Manyara – Mto wa Mbu

Mto wa Mbu is one of the first cultural tourism sites developed by TTB and SNV. Situated on the foot of the Great Rift Valley bordering Lake Manyara National Park, straddling the famous Arusha / Serengeti route, 120kms and 60kms from Arusha and Ngorongoro respectively, Mto wa Mbu is one of the most popular cultural tour sites in Tanzania.

The Mto wa Mbu tour is a village walk, designed to provide guests with an experience of the rich cultural heritage in Tanzania, albeit in a short time of half a day or one full day. The varied products, handicrafts and activities that can be seen on the market place and in the village farms and lifestyle is an illustration of this cultural diversity.

Visitors may see Chagga people from the slopes of the Kilimanjaro brew their famous banana beer, mbege, and learn why out of more than 30 varieties of bananas cultivated here only two species are suitable for producing the drink;

Visit the Mbugwe people from Manyara Region who will show you how they grind different grains to obtain flour using a traditional millstone; join the local people of Mto wa Mbu and learn how they construct mud huts, typical housing for most tribes around the area. You will be shown how to mix mud, rice husks and cow dung to obtain the right mud stuff for strong walls, and how local people roof their huts using dry banana barks and leaves.

MTO WA MBU  ACTIVITIES

Mto wa Mbu is situated on the northern Tanzania, just at the foot of the Rift Valley escapment,  on the way to Ngorongoro and Serengeti, it is an ideal resting place for most safari travelers to experience the authentic cultural tour.

TukTuk  or Bajaj tour (2 – 3 Hours) 
Visit mto wa mbu village with three wheel visit banana farms, and rice farms, and learn the economic system of the village 

Climbing Balaa Hill (3 – 6 hours) 
Climb to the top of the Rift Valley wall for breath-taking views of Lake Manyara, the village of Mto wa Mbu, and the Maasai Steppe beyond. Also, see a diverse array of local bird species and magnificent 2,000-year-old baobab trees. 

Maasai Boma tour (3 – 4 hours) 
Visit a Maasai boma and see the lifestyle of   the  maasai in their tradition house. Along with a guided tour of the boma and an introduction to the local Maasai population, tribesmen will offer to paint traditional Maasai tattoos for visitors and even let them milk their cows.  

Maasai Market tour (2-4 hours) 
Hundreds of Maasai gather each Thursday afternoon at the busting Maasai market, where visitors have the chance to see their crafts and taste their food, including the famous Maasai BBQ. A larger, village-wide market occurs on the 22nd of each month. 

Village walk (2-4 hours)  Visitors will get a chance to meet locals and learn about banana beer, Makonde woodcarvings, and tribal painting techniques; the village provides a great introduction to everyday life in Africa. 

Farm tour (1-4 hours) 
See the innovative farming practices of Mto wa Mbu villagers and learn about the irrigation system that sustains local crops, including the 32 varieties of bananas.  


Biking to Lake Manyara (2-5 hours) Bike to the coast of one of Africa’s most majestic lakes and get an amazing opportunity to view wildlife like zebras, giraffes, hippos, and buffaloes at close range in this corridor of migration between the national parks.

Local lunch (1-2 hours) Enjoys a delicious, home cooked meal in a local Mom’s home; Over lunch, the guide will provide a history of the region and the many stories about local tribes.