Kilimanjaro Crane Hotel

The Kilimanjaro view from our room was good, and it was cleaned during the day with toiletries topped up. The location is really the only advantage, though. Wi-Fi didn’t reach the rooms, the fans didn’t work, and the rooms and bathrooms need freshening up. There’s air conditioning, but no hangers in the closet. The woman at reception didn’t speak English. We were told supper would be a buffet, but there was nothing out. The menu had very few choices, and our order took over an hour. The rooftop bar seems to exist only in the photos. Too expensive.

The location was the one good thing: it’s by a supermarket, an easy walk from central Moshi, and next door to a good cafe. I’d skip the hotel breakfast and eat there instead. The hotel itself was very dated and didn’t look like the website photos, and barely any water came from the shower head. I booked for one night only because nearby hotels were full. They offered an airport pickup without telling me what it cost. The receptionist took our passports and wanted to keep them, so I asked for them back. Staff also let their friends use the pool and rooms. I guess that’s common around here. AVOID!

The room was okay, kept clean daily, and the surroundings were quiet. It’s about an hour from Kilimanjaro Airport and a ten-minute walk from Moshi Bus Stand, with a nearby market for shopping. Breakfast options are very limited. Tour packages are available too.

Right in the centre of Moshi, so the location is ideal. But the service and amenities fall short. There’s practically no Wi-Fi, despite what they promise, and the TV only has one channel. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if you’re doing Kilimanjaro Marathon.