This was an amazing experience!!! We absolutely loved it!! We went in July on a slightly rainy day, and we were slipping and sliding the whole way down. By the time we got to the waterfall we were covered in mud and all had huge smiles on our faces. The guide, Enis, was really helpful. He walked alongside our more timid family members and held their hands the entire way to and from the waterfall. The Materuni waterfalls are absolutely beautiful. The waters were too strong when we were there, so we were not able to swim. However, the most coming off the falls got is wet enough. We were able to get close enough to play a little in the shallow end. On the way back to the village, we met some young children who were selling fresh bananas, passion fruit, avocados and showing off their Chameleons. The coffee portion of the trip is also really cool. You get to sit down for a traditional Chaga lunch with beef stew, rice, banana stew, and beans. Then we got to shell roast and grind our own cup of coffee. The people at the house we ate at were very kind and friendly, and they had beautiful handmade souvenirs to buy including, banana leaf postcards, paintings, coffee bags, bracelets, and other crafts. The money goes directly to the artists and families, but they are not at all pushy. If you are interested in buying souvenirs, do not forget to bring some cash.
This trip was one of our favorites in Tanzania. It has a little of everything, adventure, hiking, culture, and the opportunity to interact with really great people. Elieth is an amazing tour operator. Enis is an outstanding guide, and the people you will meet along the way are incredibly open and friendly. They always extended a warm greeting and made the tour even more special. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who is able bodied enough to make it through the slippery and sometimes steep climb. If you want an easier hike, try going in the dry season or when it has not rained in a few days. You will love it!!!
We loved the Materuni waterfall and coffee tour organised by the Africa Bucket List team. Our guides Yassini and Bariki (hope I spell their names correctly) were very engaged with providing us with the best experience tailored to our needs and preferences. Yassini took us to the waterfall through some mind-blowing sceneries and introduced us to the process of coffee making by the local village people in a very insightful and nice manner.
The whole tour took around 5 hours and included a very tasty lunch prepared by the local Chagga people. It was amazing.