4 Days Special Cultural Tour to Engaruka Tanzania

Itinerary Summary

The 4 Days Special Cultural Tour to Engaruka to observe how Tanzania most preserved culture, norms and values are practiced in Masai community in Engaruka.

Engaruka,  situated  63 km north  of Mto wa Mbu, on the road  to  Oldoinyo Lengai and Lake Natron, lies at the  foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. It  is  an  important  historic site as  some 500 years ago, a farming  community of several thousand people chose to develop an ingenious irrigation and cultivation system here. For  unknown  reasons, the farmers  left Engaruka  around 1700, but the ruins  talk volumes  about  the highly specialized  agricultural  economy.

The people of Engaruka offer visitors the following attractions:
1.   A guided visit to one of the oldest African irrigation systems
2.   A visit to the Maasai Cattle Auction
3.   A visit to a Maasai Boma walking safaris in an area of outstanding beauty
4.   A look at the local community life

There are various guided tour options:

Itinerary Details

DAY 1. Visit to the ruined city and Local Irigation Methods .

You  can  see  the remnants  of  the ruined city  of  Engaruka. The guide  will  help you to  identify  old  graves, house walls, irrigation canals and terraces, and explain the various  theories  about  the rise  and fall  of the f arming  community. Enjoy enroute, the colourful  birds and butterflies, remnants of the German era, and also visit an “orpul” or  Maasai slaughter-house.

Engaruka farming tour
From  the ruins, walk  to  the village of  Engaruka. Enroute, visit  several farms and learn  about  various  farming  and  irrigation methods. The guide will throw light on the tribal background of the village. On the way  back, visit the  market area located  in the shade of African tulip tree and a huge mkuyu tree.

DAY 2. Rift Valley escarpment tour

From the ruined city, narrow footpaths wind up the Rift Valley escarpment. Climb the escarpment guided by a Maasai warrior, who will help you spot many colourful birds and show you trees and plants that the Maasai use for making food and medicines.

Kerimasi mountain climb
North  of Engaruka is  the green  mountain  of Kerimasi. The  climb takes three to four hours from the foot to the summit. From the top, you see  impressive  views of  Oldoinyo Lengai,  Lake Natron,  the Ngorongoro highlands and the mountains of  Kitumbeine and  Gelai. The descent takes about two hours.

DAY 3 -4 Climbing to Oldoinyo Lengai

Conquer Oldoinyo  Lengai or  “the mountain of God”  in Maasai  parlance. On the first day, you climb  Kerimasi mountain  and descend on the north  side to  camp at  the foot  of Oldoinyo  Lengai, the  only active  volcano  in  Tanzania. On the morning  of  the  second day, start the 4-5 hour  climb to  the  top, where you  can  even  can  enter  the  crater  to  watch  the  volcanic  activity . The  descent  takes  about 2 ½ hours.
(Income from tourist visits will be used to improve the local primary school and for conservation of the ruined city.)