Marangu Ndoro Waterfall, Coffee Making and Chagga Culture Tour, Burigi Chato Safaris

Marangu sits on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro and is home to the Chagga people. This full-day excursion with Burigi Chato Safaris Co Ltd covers their history and traditions along with a hike to a waterfall. The morning drive goes to Marangu Gate, at 1,900 meters, the starting point for Kilimanjaro treks on the Marangu Route. Then comes a coffee farm, where guests learn how the coffee is grown, harvested and processed locally, and try processing, roasting and brewing a cup themselves. After the coffee break the route heads to the Ndoro Waterfalls. The walk to the base crosses green rainforest country, and the descent takes about an hour. At the bottom there is time to rest and bathe in the pool of the waterfall. The Chagga Underground Caves come next. According to the guide's account, the Chagga dug the network of caves to defend themselves from Maasai raids, which began when the Maasai moved up the slope in times of drought. The Chagga Live Museum, a small outdoor museum, adds more on traditional Chagga life. Lunch is a traditional hot meal at a small restaurant, with local drinks such as banana beer and wine to try afterward.