Cultural experiences
Mto Wa Mbu Village Tour
Explore Cultural Tour of Mto Wa Mbu Village
Mto Wa Mbu Village offers a very rare experience for visitors! Around 120 tribes reside in the village – it’s a cross-cultural melting pot with probably the most exotic mix of languages and customs found anywhere in Tanzania. When you enjoy a visit to the village you’ll be in the heart of the Northern Safari Circuit in Tanzania, so time spent here will be a welcome respite from your safari activities.
Mto Wa Mbu Village is very close to Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park in the Great Rift Valley. The village is surrounded by magnificent scenery and situated on the main road which leads to the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area.
Cultural Programme and Eco-Tourism
Mto Wa Mbu Village has a very active cultural programme that seeks to show visitors the traditional way of life of the villagers through various activities and also a range of community projects that are in place. You can visit top spots in the area, taste Tanzanian foods and experience authentic cultural interaction.
A small fee is charged for each activity which is then used to support income-generating projects such as the production of energy-efficient stoves and the development of irrigation systems. Students will find the village and its people to be a great resource for information on Tanzania. Everyday topics can be explored as well as more complex subjects like politics, history and culture, wildlife and legends.
There are a number of excellent walking, hiking and biking tours offered in the village ranging in length from a couple of hours to a full day (bikes can be hired in the village):
Highlights
- A guided trip to Mto wa Mbu by bicycle
- Meet local people & get to know several craftmanships
- Learn about Mto wa Mbu's fertile lands and its plantations
- Bird watching
- Experience by participation, seeing, tasting & feeling!
What to expect during your village
Mto Wa Mbu is regarded as one of the few areas in Tanzania where people from all 120 tribes coexist together. It is a cultural melting pot. Despite the name translating to “Mosquito River,” because of the village’s reliable water supply, don’t wonder when you won’t encounter many mosquitoes.
Since your guide is almost certainly a native of the hamlet, you will have the rare opportunity to experience life there from his point of view. The length of the tours can vary, but is typically 2-3 hours. During your stay, you’ll get a good sense of the village’s social aspects, such as the farms and mills, schools, marketplaces, and churches. Your guide will gladly answer any questions you may have and will also assist you in learning about the inner workings of this typical Tanzanian neighborhood.
Other activities to do at Mto Wa Mbu
Hike to Empakai Crater
Hadzabe and Datoga Tribes Pay a Visit
Maasai Village Visit
We've got you covered
Our tours are top-notch but give you great value. The price we tell you upfront covers most of the costs for one person, like flights and all transfers.
Includes
- Park fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
Excludes
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcohol drinks
- Visas and visa fees where relevant
- Additional activities not offered as scheduled by the accommodation
