EYASI

Lake Eyasi is located in the Rift Valley south of Ngorongoro Highlands. This saline lake is home to various rare fish species, rare birds, and reptiles to mention a few. It is beautifully fringed by the Great Rift walls to the west and the highland to the North offering a magnificent view. This great landscape is home to the last known Hunter-Gatherer community the ‘Hadzabe’ living by hunting, honey, and fruit-gathering lifestyle. Experience the life of nomadic Datoga living closer to the Hadzabe.

The following is on offer:

– Fish with local fishermen in Lake Eyasi
– Canoeing safari in Lake Eyasi; Bushmen (Hadzabe) Trekking Day trips to Hadzabe hiding caves:
– Participate in collecting fruits, wild honey gathering and try your skills on using Hadzabe bow and arrow, try your luck in a hunt.
– A visit to Bushmen caves on Rocks with paints Datoga Cultural tour Drive to Datoga resident area and
– Make a tour to a Boma where you will meet a family, listen to stories about their way of life.
– Visit Datoga Traditional Healer and discover traditional herbs that cure various diseases.
– Visit Datoga Boma and have a glimpse of Datoga Culture
– Visit to Blacksmith experience ancient blacksmith skills
Get an insight of very interesting to proceed to a Hadzabe trekking starting point that changes several times due to their nomadic life.
– Walk in the bush rich in wildlife to trace the Bushmen.
– Visit Hadzabe bases and have a glimpse of the authentic Hadzabe way of life
– Experience a Bushmen trekking adventure. This adventure will give you a deep insight into Hadzabe culture.
– Walk around identifying indigenous plants roots and tubers, fruits, herb, leaves and wild seeds that are used by Bushmen for food and medicine.
– Get an opportunity to discover plants used for making poison arrows and ways used in extracting such potent poisonous exudates. Agricultural activities taking place around.
Lake Eyasi:
– Visit the farmers who will welcome you in their small patches of land and explain the way they practice their farming. Visitors will get an opportunity to explore the popular and very interesting onion farming activity not forgetting maize, and beans farms in the area.
– Learn about soil conservation techniques and local ways of storing the farm produce.

Marangu Lake Chala & Home Stay Tour 5 days 

Marangu Lake Chala & Home Stay 5 days Tour takes you to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro for sightseeing on walking and the great opportunity to see the ice cape of Mount Kilimanjaro, the African highest point. You will experience nature, greenish scenery, landscape, homestay, and the opportunity to meet with local people in their daily activities.

Trip Info:

You will enjoy and experience nature, fauna, and flora in the natural areas, also people and culture. Availability 90% Sure, Book today
Departing From: Arusha
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Departure Time: 0830 Hrs (possible to leave earlier than)
Departures: Daily
Minimum Persons Required: 2
Best Time: All the year-round

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arusha – Marangu (Base of Kilimanjaro) 
In the morning at 0745hrs; depart from Arusha to arrive in Marangu in 3 hours, the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, check-in the hotel. At 0945hrs, take a short walk to Marangu gate, the starting and finishing point of climbers to see the departures and rivals. You will have all meals and overnight at Capricorn Hotel, FB.

Day 2: Full day in Marangu:
After breakfast, visit a coffee trees farm of about 200-year old by vehicle or walking, on clear days you will be able to see an ice cape of Mount Kilimanjaro which rise at 5895m, also before lunch, you will visit blacksmith who continues using traditional methods for making different iron tools which are used by some tribes today like Maasai and a visit to Local brew, the producers of local wine. 

Lunch in your hotel, thereafter walk down to the nearby waterfalls called Kinuka Mori, named after a Chagga lady who had a pregnancy out of proper marriage chased by the Chagga society and hides herself nearby the falls and after some days she was ambushed by a leopard and the lady died and her body was found in the waterfalls. 

Around the falls you will see memorable pictures of the lady and the leopard. You will be guided by an English-speaking local guide and well-trained to guide tourists in the Marangu area, later walking back to the lodge for dinner and overnight. FB

Day 3: Marangu – Lake Chala – Marangu
In the morning after breakfast, depart for Lake Chala about a 1-hour drive, the lake has more than 250 parasitic cones and craters in the Kilimanjaro complex, which exhibits some of the finest volcanic scenery in the world presenting a dramatic landscape. About 70 percent of Lake Chala lies on the Tanzanian side in the Rombo district of Kilimanjaro while the rest of the water body is found in the Taita-Taveta location in the coastal province of Kenya. 

For many years, Lake Chala has been playing the role of tourism attraction spawning a major hotel on its Kenyan bank and another unfinished Hotel project on the Tanzanian side. Spend a day exploring the lake, at 1600hrs, drive back to Marangu for dinner and overnight at Capricorn Hotel, FB

Day 4: Marangu – Kisangara:
In the morning after breakfast, visit Local brew and viewpoint where on clear days you can see the ice cape of Africa. The Mount Kilimanjaro. After Lunch, the drive will take you to Kisangara for dinner experience and overnight in bandas or camping at Mrs. Grace Msafiri. FB

Day 5: Kisangara – Arusha:
After breakfast, visit Kisangara herbal hospital; proceed to Nyumba ya Mungu dam? House of God dam for a half-day tour or hike to Mount Kindoroko. Evening at 1600hr drive back to Arusha or Airport. 

