“Discovering Materuni Waterfalls, coffee tour, a hidden gem:a memorable day trip from Arusha

I spent 11 adventurous years in Tanzania as a pharmaceutical sales manager, among them spending the early 4 years in the beautiful town of Arusha. I have plenty of good memories of a day trip from Arusha. Unfortunately, I haven’t visited Arusha for the last 6 years since my transfer to another town. So, I decided to refresh my memory with one of my favourite destinations, Arusha for a week’s vacation during the Christmas period.

I booked a flight from Zanzibar to Arusha by Auric Air (a mini aircraft offering frequent routes and cheap prices). I used the Trip.com site to book my flight & hotels in Arusha. At trip.com you will find plenty of options for hotels, hostels, and homestays from 15 dollars and above. You will find every type of budget accommodation to select. This time I decided to visit new places I hadn’t explored that were not overcrowded with tourists. So, I decided to visit for one day a solo trip to Materuni waterfalls and a coffee tour from Arusha, a hidden gem in Tanzania. After searching this place and seeing scenic pictures of the falls, I had great expectations.

How to reach Materuni waterfalls &coffee tour from Arusha & Moshi?

After getting some handy information from my local friends, I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in the local cultural tour of Materuni village. There is a next level of enjoyment to travelling without a bag or luggage. I caught the bus from the Arusha bus stand in central town and arrived at Moshi town after two hours of gossiping with local friends. Tanzanian people are friendly to mingle with you and are always ready to chat with you. If you are familiar with the local Kiswahili language, then you can enjoy it a lot.

After arriving in Moshi town, I caught another town bus called “Daladala” going to Materuni village. I waited there a little bit more time up until the bus was full. I enjoyed the short journey of 40 minutes for just 15 km because the bus was full of small town Swahili villagers and took some time because of a lot of stopovers for them.

How much will it cost for a trip to Matruni waterfall and a local coffee toura day tirp from Arusha?

What’s more, the road was not a tar road but you can observe native people’s lives and surrounding beauties. It costs me only TSh 6,000 (2.5 dollars) to reach here from Arusha. If you want to come with family or a 4-5-person group, then hiring a taxi ride is a good option. If you prefer to visit Materuni waterfalls and coffee tour by organised tour operator, then it will cost around 50 dollars for a 4-5 person group, and for two people, it will cost about 70-80 dollars. Please visit trip.com to find the best deals. I usually want to pay in local currency. So, I save some money compared to dollar payments.

Register yourself at local village office & Hire a local guide

Finally, I reached Materuni village, at an altitude of more than 13000 meters above sea level, located in the Kilimanjaro region. Materuni village is mainly famous for its waterfalls and coffee tour. Here, you will have to register yourself at the village office. If you are a native person or residence permit holder, then you have to pay less compared to tourists. All local buses & private vehicles are not going ahead to this office point. If you are coming here for the first time, then please hire a local guide because you will not find any signboards to go to Falls. (courtesy of the local village office), but if you are a frequent visitor, then it is ok to go solo. I engaged one local guide who has a bike also. I bargained with him and he agreed to TZs. 30000 ($12 to 13). Thanks to my Swahili conversation.

nice experience with local guide and bumpy journey towards Materuni waterfall

The trip started with a bumpy bike ride on rough roads. It took about 45 minutes to an hour to reach the falls by walking through narrow paths. The bike saved me 20 minutes, but I had to walk the rest of the way.

From there, I had to walk for about 20 minutes. It was drizzling during the hike, and the sound of the falls was loud and soothing. I wish I had worn good rainy shoes and brought a walking stick—it would have made the walk easier. It’s best to avoid visiting Materuni waterfalls and coffee tours during heavy rains because the muddy paths can be tricky. I took some photos on my phone and even jumped into the chilly water for a quick dip. I spent an hour there, drank way too much water, and just soaked in the moment. What an experience! The taste of the water was amazing and full of natural minerals. I was mesmerized by the scenic beauty of this place.

Don’t forget to enjoy the local coffee taste &local culture

During my return time, I tasted the unique taste of local banana beer but I didn’t find any alcoholic effect. While I was in Tanzania, I was addicted to local black coffee (kahava); therefore, I wanted to try the Materuni waterfalls & coffee tour experience. My guide was happy to organize it for me near the village office. I participated in coffee preparation with their Swahili songs and a little bit of dancing. You will be involved in coffee making by selecting coffee beans, crushing them, roasting them for 15–20 minutes, & boiling them. Finally, you will enjoy a nicely flavoured cup of fresh coffee. It was quite a funny experience. I purchased their small packet of local coffee beans. Here, I would like to add that my entire room was full of that purchased coffee bean fragrance

enjoy local SWAHILI food: : Ugali, maharagi and mchich a national dish

My guide insisted I try Swahili food and my appetite needed it after a lot of km. Walking. I enjoyed their ugali (boiled corn floor), maharagi (one type of red bean) and mchicha (a type of spinach) with good tomato and onion salad.

From Materuni village, I took the same public transport back to Moshi, carrying unforgettable memories of the waterfalls and coffee tour. From Moshi, I enjoyed a cosy luxury bus journey heading to Arusha. If you’re looking for a great experience, I highly recommend the Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour as a day trip from Arusha. The scenic beauty, warm-hearted local people, fun coffee-making process, and glimpse into Tanzanian village life make it truly special. Here, I would like to suggest that if your time permits, you can also combine this trip with Kilimanjaro National Park.

I encourage your thoughts and opinions, and if you have visited the same place, share your experiences.