Hotels around Mount Kilimanjaro: Where I Stayed + Almost Stayed in Arusha and Moshi

There are two main options for Hotels around Mount Kilimanjaro: either stay inside or outside the main city centers in Arusha and Moshi.

If you want easy access to shops, restaurants, public transit, and tuk-tuks, then stay in Arusha or Moshi proper. If you want to be in a more remote setting, then pick accommodation a few kilometers outside the town.

This guide for hotels around Mount Kilimanjaro came out of my own confusion about what the best options were for our 5-day trip.  I used this guide myself twice because we ended up changing our accommodation 2 weeks before our trip. It has everything I seriously considered, of course besides a luxury option… But a girl can dream!

We split our time between Arusha and Moshi. We first stayed at Kizumba House in Arusha city for 2 nights and then stayed at Mount Kilimanjaro 360 View Cottage, 2km from the main road in Moshi for 3 nights.

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Which City to Stay in: Arusha Vs Moshi

You can easily stay in one hotel only to explore both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, but to reduce driving time in the morning, it’s best to stay in:

• Arusha for some waterfall adventures and Mount Meru hikes.
• Moshi for Kilimanjaro views and hikes.
• Chemka Hot Springs is between both cities, so you can visit from either.

Arusha Hotel Options

Arusha is the third-largest city in Tanzania. It has a lot of cafes, and the Cultural Center is popular amongst tourists. It has local art and items from around Tanzania (and also some neighboring countries like Rwanda— an artist reached out to me from Kigali to let me know his artwork was on display there too! How cool).

Budget

Blue Elephant Villas has a garden-style vibe that looks perfect for spending vacation on a budget.

Banana Farm Eco Hostel is located outside of Arusha on a banana farm. It looks amazing!

Kizumba House is a hostel with dorms and private rooms. It looks like it’s in the forest but is within walking distance from shops, cafes, and the market. It’s a 30-minute tuktuk to the other side of Arusha where you’ll find the Cultural Center. This is where we stayed!

Breakfast was included and was a simple omelet and toast, which was perfect for starting our days.

The manager, Innocent, picked us up from Kilimanjaro Airport for $50 at 1am, and he was also helpful in arranging a tuktuk to take us to nearby sites.

Mid-Range

Sanna Boutique Hotel has a clean and modern African look. The hotel is located within Arusha and has rooftop views of Mount Meru. 

Villa Arumeru looks lovely and is located outside the main center of Arusha.

Arusha Serene Oasis would be a great accommodation option for a long-term stay, as you can rent out the entire villa, which includes a kitchen.

Shamba Lodge Cabin is another accommodation idea for longer-term stays. The A-frame cabin is located outside Arusha.

Our onlly view of Mount Kilimanjaro was on our way out via airplane

Luxury

Gran Melia Arusha is a luxury hotel with views of Mount Meru. It’s located between Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks in the town of Arusha. Here you can expect 5-star service.

I actually only saw Mount Meru once one a clear day from Mount Kilimanjaro 360 View Cottages’ balcony

Moshi Hotel Options

Moshi doesn’t have as many tourism activities within the city. There are a few cafes and restaurants, plus you can wander the market, but there isn’t a lot to do otherwise. However, the city is much closer to Kilimanjaro than Arusha, so you’re more likely to get Mount Kilimanjaro views!

Budget

Tulivu Urban – Twiga Hotel is located in the center of town and has simple and easy accommodation.

Tukutane Kilimanjaro – Homestay is a cute option outside of Moshi. You’ll need to arrange transportation to get into the city, but tuktuk drivers can easily be called.

Mid-Range

Mount Kilimanjaro 360 View Cottage is a lovely 6-room boutique hotel. I loved our stay here!

The room was sooo lovely and there is a stunning view of Mount Kilimanjaro from the property, but we had bad luck with the weather and didn’t manage to see the mountain.

Small toiletries are also provided for free, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mosquito spray. There is also a yoga mat!

Mount Kilimanjaro 360 View Cottage is a bit of a walk off the main road to get a tuktuk, but the owners can easily call one for you whenever you want to head out. It costs about 8k TZS each way from town.

The hotel originally started off as a restaurant, and it’s still one of the most popular restaurants. We dined there 2 out of our three nights, and the food was excellent. We had the veg curry one night and the filet with mango-lime sauce and local spinach spaghetti the next night.

Banana soup is provided for free as an appetizer. And, if you’re a guest, you can sit on the top balcony.

The staff were very friendly. The breakfast was also a highlight. I got a Spanish omelet each day and it’s served with a variety of jams and a delish chia pudding + yogurt bowl with homemade granola.

Hopefully guide about hotels around Mount Kilimanjaro helps you decide where to stay!