CULTURAL TOURS AND ADVENTURES 3 DAYS, 2 NIGHTS

Itinerary Keywords: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro

Summary  Itineraries

Babati district is located along the Arusha-Dodoma road in the Rift Valley, south of Lake Manyara Park and west from Tarangire. The town boasts Lake Babati where floating hippos can be seen and which is rich in fish, both tilapia and Nile perch.

Here commercial and farming tribes co-exist with conservative cattle herding tribes to provide a distinguished cultural contrast. In Hanang District close by the beautiful Mount Hanang (3418m), live the Barbaig people whose traditional culture is still unchanged and unspoiled.

The women wear traditional goatskin dresses and the men walk around with spears. Visitors can mix freely with the Barbaig, commonly known as the Mangati living in the Mangati plains. If you are interested in bird watching, 400 bird species will welcome you on your walks in the area.
 

STATEMENT:
Welcome to the fertile lands and farmland where most crops grow on the edge of  the Rift Valley. Here you can walk and see a mixture of tribal cultures and rural life as lived by ordinary Tanzanians off the well trodden Tourist Circuits. 

• A special Barbaig cultural insight hike

• An exclusive Mount Hanang climb

• A fishing adventure with local canoes on Lake Babati while viewing hippos

• A chance to participate in local brick and pottery making and beer brewing

• A visit to development projects like cattle, dairy farming, piped water projects

• Cycling expedition through remote areas

The profit will be used to improve the primary school in two villages. Your visit helps to improve the education of the children.

Detailed Itineraries

Day 1:
This tour begins with a 70 km bus ride from Babati to Katesh. Lunch in a local hotel. From here you start a 16 km bush walk towards the Mangati plains. In Dirma, a Barbaig nomad village, you will be warmly welcomed at Mzee Gavachu's boma. In no time you will see Barbaig women and men coming to see their new guests. Our Barbaig guide will help to translate where only Barbaig language is spoken. Seated on three legged stools you have dinner prepared by the women. In the huts a bed with a skin only is waiting for you.

Day 2:
A relaxed day where the visitor can mix freely with people and gain the cultural insights from men and women, taking pictures together and knowing more about procedures of marriage, burial of elderly men, religious rituals, local taboos etc.  Have a look at how they make the goatskin gowns and the ornaments, how they prepare the famous honey brew called Gisuda.  One can try to herd cattle or fetch water the Barbaig way. The only school and dispensary can be visited where you can talk with teachers and nurses.
 

Day 3:
Walk back to Katesh, where you have lunch, further bus trip to Babati or Arusha.
You can ad option to Zanzibar or Safari