Moshi

Buy

Major banks ATMs in Moshi accept international credit and debit cards accredited with Master card, the plus logo, and Visa card. Stanbic Bank and Equity Bank have MasterCard/Visa ATMs. Make sure your card issuer is aware you are travelling in Tanzania as your card may be blocked for security measures. They all deal in local currency, the Tanzanian shilling. To convert currencies there are several foreign exchange offices near the banks.

As of August 2009, don't expect to be able to take US dollar traveller's cheques and change them to US cash in Moshi. All the banks in town and most forex offices refuse to do it. If you're desperate, the only place that would do it is Executive Change Bureau, on Boma Rd., but they charge 10% commission. If you're going to Moshi, better bring US cash, or verify in writing that the places you are planning to deal with will accept US traveller's cheques (and what the fee is, if any) if you plan to carry them.

For souvenirs, Downtown Moshi is probably cheaper than the big 'out-of-town' places for tourists, which hideously overprice things. Even better, with a 15-minute walk from town on the Dar Road, you will find a community of artists who create the wood carvings and paintings that sell in town. They will sell direct to you at a far better price than can be found in shops. There are lots of fabric shops up and down the main street, as well as tourist shops selling carvings and paintings. If you do get hassled by street sellers, do not be afra…

Eat

Most restaurants offer a variety of food and range in price from TSh 2000 to TSh 8000 for a meal.

There are also many other nameless restaurants that serve as decent lunch spots, you should look for a busy restaurant, that's always a good sign. If wanting to try the local food ask for ugali (translates as stiff porridge, a bit bland but harmless) or "wali na maharage" (beans and rice).

Heading along the road of the banks and Immigration office there is Abba Ali's Hot Bread Shop that sells excellent bread, honey, doughnuts and other desserts, especially nice cakes. Opposite the bakery is Aleem's Grocer, a decent grocery store.

A great place to buy groceries is at the local market, which can be found easily from the double roads or the alleyway by the Tanzanian Coffee Shop on Chagga St.

Restaurants outside Moshi:

Drink

As Moshi is situated on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro it is largely populated by members of the Chagga tribe. Chaggas are known for their keen business sense, their warm hospitality and their love of a good drink, so getting a beer in Moshi is rarely much of a problem! In the daytime and early evening you can head to the Police mess, The East Africa Bar, the KNCU restaurant (up on the top floor of the KNCU building) or the Siesta inn (a 15-minute walk from the main street). All these places serve food so you can keep your stomach lined as you sip a few of the fine local beers (don't bother with European imports - they're no better than the local stuff, but considerably more expensive). Some of the local beers are Kilimanjaro, Safari and Tusker. The most common local liquor is Konyagi.

Sleep

Be sure to avoid touts. If you are travelling as a couple, a good idea is for one person to sit in a lobby or restaurant with the bags, while the other scopes out rooms. You are likely to get a cheaper price without them, and not be targeted by sneaky touts that will raise the price US$5-10 for you for their commission. Often they follow you and stay outside signaling reception.

Respect

Moshi is a popular tourist destination so most will not be offended by your clothing choices. However, women will gain much more respect by wearing clothes covering their legs at least to the knees, as local ladies rarely show their legs.

Connect

There is a post office near the Clock Tower on Market St. for mailing letters and packages, you can also rent a P.O. box. There is also a DHL office opposite the Dar Express office on Station Rd. Kili Hub is a co-working space providing fast internet, back up power and a place to work and videochat for the whole day for only a couple of dollars. There are several internet cafes in town, two are located Hill Street near the Coffee Shop, Fahari and Duma (beside The Coffee Shop). Duma acts as a safari tour operator as well as an internet cafe. Located near the Clock Tower is one called EasyCom. Rates for usage vary, but usually around TSh 1500 per hour. Another cafe, called Dot Cafe, is near the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Ltd. (TANESCO) on Rengua Street. The first internet cafe in Moshi, Twiga is on Old Moshi Road, up the road from KNCU Hotel. It offers fast internet connection. They also rent out novels, movies and have trekking/camping equipment for hire. If your phone operates on GSM 900/1800 and uses a SIM card then you can buy a Tanzanian SIM card (Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo or Zantel) (cost is Tsh 1000). You can also buy a phone locally for around US$50. You have to prepay for minutes by buying credit. Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo and Zantel offer relatively fast internet (buy mb bundles by sending sms), which can be used on your phone as well as laptop (using phone as a modem). All internet cafes in Moshi use the same backhaul internet connection, so if the connection is down i…