Welcome to the neck of Mt.Kindoroko where you can experience and get involved practically in various economic and cultural activities.
We, the people of
Kisangara can offer you a chance to see or participate
in activities
such as:
Carpentry, brick making,
brewing local beer and visiting a sisal factory.
Spice tour, cooking
traditional dishes, weaving household items and dancing with local women’s
groups.
Hiking tour up Mount
Kindoroko with forestry activities
A visit to the Lembeni
Herbal Hospital.
Fishing expeditions at
Nyumba ya Mungu dam.
How
to get there
Kisangara
is easyly accessible by public transport from Arusha, Moshi and Dar es Salaam.
From Dar es Salaam take an Arusha
coach (6h), from Arusha take a Dar es
Salaam coach (2h30) and from Moshi you
can take a coach to Same, Tanga, or Dar es Salaam (1h). In each case you should
ask to be dropped off at Kisangara Chini,
12 km south from Mwanga. From here
you follow the road sign east of the road or ask the people for the HASHA
PROJECT. It takes about 30 minutes on foot.
Introduction
The
Kisangara Cultural Tourism Programme is situated 62 km south-east of Moshi in
the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Pare Mountains. The centre is reached
from Mwanga town which is located on the Dar es Salaam – Moshi/Arusha main
road. Kisangara Chini village is about 12 km south of Mwanga. Small local
factories nearby produce bricks, stoves, pottery and sisal fibres. In their
backyards some families make local beer by using traditional brewing methods
inherited from their grand- parents. Every Sunday and Thursday there is a
colourful market. Farmers from the
surrounding villages come to sell their harvest. High on the mountain, protected
by natural forests and moorland, you
can find important cultural sites of the Pare people. In these forests cultural
ceremonies still take place. From the mountain tops, wide and spectacular views
over the surrounding plains unfold showing the extensive Kisangara Sisal Estate.
On the horizon you see the long drawn-out lakes of Jipe to the east and Nyumba
ya Mungu to the west, the Taita and Kiteto hills. Mount Kilimanjaro is a
stone’s throw way. From many places the impressive snow capped mountain can be
seen.
Farming
Projects.
At the centre of this Cultural Tourism Programme is Habari ya Shamba – HASHA PROJECT which deals with appropriate technology and farming.Here you can become involved in farming activities and learn about various technologies like solar energy, rain water harvesting etc.
Guides
Our
guides are all former Secondary School Students who studied here and have been
trained to fully understand the
programme activities. Each guide has an identity card from the Cultural Tourism
Programme.
Please avoid walking with unauthorized guides.
Facilities
At
the center there is good accommodation and catering facilities. Self-contained
cottages and camping sites suit all kind of travellers. Transport can be
arranged at the centre.
Different
Tours
We
have developed various tours that give you an opportunity to take an
active part in our programme.
Half
day tours
Carpentry,
bricks and beer tour.
This
tour takes you to the carpentry workshop where you can participate in the making
of various items. From there you visit a brick factory where you can see the
whole process.
To
slake one’s thirst we finish with the brewing of local beer by squeezing sugar
cane.
Lembeni
Herbal Hospital.
Lembeni Herbal Hospital is 3 km from the centre . Here you have an opportunity to talk with doctors and patients. You’ll see and be told about various herbal medicines used to treat different diseases.
Full
day tours
Kindoroko
Mountains
This hike starts from the centre and takes you through the forest. Afforestation activities like visiting a tree nursery and planting trees can be included. At the top you are rewarded by spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Lake Jipe and Nyumba ya Mungu dam.
Spice
tour
The
spice tour takes you through spice and herb gardens. Back at the centre you will
be involved in the preparation and cooking of a spiced meal.
After eating a cultural interaction with villagers and local dances follow.
Nyumba
ya Mungu
Drive
to the Nyumba ya Mungu - House of
God – dam with its electricity power station. Fisherman migrated from Lake
Victoria to settle here. They like to talk with visitors while repairing their
fishing nets. Adventurous visitors can make an excursion in canoes and try to
catch a fish. Walking along the shores rich with bird life is a unique
experience.