Cultural tours to MAASAILAND at Engaruka Village

Engaruka, situated 63 km north of Mto wa Mbu, on the road to Oldonyo Lengai and Lake Natron lies at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. It is an important historic site as some 500 years ago, a farming community of several thousand people chose to develop an indigenous irrigation and cultivation system here. For unknown reasons, the farmers left Engaruka around 1700, but the ruins talk volumes about the highly specialized agricultural economy.

The people of Engaruka offer visitors the following attractions:
– A guided visit to one of the oldest African irrigation systems
– A visit to the Maasai cattle market
– A visit to a Maasai Boma
– Walking safaris in an area of outstanding beauty
– A look at the local community life.

There are various guided tour options:

Half day tours
1. Visit the ruined city you can see the remnants of the ruined city of Engaruka. The guide will help you to identify old graves, house walls, irrigation canals, and terraces, and explain the various theories about the rise and fall of the farming community. Enjoy en route, the colorful birds and butterflies, remnants. Of the German era, and also visit an ‘orpul’ or Maasai slaughterhouse.

2. Engaruka farming tour from the ruins, walk to the village of Engaruka, Enroute, visit several farms and learn about various farming and irrigation methods. The guide will throw light on the tribal background of the village. On the way back, visit the market area located in the shade of an Africa tulip tree and a huge mkuyu tree.

3. Rift Valley escarpment tour from the ruined city, narrow footpaths wind up the Rift Valley escarpment. Climb the escarpment guided by a Maasai warrior, who will help you spot many colorful birds and show you trees and plants that the Maasai use for making food and medicines.

One-day tour.

Kerimasi mountain climb North of Engaruka is the green mountain of Kerimasi. The climb takes three to four hours from the foot to the summit. From the top, you see impressive views of Oldoinyo Lengai, Lake Natron, the Ngorongoro highlands, and the mountains of Kitumbeine and Gelai. The descent takes about two hours.

Two-day tour

Hike to Oldoinyo Lengai Conquer Oldoinyo Lengai or ‘the mountain of God’ in Maasai parlance. On the first day, you climb Kerimasi Mountain and descend on the north side to camp at the foot of Oldoinyo Lengai, the only active volcano in Tanzania. On the morning of the second day, start the 4-5 hour climb to the top, where you can even enter the crater to watch the volcanic activity. The descent takes about 2 1/2 hours.

USAMBARA CULTURAL TOURS

Explore, learn and know how we live in the Usambara Mountain, the community history of the indigenous washambaa, and the immigrant local tribe of pare and mbugu, local royality from the ancient to the Germany and British colonial era.

ONE DAY TRIPS FROM LUSHOTO

Irente Viewpoint (5-6 hours, 15km)
From Lushoto, hike to this outlook for spectacular views of the village of Mazinde and the Maasai plains almost 1000 meters below. Eat lunch at the Irente Biodiversity Farm in their beautiful flower garden.

Magamba Rainforest (5-6 hours)
Walkthrough villages and farmland to the lush rainforest where you can see black-and-white Colobus monkeys. On the way back, pass by the historic royal village of the Kilindi (the Washambaa ruling clan) and an old German bunker dug during World War I.
Combined Trip—Magamba Rainforest & Irente Viewpoint (7-8 hours, 20km)
For shorter stays in the area, we recommend a combination hike to the Irente Viewpoint and Magamba Rainforest, where you can see Colobus monkeys.

Bangala River (5-6 hours, 15km)
Beginning at Mbuzii, descend slowly down the steep slopes of the Bangala River Valley toward the rising savannah heat. Visit a tree nursery, see traditional irrigation systems, and take in breathtaking views of the Maasai Plains.
Mkuzu Waterfall (5-6 hours, 15km)*
From Muller’s Lodge or Migambo Village, walk through the colorful forest to this local waterfall. Extend your tour by climbing Migambo peak (2400m high!).

Skyline (6-7 hours, 10km)
Jiwe La Mungu (“The footprint of man”)– Visit a famous cable system for transporting logs down the mountain, enjoy wonderful views of Maasai Plains. Learn about the people of the Usambara Mountains, such as the Pare and Shambaa.

MULTI-DAY TOURS FROM LUSHOTO:

Mtae: The World Viewpoint (2-5 days)
Trek through rainforests, traditional villages, and farmland; visit and sleep in a local home; see local pottery being made; watch the sunset from the top of a village, and experience the traditional life of the Shambaa people. This trip includes many opportunities to visit and learn about the development projects supported by our program. Return to Lushoto by bus, bike, or private transport.

Mazumbai Forest Reserve: The Galapagos of Africa (2-4 days)
From Soni or Bumbuli hike through tea and coffee plantations to the Mazumbai Forest Reserve, home to numerous birds species and black-and-white Colobus monkeys. Return to Lushoto by private transport.

