Materuni Waterfall & Coffee Plantation Tour

Materuni is a Chagga village in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, about an hour and a half by road from Arusha. We usually collect you from your Arusha hotel around 8:00 AM and have you back by about 4:00 PM, so it fits into a single free day.

Village farmers take you from bean to cup. You pick ripe coffee cherries, roast the beans over an open fire, grind them by hand and then drink the Arabica you've made. Along the way they explain how the community farms coffee on the mountain's slopes.

It's about forty-five minutes through banana and coffee plantations and forest. The path is gentle, but parts are uneven and can be slippery after rain, so shoes with good grip matter more than fitness. At the end is the Materuni Waterfall, around 80 metres high, falling into a natural pool.

Yes, in the natural pool at the foot of the falls, if you want to. Swimwear isn't supplied, so bring your own and a small towel, plus sandals or shoes that can get wet on the rocks. Plenty of people skip the swim and just stand in the spray.

After the waterfall you return to the village for a traditional Chagga lunch cooked by local women. It's home-style food from the Kilimanjaro foothills, and a good moment to ask your village guide about daily life in Materuni. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book.

On clear days, yes. The village sits on the lower slopes of the mountain, and the summit can appear above the plantations. Cloud often gathers around Kilimanjaro as the day goes on, so the morning drive and the start of the visit usually give you the best chance.

The tour runs year round. In the drier months, roughly June to October and January to February, the forest paths are firmer and easier underfoot. In the rainy months they're muddier, but the waterfall carries more water, so any season works with good footwear.

Yes. A local Chagga guide leads the day and village farmers run the coffee workshop, so your visit supports community tourism in Materuni. Lunch is cooked in the village by local women. The village entry and waterfall fees are included in the tour.

Comfortable walking shoes with good grip, because the forest paths can be uneven and slippery. Add swimwear and a towel if you plan to swim, a light rain jacket, sunscreen and a camera. A small backpack is handy for water and a dry layer for the drive back.

The Materuni Waterfall & Coffee Plantation Tour is a full-day trip.

It is rated easy: no special fitness is needed.

It runs for groups of 1 to 10 travellers.

Included: Private vehicle with driver, Local Chagga village guide, Coffee workshop and tasting, Traditional Chagga lunch, Village entry and waterfall fees, Hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha and Bottled water.

Not included: International flights, Travel insurance, Personal items, Tips and gratuities and Swimming gear (bring your own if desired).