Mamba and Marangu Cultural Tourism Programme
This Cultural Tourism Programme has been
developed with advice and assistance from the Dutch Aid organisation SNV
and the Tanzanian Tourist Board. The information below is copied from
their brochure. In addition to these activities our Tanzanian Director is
from this area and she can arrange numerous other local insights.
At the foot of Mount
Kilimanjaro outside the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park lie the
beautiful towns of Mamba and Marangu. Here, local people have planned
walking tours through valleys and waterfalls depicting mountain village
life. Activities on the slopes of Kilimanjaro include:
- Guided
tours leading to panoramic viewpoints ideal for photographing
waterfalls and Mount Kilimanjaro
- Visits
to historical sites of clan wars and ancient legends including large
caves used for hiding during the Chagga - Maasai wars
- Visit
local blacksmiths who continue using ancestral methods to prepare
Maasai spears and tools
- Opportunities
to experience Chagga culture with a visit to a traditional Chagga
house
- Exploration
of the small coffee, banana and other farms with their ancient
irrigation schemes
Mamba and Marangu
Magnificent views of valleys and waterfalls offer great
entertainment for nature lovers and bird watchers. With more than seven
waterfalls in the vicinity one can spend a whole day enjoying the picture
postcard views. Walking tours will provide magnificent views overlooking
the area including points where the lights of Nairobi can be seen at
night. Walking through the well-maintained coffee and banana fields is a
pleasure. Visits to tree, flower and fruit nurseries help to portray
mountain life and give guests the chance to see a wide range of unique
flora and fauna.
Mamba
A morning visit to the ancient sites in the Makundi
area recalls clan wars and historic legends. You can enter the Laka
Holes, large hiding caves which were used to protect women and
children during the Maasai - Chagga Wars. Visitors will actually get to
see blacksmiths who still use
traditional methods to prepare spears and tools used by Maasai people
today! A local woodcarving school
allows visitors to meet a skilled teacher who is one of the oldest active
members within the community.
Marangu
Mountain climbing enthusiasts will be delighted to visit the home
and memorial of the late Yohano
Lauwo, a Marangu native who accompanied Dr. Hans Meyer on the first
recorded climb of Kilimanjaro in 1889. He lived for an astonishing 124
years and guided treks up the mountain at the age of 70 years! Walking
tours through Marangu also offer breathtaking scenery. You can visit Kinulkamori, Moongo or Weshani waterfall depending on your physical
condition. You can learn more about the Chagga culture by visiting a
traditional Chagga house with
straw roof. You can walk through the Chief
Mangi area where the first court and primary school of the Northern
region are still functioning. At the Kilema Roman Catholic mission, you
can see the first coffee trees planted by Irish missionaries 100 years
ago. A short climb up Ngangu Hill with it’s fantastic views is a
pleasure. On a clear day the snows of Kibo seem so close, the plains so
wide and the Pare Mountains close enough to grab.
Different Options
All the sites can be visited, on foot, in one full day tour or can
be spread more comfortably over two days. From the Makundi
blacksmith area to Kilema transport
can be organised to cover the distance. Depending on the visitors
condition, a convenient waterfall will be visited. We will be more than
happy to arrange a custom made tour to satisfy your preference if you wish
to focus on certain aspects.
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