For my birthday I wanted to do something meaningful, wholesome, adventurous... and fun!
This tour was all that and more!
Andrew was my tour guide, he is truly amazing! From the start of the tour to finish, he made sure that I was having a memorable experience .
The ride to the Materuni village was comfortable ( Tarmac roads + AC'd car).
The hike to the waterfall through the Materuni village was spectacular! Surrounded by the lush green nature all the way up and the boom! Right in front of you, the most magical waterfall spraying its mist all over you to cool you down after the hike. This was a truly spiritual experience for me.
The coffee making experience at the family home of the Materuni villager was educational and a lot of fun as well. Justin and the family members who conducted this immersive were awesome. I learnt, laughed, danced, and had really good coffee. The family had a little souvenir shop where you can purchase the coffee beans and other organic food products as well as arts and crafts, all produced by members of this family.
Lunch was prepared by the female members of the family. As someone who has enjoyed good food all over the world, I would say this meal was my top five! Everything tasted as it was meant to taste! And if you feel like skipping the meal because of potential gastric issues, don't! You will be fine, just enjoy the ambrosia. The food was so good I wish I had brought to-go containers. But they were nice enough to put the "mtori" soup in a water bottle for me. Thank you Pendo!
The hot springs in another part of Kilimanjaro was the last activity of the tour. This was another spectacular gift from nature! The icing on the cake were the lifeguards who are there to ensure you are having the time of your life. I almost chickened out from getting into the pool because of my own past trauma with the ocean. pecial thanks to Beka ( Bakari) for the encouragement , swimming pointers, and the conversation. I'm glad I let you get me into the pool. There was no other way to enjoy this experience, I would have regrets later, if I don't do it. .....Oh! By the way, you also get a free pedicure from the fish!
So all in all, the sites and the activities were worth the trip but I would say it is the people you meet , from Andrew the tour guide to villagers...and Beka the lifeguard that made the experience memorable and soulful.
Long story short, I highly recommend this tour with this company... highly!