Cultural tours in Tanzania

Cultural tours are a popular product in Tanzania that is mostly sold as an add-on to enrich main safari tour programs. Most cultural tour sites in Tanzania were developed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in conjunction with the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), starting with selected villages around Arusha in northern Tanzania and spreading out into other areas. These are traditionally existing villages which have been made accessible to visitors who may have a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the more than 120 tribes in rural Tanzania. Most visitors to Africa, especially first timers, find the continent and its people enchantingly different and a special experience. Some of the popular cultural centers that may be tailored into visitor itineraries include:

Mto wa Mbu:- Meet an array of tribes living together in a small area

Situated in the verdant embrace between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, Mto wa Mbu is a charming village that unveils the soul of Tanzania in its most authentic form. Mto Wa Mbu often celebrated as a “melting pot of cultures,” stands out as a rare enclave where representatives from all 120 tribes of Tanzania co-exist harmoniously. Beyond its name, translating to ‘Mosquito River,’ the village is a testament to the richness of diversity and the spirit of unity. Immediately after the setting up of irrigation systems in the early 1950s, the area rapidly developed into a small town attracting a new wave of tribes from all over the country, each with its own cultural background. Nowhere else in Tanzania has so many different tribes settled in such a small area.

Location Of Mto Wa Mbu

Mto wa Mbu as an adventure in itself, is situated approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Arusha, the village is accessible by road. Travelers can opt for private transport, buses, or join organized tours that often include Mto wa Mbu in their itineraries. The journey offers glimpses of the Tanzanian countryside, with sprawling landscapes and glimpses of local life along the way.

Mto Ma Mbu Walking Experience

Joining a guided Mto wa Mbu Cultural Walk, which typically lasts 2–3 hours, allows you to absorb the social fabric of the village, exploring its farms, milling machines, schools, markets, and churches. Guided by a knowledgeable local resident of the village, you gain a unique perspective of the Tanzanian community. Begin your journey amidst the banana plantation, home to over 30 banana varieties. Within this walk, not only will you learn about the cultivation of this staple fruit but also discover its diverse uses, from sustenance to construction materials and art.

As you continue exploring, you may visit a youth art project, where local artists showcase various painting styles and techniques. Engage with the artists, pose questions, and capture the beauty of their work, all without the pressure to make a purchase. This tour takes you to a wood workshop, where skilled artisans from the Makonde tribe craft intricate figurines, masks, and household objects. Come across the world of wood types, finishings, and the historical and cultural significance behind each carving.

Among the various tribes you will encounter, there is the Mbugwe people from Manyara Region who will show you how they grind different grains to obtain flour using a traditional millstone; join the local people of Mto wa Mbu and learn how they construct mud huts, typical housing for most tribes around the area. You will be shown how to mix mud, rice husks and cow dung to obtain the right mud stuff for strong walls, and how local people roof their huts using dry banana barks and leaves.

Tasting beer at Mto wa Mbu

The journey unfolds further with a visit to a local ‘bar’ to savor ‘mbege’, the traditional banana and millet beer cherished by the Chagga tribe. Witness the labor-intensive brewing process and partake in the communal tradition of passing around a large cup for refills. The grand finale a waits in the lively local market, where stalls brim with vibrant displays of fruits, vegetables, spices, and meat. Engage your senses as your guide provides insights, encouraging you to taste and smell a variety of foods, making it a sensory delight.

The best time for visiting Mto Wa Mbu

The best time to visit Mto wa Mbu largely depends on personal preferences. Tanzania experiences distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry months from June to October are generally considered ideal for wildlife safaris in nearby national parks, but the village provides its own charm throughout the year. The wet season, from November to May, transforms Mto wa Mbu into a lush, green oasis, offering a different but equally captivating experience. Mto wa Mbu serves as a hidden gem waiting to be explored by traveller.

In conclusion, learn about traditional iron smelting technology, one of the oldest in Africa. The local people will show you how to make different tools like spears, knives, arrows. Learn from the local women how pots and dishes are made from clay soil and baked to make them hard. On the surrounding plains and woodlands to the north, east and south live native Maasai families in their traditional bomas (homesteads) while the warriors wander with their cattle looking for pastures and water.

Visiting The Maasai Boma villages in Ngorongoro

Among the 120 tribes that Tanzania has to showcase is the Maasai tribe found in the northern Tanzania. They are among the most popular ethnic groups in the area, a proud people fervently attached to their cultural values. Ngorongoro is the home of the pastoral Maasai, who have been allowed to live in the conservation area, a pioneering experiment in multi-purpose land use where people, their livestock and wildlife co-exist and share the same protected habitat.

