There are a number of optional activities that may be included to fit around your basic safari program. You may wish to capture a little of the traditional East African culture with a visit to a local village whilst you are in Arusha, near Lake Manyara or Ngorongoro, or at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.  Many of the cultural programs are run by the local villages in conjunction with the Netherlands Development Organisation (SVP), which serves to assist the local people with village development and conservation projects.  Your visit directly benefits the villages - we do not make any profit from these tours.

Arusha
 Tribes: Wa Arusha and Wa Meru
Ngi'iresi   Ikiding'a   Mulala   Longido

 Babati and Hanang
 Tribe: Barbaig/Mang'ati

 Mto-wa-Mbu (near Lake Manyara)
 Tribes: Wa Iraqw, Wa Meru, Wa Maasai and other migrant peoples

Kilimanjaro (Machame, Marangu and Mamba)
Tribe: Wa Chagga

Lake Eyasi
Tribes: Datoga and Hadzabe bushmen

Ngorongoro (Nainokanoka and Naiyobi villages)
 Tribe: Wa Maasai

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Arusha:

Ngi'iresi Village - one can take a half day or full day guided tour to this village on the foothills of Mount Meru, visiting some farms and several development projects in the village including soil conservation, irrigation, cross breeding, bio-gas production. One can also climb Kivesi Hill an old volcano with a natural forest at the summit. There is the opportunity to gain an insight into the culture of the Wa-arusha tribe: listen to age-old stories, visit traditional houses, indulge in a delicious lunch and/or dinner prepared by the Juhudi Women's Group. This program is executed with assistance from the Netherlands Development Organisation (SVP), which serves to assist the local people with conservation projects and assistance with improving the Ngi'iresi Primary School 

Longido cultural tourism program - there is a lot to do here - on the northern mountainous region of Arusha: from bird watching to climbing up the impressive Longido Mountain through natural dense forest, to walking safaris through the Maasai Steppes and visiting a maasai boma and gaining an insight into the culture and daily life of the Maasai. You can even visit historic sites from German colonial times. This program is run with assistance from the Netherlands Development Organisation, which serves to assist the Maasai with rehabilitating their livestock and cattle dips and preventing livestock disease. The guides are all local Maasai who have grown up in the area and speak some English. 
Tribe: Maasai

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Mulala Cultural Tourism Program - this is run by the Agape Women's Group who offer a Traditional Activities tour (1-2 hours) where one can visit farms and learn about farming methods and various economic activities they have started including cheesemaking, breadmaking, preparing flower seeds, chilli growing and sewing. Another tour is the Marisha River Tour (2 hours) where a local guide will show you common medicinal plants used by the villagers, then take you on to the Ziwa la Mzungu (White Man's Lake) where a big colony of fruit bats thrives; or perhaps take the Lemeka Hill Tour (2 hours) where you can walk through the coffee and banana plantations and head up Lemeka Hill for breathtaking views of both Mounts Kilimanjaro and Meru and of the Maasai Plains and on the way back a visit to the traditional village healer.  There is also a place for overnight camping and simple traditional meals for those wishing to spend a night. The Mulala Cultural Tourism Programme is the only one completely launched, developed and implemented by women as a means to self-sufficiency. 
Tribe: Wa-arusha

Ilkidinga Cultural Tourism Programme - experience life in a local village viewing the culture and traditions of the Wa-arusha people including a warm welcome into a local household, visits to craftsmen and a traditional healer, walks through farms and hikes along narrow footpaths crossing a canyon and climbing small hills viewing birdlife along the way and impressive views overlooking Arusha town; sample traditional food prepared by the Mainyoito Women's Group. The profits made from this programme are used to improve the local primary school. Your visit helps give local children a better education - the base for a better future.
Tribe: Wa-arusha

Mto-wa-Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme - This program is executed with advice from SNV the Netherlands Development Organisation and the Tanzanian Tourist Board.  Choose from a walk through the farms and green oasis the foot of the Rift Valley; a climb to Balala Hill; a view into the culture of the many tribes living in the area; a trip to Miwaleni Lake and waterfall where there is an abundance of papyrus; visits to development projects that aim to improve agriculture and start income-generating activities for local farmers. Profits from this program are used to promote energy-saving stoves, to build a water pipeline and to build a school.
Tribe: Cosmopolitan modern village with a Mix of Waarusha, Wairqw, Wamaasai, Wachagga, Wameru peoples amongst others.

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Babati and Hanang Cultural Visit
Tribes: Barbaig/Mang'ati
Babati district is located in the Rift Valley, south of Lake Manyara Park and west from Tarangire. The town boasts Lake Babati where floating hippos can be seen and which is rich in fish, both  tilapia and Nile perch. Here commercial and farming tribes co-exist with conservative cattle herding tribes to provide a distinguished cultural contrast. In Hanang District close by the beautiful Mount Hanang (3418m), live  the Barbaig people whose traditional culture is still unchanged and unspoiled. The   women wear traditional goatskin dresses and the men walk around with spears. Visitors can mix freely with the Barbaig, commonly known as the Mangati living in the Mangati plains. If you are interested in bird watching, 400 bird species will welcome you on your walks in the area.
Here you can walk and see a mixture of tribal cultures and rural life as lived by ordinary Tanzanians off the well-trodden Tourist Circuits. 

