Day trip
Moshi, Materuni village, Materuni Waterfall, coffee farm, Moshi
your journey
Materuni is a Chagga village about 15 kilometres above Moshi on the green lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. On a clear morning the snow of Kibo stands right above the banana gardens. This day trip swaps game drives for a walk through village farms, a swim at the foot of a tall waterfall and an afternoon learning how coffee goes from bush to cup.
A local guide walks you along footpaths shaded by avocado, mango, lemon and banana trees, explaining how Chagga families farm these steep slopes, to Materuni Waterfall. There is time for photographs and, if you are brave, a dip in the cold pool below the falls, so pack a swimsuit.
Back in the village you join a family on their coffee farm: pick ripe cherries, hull and roast the beans over an open fire, and pound them by hand while your hosts sing and dance. You then drink the coffee you made and sit down to a traditional Chagga lunch. It is a gentle, rewarding day before or after a Kilimanjaro climb.
Travellers staying in Moshi who want a relaxed day of walking, culture and fresh air, families with children who can manage uneven paths, and climbers resting before or after Kilimanjaro.
Parks visited
Mount Kilimanjaro
what makes it special
day by day
Your driver collects you from your hotel in Moshi after breakfast for the drive of about 15 kilometres up the slopes of Kilimanjaro. The road climbs past small farms and villages, the air gets cooler, and on a clear morning Kibo's snowfields shine above the treeline. In Materuni you meet your local guide, who grew up on these slopes and will walk with you for the rest of the day.
The footpath winds through village gardens of banana, avocado, mango and lemon trees, and your guide explains how Chagga families have farmed this mountain for generations. The last stretch drops down steps into a green, fern-lined gorge, and you hear the falls before you see them. Materuni Waterfall pours down a high cliff into a rock pool. Take photographs, rest on the rocks, and swim in the cold water if you have brought a swimsuit and towel.
Walking back up to the village, you visit a family coffee farm. Your hosts show you coffee bushes growing in the shade of the banana trees, then you pick ripe red cherries, hull and roast the beans over a wood fire and pound them in a wooden mortar, often with singing and dancing from your hosts. You drink the coffee you have made, sit down to a traditional Chagga lunch prepared by the villagers, and then drive back to your hotel in Moshi by late afternoon.
the price
Price on request
before you ask
Most of our day trips start with a pick-up from your hotel. The Materuni Waterfalls and coffee farm trip includes a return transfer from Moshi. If you are staying in Arusha or elsewhere, ask your specialist about pick-up times and any extra cost.
The walk is easy to moderate and suits most people in reasonable health. The path to the waterfall goes down steps into a gorge and can be muddy and slippery after rain, so the walk back up takes a little effort. Your guide sets a gentle pace.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a light rain jacket. For Materuni, pack a swimsuit and towel if you would like to swim in the pool below the falls, and a little cash for tips or souvenirs.
Yes. Many climbers visit Materuni the day before they start their Kilimanjaro climb, or on the day after they come down. Your specialist can fit any day trip around your climb or safari dates.
Yes, families are welcome on our day trips. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire, and your specialist will advise whether a trip suits them, for example how long the walking sections are.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
Full day
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Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
Plan your trip
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