The Maasai people don’t live in villages. Instead, they live in family compounds called bomas. A boma is a homestead headed by one male, consisting of houses for each of his wives and their children. Maasai are polygamous, and every Maasai woman builds her hut in her husband’s boma. The final number of these huts depends on how big the family becomes.

Therefore, an adventure to the Serengeti wouldn’t be complete without meeting the enchanting Maasai. This wonderful cultural excursion will immerse you in the fascinating ancestry of these noble people. At the Maasai village playing host to your tour, you will have the opportunity to meet with a Maasai family, visit a traditional boma, the village huts (called Manyatta), made of cow dung and clay plastered over stick frames, and perhaps venture to a local school or clinic. If you would like to extend your half-day adventure, and turn it into a full-day’s exploration, you can experience a day in the life of a young Maasai or, for an authentic interaction, watch a bloodletting ceremony. It is an extraordinary reality how the Maasai people live in the heart of the bush, with warthogs foraging and elephants trumpeting just on their periphery.

The most famous of Africa’s people, these fierce warriors are still practicing their ancestral way of life and are known for their pastoral traditions, living off their herds of cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. Since time immemorial the Maasai moved nomadically in search of water and pasture for their herds. Today they have established permanent settlements, and many of the Maasai do not roam. Recently, the Maasai have been encouraged to work on the land to supplement their traditional staple food of milk and meat with grain.

While in Ngorongoro most of the guests on safari love to include a visit to a Maasai Boma (homestead). The Seneto Maasai Boma on the western slopes of the Ngorongoro Highlands about two hundred metres off the main road to Serengeti is one of the most famous cultural visitor points for guests. Another popular Maasai village is Irkeepus which is located in the Ngorongoro Highlands and a visit can be combined with a trek of Olmoti or Empakaai Crater.

Visiting The Hadzabe & Dagota in Lake Eyasi

Lake Eyasi is a very scenic soda lake found on the southern border of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a couple of hours drive from Karatu. This less visited lake lies at the base of the Eyasi escarpment on the western Great Rift Valley wall, bordered by the Eyasi Escarpment in the northwest and the Kidero Mountains in the south. This is a hot, dry land, around which live the Hadzabe people, often associated with the Khoisan languages in Southern Africa because of their click language. The Hadzabe are believed to have lived here for nearly 10,000 years and continue to follow hunting-and-gathering traditions. Also in the area are the Iraqw (Mbulu), a people of Cushitic origin who arrived about 2000 years ago, as well as the Datoga also Cushitic, the Maasai and various Bantu groups including the Nyakyusa, Nyamwezi, Chaga and Meru.

The Hadzabe, a hunter-gatherer tribe, live close to the shores of Lake Eyasi, as do the Nilotic-speaking Datoga tribe who are pastoralists. Visits to these tribes are possible on half day or full day excursions which would include a visit to their homesteads, learning about their way of life, medicinal plants, and even animal tracking with bows and arrows with the Hadzabe hunters.

Ng’ireshi village of waarusha tribe, relatives of the Maasai,

Ngi’iresi Village is located about 7 kilometres from Arusha town on the lower slopes of Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania (4566m). The inhabitants of the village are farmers of the Wa-Arusha tribe. The Wa-Arusha are relatives of the Maasai, but have gradually shifted from pastoralism to mixed farming with agriculture being the main activity. There is the opportunity to gain an insight into the culture of the Wa-arusha tribe: listen to age-old stories, visit traditional houses, indulge in a delicious lunch and / or dinner prepared by the Juhudi Women’s Group if interested.

One can take a half day or full day guided tour to this village on the foothills of Mount Meru, visiting some farms and several development projects in the village including soil conservation, irrigation, cross breeding, bio-gas production; coffee and tea can be served at Mzee Loti’s farm. Walk to the nearby “bomas”, to see the various styles of traditional Maasai and Wa-Arusha houses. Climb Lekimana hill, from where you can have a beautiful view of Arusha town and the surrounding Maasai plains, on a clear day Kilimanjaro is visible from here. The tour can include a climb to Kivesi Hill, an old volcano with a natural forest at the summit.

