Moshi is just under 2 hours from Arusha and is much smaller, quieter and less touristy (but still dusty!). The town is not as action packed as Arusha, preferring a slower pace. Most people just stay a few days before heading for the National Parks or to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. I was there for 2 weeks so it was nice to get to know the town, walking along the dusty roads and sipping coffee in Union cafe- where all the expats hang.
The town is small and much calmer than Arusha, there are cute cafes to sit with your laptop or book or just do nothing!. The best thing about Moshi is that you can see Mt Kilimanjaro on a clear day. The locals call it the ‘secret mountain’ because it’s normally hidden from view by the clouds.
Materuni Waterfall
I took a day tour up to the mountainous forest, driving past jungle and small villages along the way. If you’re lucky you may even spot Kilimanjaro through the trees. My guide took us through the lush jungle, complete with coffee trees, banana trees and tropical fruit.
We were headed for Materuni Waterfall, which is a 30 minute easy walk. With it’s clear and refreshing water you can go for a quick swim- the water is cold though! The waterfall is quite impressive but I enjoyed the walk to get there much more interesting and the next section of the tour even more interesting- coffee!
Hillborn Organic Coffee
We arrived at Hillborn Organic Coffee, where the locals showed us how they make coffee from scratch, from sieving, roasting and grinding the beans, singing whilst they worked.
After being shown the process from tree to finely ground coffee, we got to taste some. Just black coffee with a spoonful of raw sugar- delicious! So full flavoured, earthy and fresh. Best coffee on my trip. After this we walked through a local village before heading back to Moshi.
If you find yourself in Moshi then you have to try the coffee! This day tour is easily booked from a tour office in town and gives an insight into local life.
For more Reading on Tanzania:ย Making Jewellery at the Orphanage: Arusha, Tanzania
