Machame Cultural Tourism Program

Machame area is a mosaic of beautiful valleys, deep gorges, rivers, waterfalls, farms and is the home base of the Chagga people. Here you can experience and witness the only agro-forestry “best practice”, an intensive farming system of inter-cropping of mixed crops using traditional irrigation. Machame is an ideal place for acclimatization before climbing the mountain. From many points the snow capped peak can be seen.

• A warm welcome in a local Chagga household
• Hikes through dense natural forests and farms for acclimatization along fast flowing streams.
• Three different views of snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro, where local ancient Chagga legends 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.)

Machame Cultural Tourism Centre, Kyalia, is situated 14km from the Machame junction, to the north of the Moshi – Arusha road. The Machame gate, a starting point for Kilimanjaro Mountains climbers, is about half an hour’s walk away.

Machame people have developed various tours that give you an opportunity to take an active part in our programme.

SIENY-NGIRA TOUR (4-6hrs)

This tour starts from the centre at Kyalia, and takes you through Kalali market to Masama. Sieny catchment forest is historically a sacred place of natural forests, bridges and caves where local people worshiped during the traditional festivals. Big caves were used to accommodate about 200 Chagga with their animals. Another prominent attraction is the natural bridge called” Daraja la Mungu.” Or “God’s Brigde”, crossing the Marire and Namwi rivers, which feed a waterfall.

NG`UNI HIKING (two days)

The Sieny-Ngira tour is combined with a hike to Ng`uni via Tema where there are views of Bomang’ombe, Kilimanjaro International Airport and Nure hills. At Ng`uni you can expect to learn how to build the oldest Chagga traditional house called Mbii (Full-suit). On request food and accommodation can be arranged in the traditional house. Before you return home your guide can take you to Mzee Urassa ho will brief you on stingless bee keeping.

NRONGA TOUR (5hrs)

The tour begins with an uphill walk from Kyalia to Nronga village. The guide will tell you about the natural and climatic conditions that the Uhuru Peak summit climbers face at high altitudes. At Nronga you will be able to visit the Women’s milk purification centre. Women will explain hoe the dairy co-operative empowers women of the area and stimulates local economic growth. From Nronga descend to the Kalali women group, specialists for cheese production near Kalali market. Kalali, like other places, has its colorful market days every Monday.

FOO-ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY (5 hrs)

This tour starts from the Kyalia main office to PHC Primary Health Care, via Ifiyo route. This area is engaged in a number of activities around the issues of sustainability and health care. Visitors can get a glimpse of how local people make pottery for food and water storage. The area is also engaged in many conversation activities such as rainwater harvesting, construction of ventilated improved pit latrines, biogas,, sand filter purification of water and drip irrigation. Here the guide will explain how such projects are developed and how they are ideal for rural settings.

NKUU TOUR (5-8 hrs)

Starting from Kyalia the walk takes you through the fertile banana and coffee farmlands where you can learn about an intensive inter cropping system of mixed crop farming. On request, traditional food will be arranged for you or you may become involved in the preparation and cooking of Chagga food. On your return you can choose any route according to your interest.

LYAMUNGO TOUR (2-3 days)

This tour starts at Kyalia, and leads you through Muwe, Nkuu village, river weruweru to Lyamungo village where you can learn how coffee production assisted local people to become economically independent. Your guide will take you to the Lyamungo coffee Research Insitute where you will learn more about coffee production and can smell the aromas of different coffee types. Your stay in Lyamungo will also take you to the Narumu Women Pottery Centre, natural forest and the source of the Weruweru river. Home Stay is available.

MFURANUNGUN VIEW POINT (6-8 HRS)

This tour is ideal for acclimatization because of its mountainous area. Your start walking from Kyalia Cultural Tourism Centre towards Nkwawagja, Nkweseko to Mfuranungun, where you can see Moshi town, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Lake Nyumba ya Mungu (House of God) and surroundings. Also it is a source for most of Machame’s water springs. On your return you will learn about horticultural practice at Nkwewele, then hike via Mulotu to Marukeni. Finally you descend to the river Semira, which is socked with trout.

Guides

All the guides are indigenous to the area and have an interest in providing best service to their guests. The guides are trained and conversant with the programme activities. Each guide has an identity card from the Cultural Tourism Programme.

How to get there

Machame, is located to the north of the Arusha-Moshi road and is easily accessible by public transport. Get off at the Machame junction, around 12 km from Moshi town at the sign board for “Machame Gate Kilimanjaro National Park”, From the junction every 5 minutes, small busses drive the 14 km to the Machame Cultural Tourism centre Kyalia, located at the end of the tarmac road.