Itinerary

1. Arusha/Moshi - Mto wa Mbu, Lake Manyara

   Early in the morning, you prepare to start your tour to Mto wa Mbu. It takes almost 2 hours to get there. When you arrive there, you will meet your guide, and he is likely to be from the village itself, so you will have an opportunity to see the community through the guide’s eyes. During your visit, you’ll get a good feel for the social side of the village – the farms and the milling machines, the schools, markets and churches. Tours last around 2–3 hours but are flexible. You may do some (or all!) of the following: You will probably start in the village banana plantation, where the community grows more than 30 varieties of bananas. As well as finding out how this staple fruit is grown, you’ll hear about the different uses of the plant as a whole, from food to materials for building and art. 

   You may visit a youth art project and learn about the different painting styles and techniques. You can visit a wood workshop to watch skilled members of the Makonde tribe carefully carving intricate figurines, masks and household objects. They’ll show you the different types of wood and finishings and explain some of the historical and cultural meanings behind the carvings. You can even have a go at doing some carving yourself! The artists are happy for you to ask questions and take photos.

   You may visit a local ‘bar’ to try Mbege, the traditional banana and millet beer brewed and drunk mainly by the Chagga tribe. Making this brew is quite labour-intensive, and the beer is usually served in one large cup, passed around the group and refilled as needed. Your tour will probably finish in the bustling local market, where you can wander around stalls selling fruit and vegetable stalls, spices and meat.

   After that, you will have lunch and then be ready to go back to Arusha/Moshi for another schedule. You will be back at your hotel.

   Accommodation: (OPTION)

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

   Overnight stay: (Arusha – Moshi Town)