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NG'IRESI

Tribes:
Wa-Arusha
Location:

Ng'iresi is situated 7 km out of Arusha on the green and steep slopes of Mt. Meru
The Village
The inhabitants of Ng'iresi are all farmers of the Wa-Arusha tribe. The Wa-ARUSHA are a family of the Maasai, but have gradually shifted from pastoralism to agriculture. Some of them are still living in the traditional bomas, while others try hard to build up stone houses; some still depend on their cows, while others have cultivated large plots. The village perfectly shows the transition from traditional into modern African life. On the steep slopes agriculture is not an easy activity. If farmers don’t take preventative measures, soil erosion takes place rapidly. Many farmers now have started to place contour lines and build terraces. The irrigation system in the village further helps the farmers to increase their harvest. Some villagers even participate in other innovative projects like a fish nursery, a bio gas system and a cross breeding project.

Recently, Ng'iresi fulfilled it's own dream when construction of a house for teachers was completed. In Olgilai, an adopted village of the Ng’iresi Cultural Tourism Programme, a classroom for the primary school was built. The children of the Ng’iresi area will now enjoy an improved educational environment thanks to cultural tourism.

Half Day Tour
In this tour you will be welcomed with coffee and tea at Mzee Loti’s farm and get an explanation about the biogas, crossbreeding and soil conservation projects on the farm. Next, you make a walk to some nearby bomas, where you can see the various styles of traditional Maasai and Wa-ARUSHA houses. Then you start climbing Lekimana Hill, from where you have a beautiful view over Arusha town and the surrounding Maasai plains. On a clear day Kilimanjaro is visible. You descend Lekimana Hill on the other side so that you can visit Ng’iresi primary school. Back at Mzee Loti's farm, you get a traditional meal cooked by women in the village.

Full Day Tour
This tour adds a visit to the catchments forest on the higher slopes of Meru. Here you can see the spring that is the main water source for the village. A few meters downstream the farmers are building an intake for the irrigation system. Groups with a special interest can plan a visit to a traditional healer at the edge of the forest. Further downhill, a fish nursery is visited in the backyard of a farmer. The day is finished with a dinner at Mzee Loti's farm.

Day and a Half Tour
During this tour, you spend the night camping at Mzee Loti’s farm. From here you start climbing Kivesi Hill the next morning; this is an old volcano with a natural forest on top. Baboons and gazelles can be seen in the forest. You descend the hill on the other side and return to Arusha.

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE TOUR
All tours can include a visit to a traditional healer living in the area, but tourists who are keen on learning more about traditional medicine can spend a half or full day walking through the slopes of Meru collecting herbs and plants that have been used by local people for thousands of years. A sheet listing the various plants will be given with their Latin and common name in the local dialect. Your guide will help you collect samples of the numerous medicinal species.

MEAL
Meals are prepared by the Juhudi women’s group (a local family may prepare meals for smaller groups). The women can make various traditional African meals, but can serve western food as well.

FACILITIES
At Mzee Loti’s farm there is a simple but clean toilet, from the pit-latrine model. From the first revenue, a small bathroom will be built that can be used by guests who spend the night at the farm. We can also put up your tents on one of the shambas (fields) around Mzee Loti’s house; a watchman will guarantee the safety. During rain, visitors can shelter in Mzee Loti's house.

GUIDES
Our guides are all villagers who have lived many years in the village. They speak good English and can tell interesting stories about history, culture and daily life in the village. They are also well informed about the different development projects in the area, and can tell you the ins and outs about the Wa-Arusha culture.

DEVELOPMENT FUND
Ng'iresi Primary School was built in 1975. The building consists of seven classrooms, and 510 children attend the school. The classrooms are rather crowded and there are not enough learning materials for everyone. Through tourism revenues, desks and a new classroom have already been added, but far from enough has been done. From the money earned by a tourist visit, 4 USD will go to a school development fund, used for improvements of the school. 1 USD can buy two school books, 5 USD is enough for wood from which the children can make a desk and for 10 USD the school can buy a topographic map of the country.

