Moderate5-6 hours

Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour

A village adventure featuring Tanzania's tallest waterfall and hands-on coffee making with local families.

About This Tour

High on Kilimanjaro's southern slopes sits Materuni, a farming community where life moves at its own pace. The star attraction here is a thundering waterfall that drops 80 meters into a natural swimming hole—bring your swimsuit because the water is perfect for cooling off. But there's more than just the falls. Local families invite you into their homes to show you how they've grown and prepared coffee for generations. You'll pick red cherries straight from the bush, roast them yourself over a wood fire, and crush them using a heavy wooden mortar. The aroma alone is worth the trip. Lunch means eating what the locals eat: plantains, beans, vegetables from the garden, all washed down with homemade banana wine if you're feeling adventurous.

Highlights

Cool off with a swim at the base of an 80-meter waterfall

Make your own coffee from scratch—picking to brewing

Walk through hillside farms growing bananas and coffee

Hear local songs and try a few dance moves

Eat lunch prepared by village families

Catch glimpses of Kilimanjaro when the clouds part

Day Itinerary

8:00 AM

Leave Moshi

Your driver picks you up from your hotel or guesthouse in Moshi. The drive to Materuni takes about an hour, winding up through small villages and coffee farms as the road climbs higher on Kilimanjaro's slopes. Keep your camera ready—on clear mornings, the mountain towers above you.

9:00 AM

Arrive at Materuni

The village sits at around 1,500 meters elevation, noticeably cooler than Moshi below. Your local hosts greet you and walk you through the community, pointing out the different crops growing on the steep hillsides: coffee, bananas, avocados, and various vegetables.

9:30 AM

Coffee Time

This is hands-on. You'll pick ripe red coffee cherries from the bushes, remove the outer fruit to get the beans inside, then roast them in a pan over an open wood fire. Once roasted, you pound them in a traditional wooden mortar until they're ground fine enough to brew. The whole process takes about an hour, and you drink what you make.

11:00 AM

Walk to the Falls

The trail to the waterfall leads through banana plantations and patches of forest, descending steadily into a river valley. It's about 45 minutes each way, with some steep and slippery sections—decent shoes help. Your guide points out medicinal plants and explains how local farmers work this land.

12:00 PM

Waterfall Break

The falls drop 80 meters into a pool surrounded by rocks and vegetation. The mist keeps everything cool and green. You can swim in the pool beneath the falls—the water is cold but refreshing after the hike. Take your time here; there's no rush. Most people spend 30-45 minutes swimming and taking photos.

1:30 PM

Village Lunch

Back in the village, families prepare a traditional Chagga meal. Expect dishes like ndizi (cooked bananas), beans, rice, vegetables, and usually some meat. They'll offer you mbege, the local banana beer—it's mild and slightly sour, worth trying at least once. You eat together with your hosts, and there's usually singing.

2:30 PM

Drive Back

The return drive to Moshi takes about an hour. Your driver drops you back at your hotel by mid-afternoon, leaving time for other activities or just relaxing after a full morning.