Moshi, Tanzania

Capital City

With a population of 144,739, Moshi is no sleepy mountain town. The bustling municipal capital of Kilimanjaro Region faces persistent bureaucratic headaches, from the shuttered surgical ward at the underfunded public hospital to the drawn-out process of upgrading its status to a city. Yet the town's strategic location at the base of Africa's highest peak makes it a hub for Tanzania's lucrative tourism industry, drawing visitors to Kilimanjaro National Park and the annual Kilimanjaro Marathon. Those seeking an affordable base to explore the region's natural wonders may find Moshi a pragmatic choice, but the city's challenges with public services and infrastructure are not to be underestimated.