Magamba, Irente, and Carter’s Viewpoint (2-3 days)
Trek through local villages and the Magamba rainforest to Irente viewpoint and then the Irente Biodiversity Farm, famous for their locally made organic food products. After staying overnight at the Farm, hike along the ridges of the mountains to Carter’s viewpoint. The next day, return to Lushoto or continue downhill to Mombo.

Lushoto, Rangwi convent to Mlalo viewpoint (2-3 days)
Trek from Lushoto to the Rangwi Convent for an overnight. Continue with a visit to a village of the Kilindi (the Washambaa ruling clan) and the headquarters of the Shambaa sub-chief to learn about the history of the Usambara chiefdom. This tour can be extended to include a visit to a Shambaa blacksmith at Tewe

Agro Community Cultural tours (2-3 days)
Stay with the local farmers, experiencing the village livelihood.Visit the royal subchiefs of the mountains, get the chance to see the village festivals, and learn how to step and Sing, the Shambaa and Mbugu traditional songs”

(West to East Cultural tour (5-6 days)
Have the general scope of the Usambara Mountains, trekking through the villages from the west to the East via the natural forest of Mazumbai, Amani, and Nilo nature reserve to the Eastern part of the Mountains.

Usamabara Royal Villages Cultural tour (4-6 days)
Get the chance to learn and experience, the existing culture in the royal villages and the royal families from the ancient time of the Shambaa kingdom to the modern

Kilimanjaro Acclimatization( 3-5 Days)
Let’s acclimatize together by walking to the higher altitude villages and have what you deserve to climb the roof of Africa even mount Meru in regard to the physical health of the person.

Usambara bike tours ( 1-7 Days)
The Usambara Mountains is the best place for the mountains bikes, we save both sportsmen and others who are in need to bike and experience the natural and cultural beauty of the Usambaras

Monduli Walking Safari

Monduli is a smaller town located in an area around 30 kilometers away from Arusha town. The town itself is departed in Monduli Chini (means “down”, the bigger and more urban part) and Monduli Juu (means “up”, the smaller and more rural part of the town) and set at the hillside of a volcano.

In the center, there is a gigantic caldera not as large as Ngorongoro but not less impressive. Monduli is Maasai land, the surrounding is marked by numerous Bomas, the housing of the Maasai, and the herdsmen that are grazing their cattle on the plains.

Among the travelers and safari-goers Monduli is almost unknown and an excellent insider tip.

About an hour walking from Monduli Juu you find the small camp site with a view on the scenic crater. From here an experienced Maasai guide will take you on an expedition along the hillside and down to the crater plains.

As Monduli is located outside any nature reserve borders and the hunting on wild animals is permitted here you need luck to encounter giraffes, zebras and other bigger animals that prefer to live in the protected areas of the National Parks. Rather a walking safari offers the opportunity to look after the details, to admire the unique flora, watching rare bird species or bush babies in the trees and joining the Maasai bringing their cattle down to the pasture.

The view on Mount Meru is overwhelming from here and in the morning you will have the chance to watch the sun rising behind Meru and the highest mountain of Africa, Kilimanjaro, which looks considerably smaller over the far distance.

Usually, you will stay at Monduli for 2 or 3 days but concerning your interests and schedule, you can add as many days as you like. As Monduli is close to Arusha town and easily reachable it is also a perfect itinerary for volunteers or all those who stay at Arusha and with a few days of relaxing, cultural experience, and adventure in the Tanzanian wilderness.

Relaxing and walking in the untouched surrounding of Monduli can also be perfect step-in for your further safari to the big National Parks or a great ending.

Being on a visit at the Bomas the young Maasai will gladly perform their dances and singings and the women will proudly present their huts while the children will be shy and at the same time fascinated observing you from the distance. And maybe the father of all the children and husband of at least four wives will allow you to take a seat next to him.

Once per week, there is a cattle market in Monduli Juu where you can watch the lively business around the best goats and cows in the village. In Monduli Chini there is a daily Maasai and food market which is not less colorful and interesting.

The nights will be spent at the campfire, waiting for the cook’s delicious food and listening to the stories that your Maasai guide will tell you.

Homestays

You are interested in experiencing African culture and daily life in a Tanzanian family? Why not live with them in the same house for a few days, weeks, or even longer and share family life with them?

We offer homestays for any duration and purpose.

Whether you want to do a short stopover during your Safari, volunteer in social projects for a longer time or travel through the country without staying in “common” hotels, we cooperate with several families in Arusha who would love to welcome you at their home. The families are well-chosen, trustworthy and staying in regular contact with us.

You can decide whether you want to stay in a big house with water and electricity and all European standards or if you prefer basic life in a house that is maybe smaller without tab water and luxury bed but therefore bucket shower, candles in the darkness and a life close to your family, your host brothers and sisters. With a home stay you will not only support the family and get to know African life, you will furthermore find friends for a lifetime!