Day trip

Chemka Hot Springs Day Trip

Moshi, Chemka (Kikuletwa) Hot Springs, Moshi

Duration: Full day
Departs from: Moshi hotels
Activity level: Easy
Best season: Year-round

your journey

Overview

Chemka, also called Kikuletwa and known locally as Maji Moto, meaning hot water, is a spring-fed pool in the dry bush country south of Moshi. Water that has filtered underground through the volcanic rock of the Kilimanjaro region rises here, clear and pleasantly warm, into a long pool lined with fig trees and palms. Against the dusty plains around it, the colour of the water comes as a surprise.

This is the easiest of our day trips. Your driver takes you from Moshi across farmland and bush, the last part on dirt tracks, and you spend the middle of the day swimming, floating and snorkelling. Stand still in the shallows and small fish come to nibble at your feet.

We set up a table and chairs in the shade for a picnic lunch, and bring towels, soft drinks and a snorkelling mask. It is a good way to rest your legs after a Kilimanjaro climb or to fill a free day before a safari.

Who it suits

Climbers recovering after Kilimanjaro, families, and anyone who wants a slow day of swimming and sunshine near Moshi. The pool is deep in the middle, so non-swimmers should stay near the edges.

Parks visited

what makes it special

Highlights

Swim in clear, warm spring water in the shade of fig trees
Snorkel with the small fish that live in the pool
A picnic lunch at a table set up by the water
An easy, relaxing day after a climb or a safari

day by day

The itinerary

Your driver collects you from your hotel in Moshi in the morning and heads south, away from the mountain, into drier and flatter country. Villages and small farms give way to open bush, and the last part of the journey is on bumpy dirt tracks. Look back and, on a clear day, Kilimanjaro rises over the plain behind you. Ahead, a green line of tall trees in the dry landscape marks the springs.

The pool appears suddenly: a strip of clear turquoise water under tall fig trees and palms, fed from below by springs. The water is warm enough to stay in for a long time. Swim, float, or put on a snorkelling mask to watch the small fish among the roots and rocks. The edges are shallow for less confident swimmers, but the centre is deep. Your driver sets up a table and chairs in the shade for a picnic lunch.

Meals: Lunch

After lunch there is time for another swim, or simply to sit in the shade with a cold drink and dry off in the sun. In the middle of the afternoon you pack up and drive back north towards the mountain, reaching your hotel in Moshi in the late afternoon, relaxed and ready for the next part of your trip.

Overnight: Returns to Moshi, no overnight

in pictures

Gallery

the price

What is included

Included

Return transfer from your Moshi hotel
Entry ticket to the springs
Picnic lunch, with a table and chairs
Soft drinks and drinking water
Snorkelling mask
Towels

Not included

Personal toiletries
Tips for your driver

Prices

Price on request

before you ask

Common questions

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

Ask about this itinerary

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