Mulala village of Waarusha and Wameru tribes

Mulala village is a typical rural setting on the southern lower slopes of Mount Meru, located about 30kms from Arusha town off the Moshi / Arusha highway near Usa River. Mulala Cultural Tourism Program is run by the Agape Women’s Group who offer a tour of traditional activities of about 1-2 hours where one can visit farms and learn about farming methods and various economic activities they have started including cheese-making, bread-making, preparing flower seeds, chilli growing and sewing.

Another tour is the Marisha River tour, taking about 2 hours where a local guide will show you common medicinal plants used by the villagers, then take you on to the Ziwa la Mzungu (White Man’s Lake) where a big colony of fruit bats thrives; or perhaps take the Lemeka Hill Tour (2 hours) where you can walk through the coffee and banana plantations and head up Lemeka Hill for breathtaking views of both Mounts Kilimanjaro and Meru and of the Maasai Plains and on the way back a visit to the traditional village healer. There is also a place for overnight camping and simple traditional meals for those wishing to spend a night. The Mulala Cultural Tourism Programme is the only one completely launched, developed and implemented by women as a means to self-sufficiency.

Visiting Historical Sites Of Tanzania

Kondoa Rock Paintings of Kolo

The Kondoa Rock Paintings in Kolo are located about 260 kilometres to the south of Arusha town, a 4-hours’ drive on the Great North Road, and about 20 kilometres from the Kondoa District centre. This is a world class historical heritage site of ancient rock art, remarkable not just for their quantity but also quality. Human figures and animals (elephant, eland and giraffe) usually painted in dark red, and a few abstract designs, can be seen on the face of the rocks and caves. According to researchers these are the earlier rock paintings dated back 5,000 to 10,000 years ago and are attributed to hunter-gatherer Bushmen, a click language tribe, who are said to be ancestors of the Sandawe tribe currently inhabiting the western part of Kondoa District. The languages of the Sandawe in Kondoa and the Hadzabe in Lake Eyasi though not ethnically related are connected to the Khosian languages spoken in the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa that have click consonants.

It is so clear that similar rock paintings can also be viewed in some parts of southern Africa inhabited by the Bushmen. More recent paintings white in colour can also be seen, dating probably 500 years ago, which are said to have been made by the Bantu speaking Warangi, the predominant agriculturist tribe in Kondoa District.

The site visit was prompted by increasing interest in the ancient rock art from potential visitors to Tanzania and the need to enrich the visitor itinerary in the northern Tanzania safari land. The Kolo Rock Paintings are located along the Maasai Escarpment bordering the Great Rift Valley hardly 160 kilometres from Tarangire National Park. The rock paintings can be visited in a day trip from the park or Maramboi and Lake Burungi areas in Tarangire, leaving in the morning with packed lunch for a 2 to 3-hour tour of the sites at Kolo and neighbouring Pahi mountains and returning to Tarangire late in the afternoon.

Paintings are a protected area and one of Tanzania’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. There are many sites of rock paintings scattered around the Kondoa district, but the paintings at Kolo and Pahi area are the most documented and visited. For anyone interested in spending more time to explore the intriguing prehistoric paintings scattered around the area, can be accommodated in Kondoa town where basic but clean guest accommodation is available.

Bagamoyo

The town of Bagamoyo is a home to world class Historical sites and one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites with rich cultural heritage waiting you to explore. It is located 75 kms North of Dar-es-salaam and in the past it was one of the most important trading centres along the East African Coast and a famous place for slaves from the hinterland. When the German colonialists came to East Africa they made Bagamoyo their first German East Africa capital between 1886 and 1891. It was the penultimate stop of slave and ivory caravans travelling on foot from Lake Tanganyika on their way to Zanzibar. Missionaries active in abolishing the slave trade made Bagamoyo, whose name means ‘bury my heart’ in Kiswahili, a center for their activities.

Bagamoyo is a quiet village with a few German colonial buildings still standing. Once the caravans reached Bagamoyo, the slaves and ivory were shipped by dhow to Zanzibar, where they were then dispatched all over the world. it is home to many ethnic groups, including the Wakwere, Wazaramo and Wazigua. Different cultures including people of Arab descent still exist in Bagamoyo making the town a peaceful and friendly place for visitors from all over the world.

Currently, Bagamoyo is a center of dhow building in the region and along the Tanzanian Coast. As a tourism historical site, Bagamoyo offers the following Tours that a traveller cannot miss out while in the town;

Bagamoyo stone town tour (2-3 hours)

Bagamoyo is surrounded by old buildings of the previous generation, beautiful Arab architecture with thick walls of Earth fitted with well-carved doors made of thick African hardwood. On your walk through narrow streets between Old buildings of Bagamoyo stone town you will visit the German Colonial Administrative block, Art market, Old post office, 1st Tanzania Primary School, Old Mosques, Hanging tower, Caravan Serai Museum and the fish market. On your walk along the Indian Ocean beach visit a center for dhow sailboat building and get to know how local people builds boats.

