Materuni village is located about 45 minutes from Moshi by car, at an altitude of 1300 m above sea level. It’s one of the most visited villages around Moshi. Its main highlight is definitely Materuni waterfalls and the hike to get there from the village. But there’s more to do and see here, and many more reasons to visit!
If you combine the waterfall visit with a local coffee experience and a Chagga lunch, this makes for a great day trip before or after your Kilimanjaro climb or safari. You’ll get to know a lot about Chagga culture, about the village, about the plants and trees that can be found here and what they’re used for and of course about coffee, as that is also one of the things Kilimanjaro is known for.
The drive up to the village from Moshi (which has an altitude of 800 m above sea level) is also beautiful and will give you an excellent idea of what roads and villages look like outside of city centers as well.
What to expect
You will be picked up in the morning, by our English-speaking Rafiki. He will drive you to Materuni Village. The last part of the drive to Materuni is exciting as you’ll drive up, on a small bumpy road, past beauitful views of the surrounding forests. Upon arrival, you will register at the village office and your trip can begin.
The Materuni waterfall is around a 40 minute walk away from the starting point. It’s not reachable by car, which makes this trip a bit more adventurous! On your way there, your guide will tell you many tales of the Chagga culture, the village life and explain the surrounding fauna and flora of Materuni. The views are truly breathtaking and with some luck you will see the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Upon reaching the waterfalls of Materuni, you will notice that’s in impressive 80meters high! The pool at the bottom of the waterfall is an inviting place for a refreshing swim so don‘t forget your swimwear! Try to come close to the waterfall, if you can. The waterfall has immence power and it’s like a small hurricane if you try to come near. Challenge accepted!
local lunch
After having enjoyed the scenery, you slowly return with your guide to Materuni village, where you will experience a traditional Chagga lunch. You also will have the opportunity to taste our local banana beer – definitely not to be missed! After lunch, the coffee experience awaits you. Here you will learn how coffee is cultivated, dried, roasted and further processed.
You will also be invited to help with the grinding of the coffee, which is traditionally accompanied by Chagga songs and dances – a fun way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Once the coffee is ready, you can drink your own batch!
*This Day trip is both possible as a private excursion or it is possible to join a group. If you’d like to join a group. Please send us an enquiry and we will find a group for you to join!
Materuni Day Trips
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