2 Days Moshi Cultural Tour

Overview

Come and experience an exciting mix of cultures at Marangu Village which is located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro about 1850 m above sea level. You’ll meet friendly people and discover beautiful scenes which are not found anywhere else around Africa. We will visit the most exciting areas for cultural and recreational walking at Marangu Village. Due to the chilly climate conditions in this area, this is a great walk for anyone to take either before or after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or going on a long safari. Originally, the area was owned by a local tribe called Chagga. During this village tour, you will learn many interesting facts about the Chagga tribe including their culture, history, and norms. This tour package consists of two exciting days exploring the culture, recreational areas, and historical sites around the Kilimanjaro region.

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DAY 1 | Moshi – Marangu Village

We will pick you up Arusha/Moshi first thing in the morning (please eat an early breakfast before we depart). From Arusha/Moshi, we will drive to Marangu Village which is a scenic drive approximately three (3) hours long over a well-established highway.

• Marangu Gate

Our first stop will be a visit to Marangu Gate which is the headquarters of Kilimanjaro National Park. Visiting Marangu Gate is an adventuresome experience where you will learn all about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as well as interesting facts about the mountain itself. We will spend approximately twenty (20) minutes at Marangu Gate which is sure to blow your mind as you behold the beauty and uniqueness of Mount Kilimanjaro.

• Coffee and Banana Farms

Because of the blessed presence of the fertile volcanic soils on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, the majority of the villagers here are subsistence farmers practicing the cultivation of crops such as coffee, banana, beans, and yams. We will visit a local farm where you will have a “plant to cup” coffee experience like none other. You will learn everything there is to know about Tanzanian coffee including observing how the local’s process and roast the beans, participating in hand grinding the freshly roasted beans and finally enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee. At this farm which reportedly has about 126 species of bananas, you will learn everything there is to know about bananas.

• Ndoro Waterfalls

Explore the natural beauty of the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and enjoy a time of rest in the natural beauty and peace of this magnificent site. The music from the waterfalls and the radiant colors of the valley transform both our inner and outer environments. We will hike to the area’s tallest waterfall which takes about thirty (30) minutes and can be enjoyed by anyone as it is not a difficult hike.

• Chagga Live Museum

At the Chagga Live museum, we will explore the culture and history of the Chagga tribe. The museum consists of several exhibits including a reconstructed, thatched indigenous house complete with livestock inside. The museum also has a display of traditional Chagga tools, farm equipment, rope made from the balk of the mringaringa (Cordia africana) tree, drums, and a “bugle” made from kudu horns. The museum also takes a genealogical look at the history of the Chagga people.

• Underground Tunnels (Chagga Bolt Hole)

Here you’ll have the opportunity to explore the underground tunnels where the Chagga people hid from their enemies. The tunnels are comprised of different partitions and galleries which house the kitchen, sleeping room, mortuary, livestock pattern, and ambushing chamber.

• Mt. Kilimanjaro Viewpoint

On a clear day, you will have gorgeous views of Mount Kilimanjaro from a viewpoint in Marangu village. We will stop at the viewpoint only when the weather is favorable.

• Celebrate

After this fast-paced full day of touring, you’ll have the luxury of relaxing and enjoying the exotic country gardens located in Marangu Village. Here you may also drop in for a visit at one of the local Chagga bars where you can order a traditional “mbege” which is a local Chagga alcoholic brew made from a mix of finger millet and banana wine. After celebrating, we will drive to Moshi town where we’ll check into the hotel and have dinner.

DAY 2 | MOSHI TOWN AND HOTSPRING TOUR

After an English breakfast in the hotel, your guide will pick you up between 9:30 and 10:00 for a morning tour of Moshi town. Your tour guide will inform you about this area’s history including an interesting story about the small Tanzanian town of Moshi. This portion of the tour also includes visiting a local market and a historical site.

After the Moshi town tour, we will drive to the hot springs located in the Boma area of the Kilimanjaro region within the Hai district. This area is home to two unique geographic features – the highest and lowest points in Africa, which are the underground springs and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Along the way, your guide will point out natural features of this picturesque landscape such as the big baobab trees. With a large population of Maasai people living in this area, the countryside is dotted with traditional Maasai houses and you’ll see Maasai people going about their day – herding their livestock and carrying water buckets on their heads.

We hope you remembered to bring your swimsuit because our next stop is the Monkey Pond hot springs. We will take the local “tuktuk” (three-wheeled motorcycle) transportation to the natural hot spring area. You won’t be able to resist jumping into the clear, warm water! Stand still and you’ll experience fish nibbling on your toes. After having a great time swimming in the natural spring pool, we will depart for Arusha where we’ll drop you off at your accommodation.