  • A special Barbaig cultural insight hike
  • An exclusive Mount Hanang climb
  • A fishing adventure with local canoes on Lake Babati while viewing hippos
  • A chance to participate in local brick and pottery making and beer brewing
  • A visit to development projects like cattle, dairy farming, piped water projects
    Cycling expedition through remote areas

    The profit will be used to improve the primary school in two villages. Your visit helps to improve the education of the children.
    Half day tour:
    You visit Managhat village, original home of the Gorowa tribe but now also a home for migrants. You will see dairy farming activities, farming with ox ploughs, bio gas system, local Gorowa huts and a Killer Beekeeping Project at the bottom of Mount Kwaraa (2415m)

    One day tour:
    You walk to Managhat village (see above) and climb Bambaay Hill from where you see the beautiful Rift Valley landscape with Lake Babati and Lake Manyara. The Rift Valley Escarpment in the background and the Masaai Steppe at the east. Later you visit a respected Gorowa tribesman, Mzee Kwaraa, at his home. He will tell you about Gorowa culture, marriage, rain prayers, burial, religious and circumcision rituals. Optionally one can row, fish and view hippo=s on Lake Babati, using local canoes.

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    Mount Hanang (3 418m) Trekking:
    From Katesh, the fourth highest mountain of Tanzania,  can be climbed in one day. An early start is necessary with guides and porters through farmland, forest, scrub and grasslands. Finally, after 5 - 6 hours walking, you will reach the summit. Another 3 - 4 hours is needed  for the descent.  But it is advisable to climb from Gendabi at the foot of the mountain, a 3 hours walk from Katesh. Teachers from the Secondary school will provide accommodation and food. After spending the night in the village you climb and have more time to enjoy the scenery. Summiteers will receive a certificate.

    God's Bridge Walk:
    Drive from Babati to Bacho village at the foot of the Rift Wall where you visit local fish ponds. Along local paths climb the escarpment and visit God's Bridge with a fantastic view. Descend and walk to the main road where you drive back to Babati   

    Combined tours
    All tours can be combined. A cycling expedition can be organized on request.

Mto-wa-Mbu Village Walk - this is a 2-hour walk through the local farming areas in Mto-wa-Mbu village. Experience life in this local village setting meeting local people, learning about their culture, agriculture and history of the area. You will be escorted by a uniformed, trained guide. The tour is run by Serena Active/Green Footprint Adventures, and can be done as a morning or afternoon activity beginning and ending at the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. (Cost - US$40 per person)    

Lake Eyasi -
Tribe: Hadzabe and Datoga 
Lake Eyasi is a very scenic soda lake found on the southern border of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This less visited lake lies at the base of the Eyasi escarpment on the western rift valley wall. The Hadza tribe (hunter-gatherer bushmen) live close to the shores of Lake Eyasi as do the Nilotic-speaking Datoga tribe. Visits to these tribes are possible as a half day or full day to include a visit to the homesteads, animal tracking, learn about their way of life, medicinal plants, and much more.  There is quite a lot of wildlife and a wide species of birds to be seen here and walks around the lake are easily arranged.

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Maasai Village Visit - there are a number of Maasai Bomas to visit - Please Contact us for details.

Ngorongoro - Nainokanoka and Naiyobi Maasai Bomas: 
Tribe: Maasai
Nainokanoka village is located in the Ngorongoro Highlands, and a visit can be combined with a trek of Olmoti or Empakaai Crater, or on its own.  Visitors meet the village elders, get an insight into the Maasai way of life, visit the bomas, learn about their prized cattle and visit the local school. 
Naiyobi Village is near the Empakaai Crater towards Lake Natron. Visitors to this village are also greeted and introduced to the Maasai way of life, visiting the boma, learn about traditions and customs. It is possible to camp near the village, especially if undertaking the three-day trek to Lake Natron from Ngorongoro (see details - Ngorongoro to Lake Natron trek)

Kilimanjaro
Machame Cultural Tourist Programme - you will receive a warm welcome into a local Chagga household, hikes through dense natural forests and farms along fast-flowing streams at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro; three different views of snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro where local ancient legend recount tales of an iron hut that brought them strength; a visit to several development projects in the area (coffee production, traditional irrigation, afforestation, cross breeding, bee keeping, schools, health care, food processing, etc). Profits from this program are used to subsidise various women and youth development activities within the area. The program is executed with the assistance of SNV (the Netherlands Development Organisation) and the Tanzanian Tourist Board. 
Tribe: Wa-Chagga (Machame)

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Mamba and Marangu Cultural Tourism Programme - At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro outside the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park like the beautiful villages of Mamba and Marangu. Here, the local people have planned walking tours through valleys and waterfalls depicting mountain village life. Tours on the slopes of Kilimanjaro include guided tours leading to panoramic viewpoints ideal for photographing waterfalls and Mount Kilimanjaro; visit to historic sites of clan wars and ancients legends including large caves used for hiding during the Chagga-Maasai wars; a visit to the local blacksmiths who continue to use ancestral methods to prepare Maasai spears and tools; opportunities to experience Chagga culture with a visit to a traditional Chagga household.  Profits from the programme are used to improve schools in the area through the Village Education Project and thus improve the quality of life of local children. The program is executed with the assistance of SNV - the Netherlands Development Organisation and the Tanzanian Tourist Board.  
Tribe: Wa-Chagga (Marangu and Mamba)

                                                                                                                  Mkuru is situated on the north side of Mt Meru, not far away from the irrigated fields of Ngarenanyuki & the Momella gate, of Arusha National park. From a distance the area can be recognized through the remarkable shape of Ol Doinyo Landaree, the little mountain that looks like a pyramid. Masaai families live in traditional bomas scattered throughout the area. In the early morning, the warriors start wandering with their cattle in search of water & pasture. Young children take care of the goats & sheep, and sometimes assist their mothers in fetching water & collecting firewood.

                                                                                                                         
                                                                                             

                                  

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