Appearances can be deceiving. At first glance, the village of Mto Wa Mbu may look like a small backwater village, but spend some time in this curious little town and you’ll make discoveries and come upon surprises like no other place in Tanzania.
Imagine a village that is home to 120 tribes, a startling polyglot mix of cultures and languages found nowhere else. And all living peacefully, sharing their expertise in commerce, agriculture, and art.
Take a trip to this colorful intersection of banana plantations, food markets, art centers, workshops, and local eateries, and you’ll find yourself surprisingly immersed with the people, learning about their lifestyles, history, politics, and hearing their stories.
Situated near the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, Mto Wa Mbu is located on two wildlife paths used by vast numbers of animals during their migration. On your way to the village, don’t be surprised to find yourself amongst giraffe, wildebeest, elephants, zebra, and gazelle.
32 Types of Bananas
A tour of Mtu Wa Mbu is the perfect way to meet the locals and learn intriguing insider info, as your guide is likely from the village. A small fee may be charged at the various venues to support local projects like improvements to irrigation systems and implementing energy-efficient stoves.
At the village’s banana plantation, you’ll learn about the many uses for this versatile fruit and the unique farming practices employed. Along these fields and in the village you’ll see motorbikes zipping along, transporting the great bunches harvested here.
Art And Youth
Here is another surprise you might not expect to find in a small village set apart from metropolitan life. Mtu Wa Mbu supports an active and colorful youth arts project. A visit here will bring you face-to-face with these young and enthusiastic artists who are only too happy to tell you about their work and their techniques. Take plenty of photos and if you wish, you can purchase their artwork.
The Makonde
Known for their delicate masks, figurines, and more, we’ll stop at the workshop of this creative tribe, the Makonde. They’ll explain their techniques and show the different types of native woods used in their craft, while also explaining the historical influences expressed by their artwork. They’ll even help you try your hand at carving and you can purchase items here as souvenirs.
Don’t Miss
- Miwaleni Lake & Waterfall – swim in the lake at the base of the falls, surrounded by startling 2,000-year-old baobab trees.
- Maasai Village – visit a nearby community and meet the tribe members, learning about their culture and lifestyle.
- Bike ride or tuk-tuk – take an easy bike ride or relax in a tuk-tuk (a small motorized rickshaw) to beautiful Lake Manyara.
