars, one at the ground floor just beside the pool and the other at the roof top which is also popular with guests who want to have a view of the popular Mount Kilimanjaro. One can easily see two peaks of Mt Kilimanjaro , Uhuru and Mawenzi. 

A fully equipped fitness centre (gym) is also available at the hotel, located at the 4th floor,roof top.

The hotel also has a meeting room, a fully equipped conference facility is currently under construction, upon its completion (before end of this year), the conference facility will be able to accommodate 60 to 80 people.

In terms of food, the hotel offers different delicacies including local delicacies, one unique thing about the hotel is it sources its coffee locally from local farmers. Moshi is one of Tanzania's major coffee producing hubs and is also known for its coffee farms and auctions.

A view of the Mount Kilimanjaro from Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel Moshi, at the left is Uhuru peak and Mawenzi peak at the right.

Places to visit in Moshi.

Here are some places that you should consider visiting while in Moshi.

Materuni Waterfalls & coffee tour

This very impressive Waterfall is one of the tallest in the area, spewing crystal clear glacier water 70m into its basin. The beautiful path leading to Materuni Waterfall is located 2500m above sea level

It traverses thru valleys and hills covered by tropical rainforest, past coffee, banana and avocado “shambas”, the Kiswahili word for farms. On a clear day great views of Kibo and Moshi town can be seen. The hike to the base of the Waterfall can be demanding and hiking boots are recommended. As this trip is so close to Moshi town it is ideal for those people with limited time but who would still like to see some of the nature and beauty that this region of Tanzania has to offer.

Materuni is one of the few villages of wonder in Northern Tanzania sitting at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The village is blessed with full of all the beauty worth much visiting for holiday, week-end outing or vacation. While in the village, scenic view of Moshi Town and Mount Kilimanjaro is astonishing. This green village with fresh air from green vegetations welcomes visitors to explore the beauty of the land and cultural heritage of the Chagga people.

A cultural experience such as banana beer brewed or coffee roasted the traditional way can be added to your hike.

Chemka hot springs day trip

Kikuletwa Hot Springs or Chemka hot springs are an unexpected paradise hidden in the desert scrub outside the town of Boma.

Situated about 35 kilometres from Moshi, in the heart of the Sanya Plains, lie the Rundugai Springs. They are an extraordinary phenomenon, rushing up from underground in the middle of parched and dusty landscape. Locally called Chemka, meaning boiling, this refers to the way in which the water appears to boil as it emerges from underground. In fact, the water is not hot rather it is a pleasant temperature! This is a good place to visit for a picnic and a swim too. And the views of Kilimanjaro on a clear day are also fabulous. Unfortunately, the water is full of fluoride which means the local people can’t use it for drinking.  The crystal-clear, turquoise waters surrounded by palm trees and winding roots offer a picturesque spot for a relaxing afternoon swim.

The spring is actually rather big and over 6 meters deep in some places although you can see the bottom through the crystal clear waters no matter where you are. You can also wrap your arms around one of the roots and just let the water flow by as you drift off into a daydream listening to the monkeys and birds in the treas.

You can have as much fun or relaxation as your heart desires and your mind and body needs.

Kilimanjaro National Park

Photo/ courtesy

Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why. Not only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the World, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding savannah elevation around 900 metres – to an imperious 5,895 metres MASL (19,336 feet).

Kilimanjaro is one of the World’s most     accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors from around the World. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit, Stella Point or Gillman’s Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing certificates. And their memories.

But there is so much more to Kilimanjaro than her summit. The ascent of the slopes is a virtual climatic World tour, from the tropics to the Arctic. Even before you cross the national park boundary (at about 2700m), the cultivated foot slopes give way to lush montane forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the endangered abbot’s duiker, and other small antelope and primates. Higher still lies the moorland zone, where a cover of giant heather is studded with other worldly giant lobelias. Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses and lichen. Then, finally, the last vestigial vegetation gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow – and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.

Credit www.tanzaniaparks.com