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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. |
