Where to Stay in Moshi Before and After Kilimanjaro
Disclosure: I stayed in Moshi for a few days before and after my trip up Kilimanjaro. Beforehand I stayed at the awesome Rafiki Backpackers & Guesthouse (where I met some awesome other travelers and locals). Afterward I stayed at Wonders Hotel for some much-needed RnR. The other Hotels listed here are either other options I looked at, or recommendations from other travelers I met while in Tanzania.
Moshi is where most Kilimanjaro trips actually begin. You arrive, meet the operator, spread half your gear across the bed for inspection, then return several days later wanting a shower and a horizontal surface.
If I were booking again, I would stay at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel after the climb. It has the pool, proper rooms and rooftop bar that suddenly feel wildly important after eight days in a tent.
Beforehand, Rafiki Backpackers is my pick if you are travelling solo, watching the budget or keen to meet other climbers. Choose Pink Flamingo if you want the nicest stay in this guide, or More Than A Drop if you would rather have a quiet garden and spend your money somewhere doing some good.
Table of Contents
The Four I Would Book
Rates move around with season, room type and tax. Treat these as planning numbers, then check your actual dates.
Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel: My Post-Climb Pick
Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel is the one I can recommend most confidently because I actually crawled through its doors after Kilimanjaro.
The hot shower and proper bed did their job, but the pool was the real winner. I had spent eight days on an arid mountain wearing progressively less pleasant versions of the same clothes. Soaking in it afterward was bloody excellent.
There is also a rooftop restaurant and bar with a view back toward Kili. The restaurant is useful. The bar was my favourite part. Rooms are currently around US$90-140 once taxes and the date have had their say. That is not backpacker money, but for one recovery night I think it is the best trade in this article.
Rafiki Backpackers: Best for Budget and Company
I stayed at Rafiki Backpackers & Guesthouse before my hike and loved it. I met some great people and there was a real family vibe which some hostels really dont have.
That social side matters before Kili. Everyone is pretending not to be nervous, checking their waterproofs for the fifteenth time and quietly wondering whether they trained enough. Meeting people heading up too takes the edge off.
Rafiki sits in Rau, around a five-minute drive or a 25-minute walk from central Moshi. The official rates are refreshingly straightforward: US$10-12 for a dorm bed, US$25 for a single ensuite and about US$35 for a double or twin. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are included.
There are hot showers, a shared kitchen, a little bar/restaurant across the road and a rooftop terrace looking toward the mountain. It is basic, but it knows exactly what it is.
Pink Flamingo: The Splurge
Pink Flamingo is where I would go if the hotel itself was part of the celebration. It is a small family-run boutique property in thick gardens, with multiple pools, a spa, proper food and enough privacy to disappear for a day.
It is about five minutes outside Moshi rather than in the middle of town, which is rather the point. Current rooms commonly land around US$190-250 with breakfast, while the larger suites go higher. Expensive for Moshi? Absolutely. Still rather cheaper than feeling this smug in most safari towns.
More Than A Drop: The Quiet, Ethical Pick
More Than A Drop is the recommendation that improved the more I looked into it. It is a peaceful little guesthouse with gardens, good vegetarian food and the sort of personal service that large hotels spend a fortune trying to imitate.
It also operates as the practical training hotel for a hospitality school supporting young Tanzanian women. The students help run the rooms and restaurant, and the proceeds feed back into the programme. That is a much better story than another anonymous mid-range hotel with beige curtains.
Rooms vary quite a lot, which explains the broad US$40-90 range. Some have shared facilities; the better garden rooms have private bathrooms. Check the room description, not just the cheapest number. There is no pool and it is about 2.5 km from Moshi railway station. Pick it for calm, breakfast and a stay with some character, not for resort toys.
Book the Climb Before the Hotel
Before paying for anything, check what your Kilimanjaro operator includes. Many climb packages come with one night before and one after, plus airport and gate transfers. Booking another hotel without checking is an easy way to pay twice for the same bed.
Tip: If the included hotel looks grim, ask whether the operator can remove it from the package or simply use it as your gear-drop and briefing point. Then book the post-climb night you actually want.
My Kilimanjaro operator guide covers the bigger decision, while the full Kilimanjaro cost breakdown shows where accommodation sits inside the total budget.
How Many Nights Do You Need in Moshi?
Allow at least one full day in Moshi before the climb. That gives delayed luggage a fighting chance to catch up and leaves time for the operator briefing, gear check and any panicked last-minute shopping.
After the mountain, one night is the minimum. Two is nicer. On the first afternoon I mostly wanted water, food and to stop moving; the following day is when Moshi becomes enjoyable again.
JRO airport is roughly 40 km away. A private transfer is commonly around US$40-60 per vehicle, and both hotels and climb operators can arrange it. I would let the operator handle the arrival transfer if it is included; there is no prize for making your first hour in Tanzania more complicated.