MULALA

Location:
On the slopes of Mt. Meru, near Arusha
The Village

The slopes of Mount Meru offer a bit of magic for the tourist that is looking for a memorable excursion on a majestic African peak. A typical rural setting, the village of Mulala lies 1450 m above sea level on the southern slopes of Mount Meru and only 30 kilometers from Arusha. Visitors wind their way up the mountain through a maze of lush, green vegetation dotted with small farms. The villagers are mostly subsistence farmers and grow coffee, bananas, vegetables, and fruits. They also keep livestock for milk and beef. When you arrive at Mama Anna's cheese making place, you will be warmly welcomed by the village women who will proudly show you their activities and offer you a glimpse of rural African life. Ranging from cheese making, to bread baking to a small store, the women have created projects which support their families and preserve their culture all beneath the lush vegetation of Mount Meru . From Mama Anna's, you'll wind up and down the slopes of Mt Meru, experience the spectacular beauty of this unique area, and leave feeling you've discovered new friends. The women in Mulala have united themselves in the Agape women's group. Through this group they try to support economic activities of the members and start new income generating projects, like the Mulala Cultural Tourism Programme. It is the only cultural tourism programme in Tanzania completely launched, developed, and implemented by women.

Marisha River Tour
Duration: Two Hours
This guided walk weaves you along the village foot trails, through the coffee and banana farms, and down to the scenic riverbanks of the Marisha River. Thick with tropical vegetation, various birds and primates, you can sit along the banks and be enveloped by the many wonders of the area. You may continue on to the Ziwa la Mzungu (Whiteman’s lake) where legend has it that a white man disappeared in the lake while fishing after being confused by demonic sounds coming from the water.

Lemeka Hill Tour
Duration: Two Hours
crisscross the coffee and banana farms and head up for Lemeka Hill for a breathtaking view of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. The scene is a visual patchwork of Maasai plains, small townships and surrounding hills. On the slopes of Lemeka Hill you can visit the farm of Mr. Moses Karoiya, the traditional healer in the village. He will tell some stories about the history of the Meru tribe, and provide extensive explanation on the traditional methods he uses to cure sick villagers. Once you’ve descended the hill, you can further delve into the Mt. Meru forest, head to the tranquil banks of the Marisha River or return to the point of origin, Mama Anna’s cheese making place. There is also a place for overnight camping and simple traditional meals for those wishing to spend a night.

Agape Tour
Duration: 1.5 Hours
In this guided walk you can visit the farms of all five members of the Agape women’s group. The women will give explanation about their farming methods and show you the various economic activities they have started, like cheese-making, bread-making, flower seed growing and chili growing.

Facilities
In Mulala the women have built a pleasant resting place where meals prepared by the women’s group can be served. A place for overnight camping is available at the women compound. From the first revenue a small bathroom will be built that can be used by the guests who spend the night at the farm.

Guides
The guides are mostly women who have lived for many years in Mulala. They speak some English, and can further use interpreters to tell interesting stories. In addition to the training in cheese-and-bread making, the women have undergone a tourism training program.

NOTE:

Water is available for purchase

Weather may prohibit walking tours
Wear appropriate gear; good walking shoes
Take a cap and sun cream with you when making longer walks.

Development Project
With assistance from a Dutch development project called FAIDA (which means "profit") many farmers in Mulala and surrounding villages have started new economic activities over the last few years. FAIDA provides farmers with technology support, like introducing biogas systems, and establishes linkages between farmers and purchasers. The local entrepreneurs can follow training courses at the FAIDA office, e.g. on bookkeeping and marketing, and can be assisted with business plans and loan applications. The members of the Agape women's group have seen their income growing considerably, thanks to the support from FAIDA. The profit from tourism they will use for investing in new economic activities. Further, the women will donate a part of the profit to the primary school in the village, since they consider good education as the key to success.

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