Exploring The Beauty Of Materuni Waterfalls : Materuni literally translates as “amongst the Materu” which is a dominant population of sub-Chagga tribe found in the area. Chagga is a tribe that identifies itself as one whole tribe with sub-tribes differentiated by a slight change of language dialect specific to a particular smaller group. Materu is among the sub tribes, alongside the Machame, Rombo, and Kibosho just to mention a few.
You will be able to fully blend and immerse to these rich cultural systems in nitty gritty details when you book your day trip to the Materu water falls!
Originally called the Nambe waterfalls but conveniently renamed Materu based on the local naming: name water fall means the “first born” it loosely translates as “one that opens the door”- because it opens the door to the Kilimanjaro and is the first water fall of the majestic Kilimanjaro.
Materuni Waterfalls daytrip
Materuni water fall is a day long hike activity preferred by visitors who have a few days to spare either before the grand hike-as a pre climatization method, or after triumphing the challenge as a way to rejuvenate all the sore muscles-a method to celebrate oneself and avoid the “gold medal syndrome”.
Materuni water falls experience may also just be a cool activity for a person who want to have a mountain experience but isn’t just ready to stretch enough to do a whole mountain challenge!
The water fall experience is an arm-length activity that doesn’t require a carefully curated long planned itinerary because you can simply show up, register and books the activity spot on! Its one of the activities that hovers around your lay-over hours even if you are up to the challenge and aren’t particularly nervous about missing your flight.
Aside from the mountain experience, the Materuni has more to quickly offer for a glimpse of a curious and culturally-interested person with a one-day spare from the busy schedule. As quick as it is however, it will leave you fascinated with the cultural difference and help you put into perspective the struggle of a local village towards putting bread on the table.
The Materuni water fall is rated top 1 things to do while in Moshi, couldn’t agree more!
It allows you to get a quick and easy personalized itinerary on arrival buy simply fixating your time and corresponding omissions, additions or prolongation of the activities you would think would rather make is more memorable. A totally the “hakuna matata” way.
In addition to the hill ascent, Materuni water fall gives you an opportunity to see the early coffee processing methods, you will tell us about the coffee aroma from the actual beans, “not the typically diluted powder you are used to”. Ooh yeah, you will also see the entire process of its cultivation, you will have a refreshing breeze while walking amongst the trails of old coffee plantations, a stretch of a beautiful land in an inclination with the shy Kilimanjaro’s Kibo showing off!
After all the hard work for your day, there will come a relief, a rest over a local Chagga bear. The famous Mbege! If you have time, not only will you have a sip of the banana and grain brew but also will be able to first hand witness the whole brewery process. Do not forget to ask how many buckets of it are usually used for pride price bargaining and how culturally it’s such an important entertainment for both weddings and funerals. Also a Tanzania trip would not go beyond 100 USD on your pocket, a relatively affordable way to have fun and contribute to nurture the local community.
Be careful to not be hooked on the sweet beer for too long because you will be expected to pass it over to the next person in your company at the local pub and also be keen to blow over the vessel puff and do a little round shaking move of the vessel before taking a sip, you in Materu behaving like Materusi.
The Materu water falls adventure leads to Kikuletwa hot springs, this is particularly placed for those who could not handle the high-pressure fall of the 80km high falling water from the Materu fall, alas it may be a “too cold to dip” in situation at the basin of the water given the cool nature of the Materu, One thing you should be sure though is that Kikuletwa is a hot water spring natural basin that can either be used to rinse away a cold you had at the Materu falls, or can be a start of whole new first time swimming.
If you arrive in the afternoon fading into the evening, you will have an opportunity to take aqua blue background breath taking memorable photos that will remain a pride in your bucket done list.
A quick tip though would be to be prepared for a slippery walk-way that would not particularly be suitable or a rainy day, a bumpy road while on your way there. Therefore, get your pair of hiking shoes right, carry a swim suit if you have, even though just a pai of shorts and vest would work out just fine and prepare to learn a lot while having a brief cultural immersion.