Give Moshi a Day Before You Leave
Do not treat Moshi as nothing more than a changing room for Kilimanjaro. Once your legs have started negotiating with you again, spend a day in town, visit a coffee farm or head out to Materuni Falls.
I have put the worthwhile options in my guide to the best things to do in Moshi. It is a gentler next move than immediately wedging yourself into a bus, and a cold drink tastes much better when the mountain is behind you.
Tanzania Travel Planning Cheatsheet 🇹🇿
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for Tanzania?
100% YES! — Tanzania has now introduceed “free” healthcare but it’s only for citiens! Tourists need travel insurance in case anything happens on your visit. Also be aware many policies won’t cover high altitude hiking as it’s a high risk activity!
(That’s right, check the t&c’s on your complimentary credit card insurance)
I highly recommend World Nomads as you can get specific add-ons for high altitude hiking UP TO 6000m (Which most travel insurance companies don’t offer!)
🎫 Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Probably not — Tanzania now provide a visa on arrival (VoA) for most western countires which allows you stay for up to 90 days. However, some other countries do need a pre-approved eVisa (check here!). VoAs cost $50 USD for a single entry – Note, US Citizens are required to get a Multi-Entry visa which costs $100 USD. (View visa prices here)
If transiting through Kenya (a lot of people fly via Nairobi), you’ll need a Kenyan visa too. Visa’s cost $20 for a 3 day transit visa and $50 for a toursit visa
(By the way, on both my interactions with the imigration officers in kenya they tried to scam me, so know what your obliged to pay and BRING THE EXACT CASH for the visa!)
💉Do I need any vaccinations for Tanzania?
YES! Make sure you are up-to-date with all your vaccines. Common travel vaccines include Hep A/B + Typhoid, and Diphtheria + Tetanus.
A yellow fever vaccination isn’t a requirment to visit Kilimanjaro but is for neighbouring areas in East Africa. In reality, you will might not be allowed back into your home country on your return (I was asked for proof of vaccination upon returning to Australia) so getting this jab prior made for good peace of mind.
Rabies is an issue in Tanzania but the vaccine is expensive and ineffective as a preventative measure (it only lasts a few years and you’ll need to get them again if you require treatment). If bitten by a stray dog seek immediate medical attention!
As always, talk to your GP or specialised travel doctor a few weeks BEFORE you leave.
🏩 What’s the best Kilimanjaro Tour operators?
Your only realy two options here are Kumano Travel and Booking.com. Its a complicated process so I wrote this guide here on the best kumano kodo accomodation options
If you don’t want to figure it all out (it’s meant to be a holiday after all) you can book a package tour. Here are my recommendations for both guided and self-guided.
💸How do you pay for things in Tanzania?
Cash is king in Tanzania, so you’ll want to get some folding tender out from an ATM when you land. Larger businesses and hotels will take Debit / Credit Card but most resturants, and street vendors want cash. I even had to pay for my Kili trip in cash!
I personally use a Wise debit card for all my international money needs as they only convert the funds when you make payment, plus they offer a much better spread (margin on the true exchange rate) than the banks do. They work in all the Tanzanian ATMs I tried.
→ Get the Wise card I use — set it up before you fly so it’s ready to tap the moment you land.
🚌 What’s the public transport like in Tanzania?
There is a good basic network of local and inter-city busses in Tanzania and travel this way is very cheap. Domestic flight are also very affordable and a far more comfortable option. Checkout Busbora for booking bus tickets online.
📲 How do I get internet/data/wifi in Tanzania and on the mountain?
This one needs a whole nother article, but the short version is prepaid SIM cards are cheap and availible to tourists and locals alike (You don’t need a pricey tourst SIM!)
Your cheapest option is buying a physical sim card on the street corner once landed and getting the shop assistant to help you set it up. I went with Vodacom and had generally good coverage, even up on Kili!
Another option is an Airalo eSIM. This is a little more expensive but works from the moment you land is is SOOOOO much easier. It also gives you connectivity across 14 neighbouring African Countries and connectivity the moment you step off the plane!
TIP: Grab your Airalo eSIM before you fly and you’ll have data the moment you land, with no hunting for a SIM kiosk.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to Tanzania?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Skyscanner. Once you find the flight you’re looking for, I’d then suggest booking directly with the carrier (even if it costs a few $$ more than with one of the agreggators/agencies).
💧Can you drink the water in Tanzania?
Safest not to — tap water in Tanzania may be OK (the locals drink it) but is generally untreated and not reccommended for tourists. Purchase bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing.
🏔️💧Can you drink the water on Mount Kilimanjaro?
Yes — Your tour company with ensure the water provided to you is safe to drink by either carrying in bottled water, or by treating stream water with purification tablets or by boiling it. If you want to drink water from the rivers and streams you generally can but should do so at your own risk. ALWAYS follow best practice and drink from fast flowing water as far up stream as possible. I’d also recommend a Brita Water Bottle for rehydrating on the trail safely.
