Mto Wa Mbu village Tour

The bustling farming community of Mto Wa Mbu, located between Manyara and Ngorongoro, is home to around 18,000 people. Spend half a day here with a knowledgeable local guide and you’ll discover a side of Tanzania that many visitors miss. Your guide is likely to be from the village itself so you will have an opportunity to see the community through the guide’s eyes. During your visit you’ll get a good feel for the social side of the village – the farms and the milling machines, the schools, markets and churches. Tours last around 2–3 hours, but are flexible. You may do some (or all!) of the following: You will probably start in the village banana plantation, where the community grows more than 30 different varieties of bananas. As well as finding out how this staple fruit is grown, you’ll hear about the different uses of the plant as a whole, from food to materials for building and art.

You may visit a youth art project, and learn about the different painting styles and techniques. You can visit a wood workshop, where you can watch skilled members of the Makonde tribe carefully carving intricate figurines, masks and household objects. They’ll show you the different types of wood and finishings and explain some of the historical and cultural meanings behind the carvings. You can even have a go at doing some carving yourself! The artists are happy for you to ask questions and take photos.

You may visit a local ‘bar’ to try mbege, the traditional banana and millet beer that is brewed and drunk mainly by the Chagga tribe. The process of making this brew is quite labour intensive, and the beer is usually served in one large cup, which is passed around the group, and refilled as needed.

Your tour will probably finish in the bustling local market, where you can wander around stalls selling fruit and vegetables stalls, spices and meat. Your guide will stop and explain points of interest, and give you the opportunity to try and smell a variety of foods.