Karibu!
Welcome to the mountainous areas of Monduli Juu, where you can experience the
original Maasai Culture in different adventurous ways.
We,
Maasai of Monduli Juu, are happy to offer you:
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A visit to
the Sominen, Emairete and Sokoine dams with their different splendid bird life
§
A climbing
trip through the evergreen rain forest
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A rest at
astonishing panorama’s, overlooking the Rift Valley, Oldonyo Lengai, Lake
Natron…
§
A warm
welcome in Naramatu: a small “factory” where Maasai women make Maasai
jewels
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Traditional
“nyama choma” with our Maasai warriors in “Orpul”
(Maasai meat camp)
§
The story of
the secret differences between Maasai and Waarusha
The profit
of this CTP program will be used to set up and running
a Kintergarten in Monduli Juu.
A
Cultural Tourism Programme executed with advice from SNV - the Netherlands
Development Organisation and the Tanzanian Tourist Board.
Monduli
Juu is situated 50 km North West of Arusha on the road to the National Parks
of Ngorongoro and Serengeti. The Monduli mountains together with Monduli town
lie on the right hand side (North) if you are heading to these Parks.
Monduli is the capital of Monduli district and is a town where you’ll
have to pass when you are going to Monduli Juu. The name “Monduli”
originates from a place in Monduli Juu where a wealthy Maasai ancester called
“Munduli” used to live in former German colonial times.
Monduli Juu
is a cluster of four small Maasai villages namely Emairete, Enguiki, Eluwai
and Mfereji. Emairete consists of a wonderful crater where –in former times-
the cattle of only medicine men were supposed to graze. Enguiki village is
named after its famous pastures (special grass) but there is nobody who knows
if it is still there. Eluwai is a village called after the trees where certain
small ants have their habitat and that are whistling in the wind. Mfereji is a
village down the escarpment that –a long time ago- developed from a place
where a South African lived who pulled a ditch down to bring water from the
Monduli mountains.
From Arusha
bus stand (“standi kubwa”) busses are going to Monduli town (where you ask
for Mama Esther), from where a 4x4-vehicle can bring you 10 km upwards to
Monduli Juu (Emairete market) where you ask for Naramatu Maasai Jewel market.
The trip Arusha-Monduli Juu should take not more than 1,5 hours by private
car.
Walking and Climbing Tours
There are
tours available for ½ day, a full day, 2, 3 and 4 days, and they are as
classified hereunder.
The trip
starts in Mfereji village from where you visit a Maasai boma. From there you
walk through typical tree savannah to the foot of the escarpment. Climbing the
“Kona Saba” (Seven Corners) escarpment
is not difficult if you wear good walking shoes. From the escarpment
you can oversee the wonderful panorama from Rift Valley, over Kitumbeine,
Longido, up to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Arrival at the “Norkuman” camping site from where you will be
picked up.
Half day trip “B” – The Monduli Evergreen
Rain Forest
Starting
point is the Eye Hospital in Emairete at the edge of the forest from where you
walk to Kilele, the first peak in the Monduli mountains. On the way you’ll
get acquainted to specific tree (e.g. fig tree…) and animal species (e.g.
bushbuck, weavers, … even
elephants). You proceed to a water source in the middle of the forest and
continue up to Enguiki Primary School and Dispensary from where you’ll be
picked up at Bismarck’s place.
The trip
starts at Emairete dam (abondant bird life) from where you walk passing the
Maasai Church, the Primary School, Kintergarten
Project up to Naramatu (Maasai Jewels), where you can get tea. Going further
up the mountain to the fully
equipped Eye Hospital from where you can admire the wonderful Monduli Juu
panorama. After lunch in a Maasai boma the trip leads near the forest to
Enguiki Primary School and Dispensary from where you’ll be picked up at a
Maasai boma. Along the road the guide will
explain to you the secret differences between Maasai and Waarusha. Safe
accommodation for a night can be arranged.
