MULALA CULTURAL
TOURISM PROGRAMME
Welcome to Mulala, a
picturesque village nestled on the slopes of Mt Meru beneath a canopy of banana
trees and surrounded by spectacular scenery. Come to our home and experience a
unique part of Tanzania.
We, the women of Mulala
offer you:
- A tour of Mama Anna's quaint
cheese making place which provides area hotels with these delicious products
- A garden structure in which
you may relax with a beverage, enjoy the views and sample foods unique to our
village.
- A guided tours criss-crossing
coffee and banana farms to the top of Lemeka Hill for a bird's eye view of the
valleys
- A glimpse of our daily life
and information on the surrounding vegetation and crops
- A walk to the Marisha River
banks, home of colourful birds and playful monkeys.
Profits will be used to
generate income and uplift the women's standard of living.
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A cultural
tourism programme executed with advice from the Tanzania Tourist Board and SNV -
The Netherlands Development Organisation
Introduction
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. mtrs above sea level on the southern slopes of
Mount Meru and only 30 kilometres 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.
Various Tours
We have developed various
tours that show you the most interesting and fascinating places in and around
Mulala.
* Marisha
River Tour
This two hour 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, and 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
Crisscross the coffee and
banana farms and head up Lemeka Hill for a breathtaking view of both Mounts
Kilimanjaro and Meru rising majestically in the distance. 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 of the village. Mr Karoiya will tell some stories about the
history of the Meru tribe, and provide extensive explanation on the traditional
methods he uses for curing 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 or origin, Mama Anna's cheese making
place.
A walk to the top of Lemeka
hill and back to Mama Anna's farm takes about two hours.
* Agape tour
In a one and a half hours
guided walk you can visit the farms of all five members of the Agape women's
group. The women will give you 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.
Combinations of above
mentioned tours are well possible and on request also other tailor made tours
can be arranged.
Facilities
In Mulala the women have built
a pleasant resting place where meals prepared by the women 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 for the guests who spend
the night at the farm.
Tour guides
Our guides are all women, who
have lived many years in Mulala. They speak some English, and can further use
interpreters to tell interesting stories.
In addition to their previous
training in cheese and bread making, the women have undergone a tourism training
program.
Please Note
* Water is available for
purchase
* Weather may prohibit walking
tours
* Please wear appropriate
gear; good walking shoes
* Take a cap and suncream with
you when making longer walks.
Economic growth
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 further
development of their village.
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For
further information please contact your tour operator or the TTB information
centre in Arusha (Boma road, tel: 057 - 3842/3)