The experience
A jungle hike to an 80-metre waterfall and a Chagga coffee ritual, from bean to cup.
Materuni is a small Chagga village on the green southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, about 40 minutes from Moshi and some 1,500 metres above sea level. Life here moves with the rhythm of the banana and coffee farms that cover the hillsides, and the village has become famous for the waterfall that drops 80 metres into a natural pool at the bottom of a lush river valley. From the trail there are wide views over the Moshi plain and, on a clear day, the snows of Kilimanjaro rising above the plantations. Less crowded than other day trips around Moshi, Materuni combines scenery, swimming and a genuine taste of Chagga culture - and it is the perfect way to acclimatise before climbing Kilimanjaro or to slow down after a safari.
We collect you from your hotel in Moshi, Arusha or Mto wa Mbu and drive up the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro, through banana and coffee plantations, to Materuni village at around 1,500 m.
With a Chagga guide you follow a green trail along the river, between banana groves, ferns and coffee bushes, until the valley opens up in front of an 80-metre fall dropping into a natural pool.
Time to swim in the cold, clear water, take photos and simply sit in the spray while the guide tells you the Chagga stories tied to the waterfall.
A gentle climb back to Materuni, with views over the Moshi plain and, on a clear day, the snow on Kilimanjaro above you.
In a family homestead you pick the ripe cherries, peel, pound and roast the beans over a wood fire, grind them in a wooden mortar with the traditional song, and finally drink the coffee you have just made.
A home-cooked Tanzanian lunch with the family - usually rice, banana stew, vegetables and fresh fruit - and then the drive back to your hotel after lunch.
Good to know
A half-day expedition. The hike itself is about 4.5 km round trip - roughly 45 minutes to an hour each way - with some 200 m of elevation gain, on an easy-to-moderate but often muddy and slippery trail. Difficulty: easy to moderate, no hiking experience needed. Bring swimwear, a towel, shoes with grip and a light rain jacket. Can be combined with Kikuletwa (Chemka) hot springs or added before or after climbing Kilimanjaro or a northern safari.
Combine expeditions
Both expeditions work perfectly as day trips, and together they make a great full day: waterfall and coffee in the morning, warm springs in the afternoon. Book both in one go and our team takes care of everything, with pick-up and drop-off from Moshi, Arusha or Mto wa Mbu.