Esserian
Maasai Camp in Ilmorijo (Emairete) is
a fairly well equipped camp site
with panorama on the Rift Valley, Mount Keremasi, Oldonyo Lengai and Lake
Natron. From here the first day you will descend to the wonderful Sominen dam
site. You will also visit a
Maasai boma and “Orpul”, a
traditional Maasai meat camp.
Overnight in Esserian Maasai Camp. The second day is a daytrip to
Olkarya (the red clay that Maasai use to color their face and hair) from where
you’ll be picked up.
The first
day is similar to the above: visit to the Sominem dam site and overnight in
the better equipped Esserian Maasai Camp Site. The second day the trip via the
O’Liyamei Valley, Sokoine dam and dipping tank is at the same time
challenging and beautiful. Overnight in Naramatu Camp. The third day the trip
goes to Enguiki over the Eye Hospital and Monduli Forest.
Basic Camp
for the 3 nights is Norkuman (“Hill of the Clubs”) in Enguiki village. The
first day you visit the famous water hole and you check the extensive panorama
from the escarpment “Kona Saba” where you can see Mount Longido,
Kilimanjaro, Meru and Kitumbeine very clearly. In the evening a Maasai elder
will tell a wonderful story for
those who want. The second day you go down to Mfereji and visit a Maasai boma
(cfr. Halfday trip “A”) and come back to Norkuman the same day. The
third day you visit Enguiki village with its Primary School, Dispensary and
you make a trip through Monduli forest. Overnight at Jackson Camp. The last
and fourth day you pay a visit to Emairete
village with its Eye Hospital, Primary School, Dispensary and the
Kintergarten Project. After lunch in Naramatu you’ll be picked by your
driver.
Compose
your own trip:
We are happy to arrange a customized tour to satisfy your
preferences if you wish to focus on certain aspects. For those interested in climbing-trips: it is possible and
advisable to climb Komoloniki (i.e.
the Monduli Mountains) or
Tarosero trough CTP Monduli Juu. On Saturdays you can improve your stay by
enjoying the colourful Maasai market in Emairete.
Taking into
consideration that all our guides are Maasai they speak reasonable good
English. They are familiar with the area and can tell you many stories about
history and daily life of the Maasai and Waarusha people. Please you are
advised not to walk with unauthorized guides. Our guides wear an identity card
of the Cultural Tourism Program. Always demand receipts for any payment, that
will help to ensure that your fees go towards development activities in our
villages.
In Monduli
Juu there are 4 local families that can offer camping sites. Three of them
have basic standards and no running water. The one in Ilmorijo (Esserian Camp
Site) is fairly good equipped and has running water when ordered in time.
Meals are
prepared by local families. The women can make various traditional African
meals but can serve western food as well according to taste. Meals are
prepared in clean conditions.
Good walking
shoes, cap, suncream and drinking water. Optional are binoculars if interested
in bird life. If you want to sleep over you’ll need camping equipment: tent,
sleeping bag with matress … anti-malaria pills and torch. Water and fire
wood available on site.
Nature is
precious. Villagers are asking visitors to leave as few as possible litter on
their journey. Our culture is also precious. Please respect the customs of the
people so that tourism will not disturb our culture. Ask your guide’s advice
before taking photo’s etc.
Setting up
and running a Kintergarten in Emairete and Enguiki Villages. In the whole of
Monduli Juu there is not one single Kintergarten. In order to give also some
education to their youngest children, the Maasai want now to start their own
Kintergarten in Emairete and Enguiki.
Please
contact :
-your tour
operator; or
-dial direct 0741- 510 170 or 400 992; or
-TTB
Information Centre in Arusha:
Boma road,
Tel. 027-2503842/3; or
-CTP e-mail:
info@tourismtanzania.org
or direct e-mail: ctpmonjuu@yahoo.co.uk
- Website:
www.infotourismtanzania.org