You will start from Moshi and drive to Marangu for an hour and a half. Here you will visit the Chagga caves. They have been used during the war between the Chagga and Maasai people. Your local guide will tell you more stories about Chagga people, the tribe that lives around Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Our day trips include number of Cultural Tourism Programs in which visitors are taken by a local guide to meet villagers and understand their traditional way of life whereby set up with the assistance of Tanzania Horizon Safaris.
Marangu is a large village located on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Marangu is a lively market town with a cool climate. The location of the town makes it an ideal starting point for hiking.
At the base of Mt Kilimanjaro, surrounded by lush landscapes, lie hidden waterfalls. After a short drive of about 45mins in a private car to one on the most popular waterfall sites, "Marangu Waterfalls", it is possible to explore the forest and discover the waterfalls on foot.
The "Marangu Waterfalls" is located on the slope of Mt. Kilimanjaro national park, is also an excellent location for hiking, bird watching and taking in the sights of rural Africa. The cultural tourism program offers the opportunity for visitors to watch traditional blacksmiths, visit nearby caves and waterfalls as well as experience life in the local chagga tribe. People around Marangu village are very welcoming and we hope you will enjoy your time with them. While in Marangu one can learn more about the chagga culture by visiting a traditional chagga house made of straw roofing. Also the traditional food made by bananas and local brew known as Mbege can be tasted
At the waterfalls, you can even refresh in cool and crystal clean water. Don't forget to bring your swimwear! Here you will also break for lunch before doing a short tour of Marangu village to see the typical life of local tribe/people
The Chagga are Bantu-speaking indigenous Africans and the third largest ethnic group in Tanzania. They are also called Wachaga, Chagga, Jagga, Dschagga, Waschagga, or Wachagga. They traditionally live on the southern and eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, and near Moshi. Their livelihood is through taking advantage of the favorable climate of the area and successful agricultural methods, which include extensive irrigation systems, terracing, and continuous organic fertilization methods that have been practiced for thousands of years. They were one of the first tribes in the area to convert to Christianity. This may have given them an economic advantage over other ethnic groups, as they had better access to education and health care.