You will drive to Mto Wa Mbu village which is almost 2 hours’ drive from Arusha. Your onsite guide is very likely to be from the village itself so you will have a unique opportunity to see the community through his eyes.

Tours last around 2–3 hours, but are flexible. During your visit you’ll get a good feel for the social side of the village – the farms and the milling machines, the schools, markets and churches. Your guide will happily answer any questions you might have, and will help you to gain an understanding of the inner workings of this typical Tanzanian community.

You’ll likely start in the village banana plantation, where they grow more than 25 different varieties of bananas. As well as finding out how this staple fruit is grown, you’ll hear about the different uses of the plant as a whole, from food to materials for building and art.

Activities vary depending on your preferences. Either visit youth art projects, wood workshops where they carve masks and household objects. Moving on, you’ll come to a local ‘bar’ to try mbege, the traditional banana and millet beer that is brewed and drunk mainly by the Chagga tribe.

After having lunch you will drive to Arusha or your accommodation nearby for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Location: Mto wa Mbu

Duration: 3 hours

Difficulty: Medium