We’ll pass on the farmland and some village houses before we reach the waterfalls. The Materuni waterfalls are also known as Mnambe waterfalls and are within about 80 meters of the highest waterfalls at Kilimanjaro. At this very scenic place, we will have a rest. You can take a refreshing bath or simply enjoy the great view of the waterfall and the beautiful surroundings.

After an hour of relaxation, our hike leads us up to Shimbwe. Now we walk along the river on the other side and soon it goes upwards. Just before we reach the village, we have a nice view back to the Materuni waterfalls. The houses of this traditional Chagga village are widely scattered on the slopes of Kilimanjaro in the midst of a beautiful landscape.

Our hosts are already waiting for us with a refreshing drink and fruits, we can now rest for a while and move to our rooms. After having relaxed a bit you will learn how the Kilimanjaro 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.

DAY 02: HIKE THE BORDER OF KILIMANJARO OR MONGIONI WATERFALLS

After breakfast, Our today hike starts around 9.30 am. You’ll have the choice between the following two hikes: Hike to the Mongioni waterfalls or hike to the kilimanjaro border.

HIKE TO THE BORDER OF KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK

This hike takes in total about 4 – 5 hours. The paths are well developed and are also suitable for less experienced hikers.

The hike starts at the house of our hosts (about 1450m) on a well-developed path and leads us up the village. We walk past village houses and fields, which are cultivated by the local people. During the hike we have a nice view into the surrounding valleys and on the surrounding hillsides.

After we have passed the last houses we see a row of very high eucalyptus trees, which mark the border of the Kilimanjaro National Park. We are now at an altitude of about 1,900 meters. Here we can relax a little, have lunch and enjoy the beautiful view. After enjoying nature and our food, we walk leisurely the way back to the house of our hosts. We strengthen ourselves with a refreshing drink and fruits and drive back to Moshi.

HIKE TO THE MONGIONI WATERFALLS

This hike takes in total about 4 – 5 hours, depending on the strength of the hikers. The hike leads partially over small and steeper paths, requires surefootedness and is recommended only for experienced hikers with good fitness. In rainy weather, the paths are very slippery and there is an extreme danger of falling. In bad weather conditions, we will walk alternatively to the border of the Kilimanjaro National Park.

The hike begins on a well-developed path through the village, we pass by banana plantations, fields and cottages. We walk now through the forest, where the locals have little arable land and cultivate banana trees, cross a small creek and walk on the other side a little uphill. The Mongioni waterfall is smaller than the Materuni waterfall, but has a very strong water stream and is surrounded by a small pond. If you are tough, you may like to take a very refreshing bath.