The Marangu village is located on the foothills of the Kilimanjaro Mountain. It will give you a picture into the day today lives of the locals here, the culture and food of the Chagga people.
History of the Chagga Tunnels in Marangu
There are tunnels here that the Chagga people use to escape the attacks made to them by the Masai people back in the day.
The Masai people would be searching for new areas to graze their livestock during the protracted dry spells, which is when the attacks were typically carried out.
The Masai, who formerly resided in the barren regions of northern Tanzania, would now search the Kilimanjaro Mountain’s slopes for grass.
So the tour here will take you to the Chagga tunnels and then you will hike to the water falls, there is a local coffee plantation in the area as well, there is a chance to prepare and taste the Banana cash crop here.
They use it to make local beers as well that re so popular with the locals. The village was the starting point for Hans Meyer as he hiked the Kilimanjaro in 1889. He was the first western person to hike the Kilimanjaro.
Getting to Marangu Village
If you spend the night in Arusha, you will leave in the morning for a two hours drive to the Village while if you spend the night in Moshi, the drive will be a little shorter.
There are many things you could be involved in while on this village tour. Some of them include:
- Kilasiya Falls: Like most hikes, the hike to these falls is very rewarding with a lot of beautiful scenery. You will see a lot of smaller plantations of coffee and bananas. You will also meet a valley that will allow you to cross the river. Padded with stepping stones such that you don’t step in the water. After this adventure you will be rewarded with a very beautiful water fall with clear waters and you can take a short swim here before you continue.
- Tour of a coffee plantation: The tour will take you to the local planatations. You will be taken through the coffee processing. From the time of picking the beans to drying, roasting and gridding the beans. You will then have a taste of your own coffee fresh from the grinder. Coffee lovers will love this experience.
- Chagga Tunnel Tour: Back in the day when the Masai still attacked the Chagga people to claim more grazing territories. The Chagga built these tunnels to flee from these attacks. You will be taken through the tunnels. Learn how the Chagga escaped these attacks and how they stayed and survived for so long underground.
- Banana Beer Tasting: This is a very popular drink among the locals and they believe it’s also very nutritious. They will take you through the process of making it and then you will taste the ready product.