Kaole ruins tour (1-3 hours)

Kaole village formally known as ‘Pumbuji’ is one of the oldest villages that immigrants from Arabic countries choose as they landed on East Africa’s coast. The village has ruins dating back to 13th Century. It is in this village where Sultan of Oman preferred to settle and construct administrative and military headquarters. Today the ruins made-up of earth and corals and the Kaole Museum tells volumes of stories about Ivory trade, movement of traders, cruel slavery and the living culture of today’s Kaole people majority originating from Asia. Beyond the ruins, there is an old port surrounded by a Mangrove forest where one can go closer to nature and enjoy fresh air.

Bagamoyo Catholic Church & Museum tour

You will visit the Old tower of the first Catholic Church in East Africa, one of the Oldest Baobab tree, Cemeteries (Catholic, German and Indian), Dr. Livingstone tower, Old Fathers’ house and the Cross at the beach. Explore the museum with information about the slave trade, missionaries, life of the people and some collections of artifacts of the indigenous tribes.

Mwambakuni coral reef tour (1-3 hours)

On your marine experience, explore Mwambakuni coral reef and listen to stories about local people’s beliefs on coral reefs and its uses

Crocodile Farm Tour (2-5 hours)

Visit a crocodile farm and learn how these wild predators are kept. Get to know their social behaviors, growth, live capture techniques, feeding/hunting techniques and local uses of various products.

Mapopo Island Tour (2-5 hours)

Take an evening or Morning boat tour to Mapopo Island where thousands of bats have inhabited the island. Get to know the bat’s life and ecological importance of these flying mammals.

Ruvu River cruising (2-3 hours)

Take a boat ride to explore crocodiles, hippos and various birds along the Ruvu River that flows from the Uluguru Mountains and some parts of Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Get to know how local people fish in the rivers.

Fishing with local fishermen Experience (1-4 hours)

Get ready to join a team of experienced village fishermen for a fishing experience. Do your best to fish what will be prepared for you during your lunch or dinner.

Learn how to prepare Swahili Traditional food

Participate in cooking Swahili dishes with local Swahili women of Kaole village.

Visit Bagamoyo College of Arts (1-2 hours)

The Bagamoyo College of Arts (“Chuo cha Sanaa”) is an internationally famous arts college in Tanzania, teaching traditional Tanzanian painting, sculpture, drama, dancing and drumming. The college organizes monthly cultural events that people are freely invited to participate.

Local Home visits (1-2 hours)

You will have a visitation to local homes where you will learn how coastal communities live. Listen to stories and share your time with local people by engaging in various home daily activities.

Full day & multiple day tours

Various tours can be combined to explore Bagamoyo fully. Tour programmes can be tailored according to your time and budget. Extended tours to neighboring villages like Saadani and Mlingotini together with game drives in Saadani National Park can be organized on request. Get an Opportunity to visit the art market, artists at work and learn how to do sculpture, fine art and Makonde Carving.

Where to stay

Never worry about where to stay reason being there are several hotels/resorts, hostels, guest houses and camping sites within and around the town of Bagamoyo. Bagamoyo Cultural Tourism office can assist in booking or direct you to a number of recommended accommodation facilities on request.

Kilwa Town Visit

Kilwa, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tanzania, comprising the historical islands of Kilwa Kisiwani & Songo Mnara or Kilwa Kivinje, is located on the southern coast of Tanzania about 6 hours’ drive from Dar es Salaam; there are scheduled flights by small aircraft connecting Kilwa with Zanzibar, Dar – es -Salaam and the game parks.

Kilwa was the most powerful city state on the East African coast for three centuries from the 12^th century to the 15^th century, controlling trade from Sofala in Mozambique to Mombasa in Kenya, a stretch of about 1900 kilometers, plus the islands of Comoro. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kilwa was an important trading center linking Asia across the Indian Ocean with the African hinterland where ivory and gold were exchanged with beads, cotton cloth, porcelain and jewellery. Traders from the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf settled in Kilwa as early as the ninth century, leaving lasting cultural imprints that can still be seen in the preserved ruins with their elaborate architecture and the Swahili civilization on the East African coast.