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Monduli
Juu is situated 50 Km north west of Arusha on the road to the
National Parks of Ngorongoro. The
Monduli Mountains
together with Monduli town lie on the right hand side if you are
heading to these parks. Monduli is the capital of Monduli district .
The name ‘Monduli’ originates from a place in Monduli Juu where a
wealthy
Maasai ancestor called ‘Monduli’
used to live in former German colonial times.
Monduli
is a cluster of four small
Maasai villages
namely Emairete, Enguiki, Eluwai and Mfereji. Emairete consists of a
wonderful crater where, in former times, the cattle of only medicine
men were supposed to graze. Enguiki village is named after its
famous pastures. Eluwai is a village called after the trees where
certain small ants have their habitat and that are whistling in the
wind. Mfereji is a village down the escarpment that, a long time
ago, develop from a place where a South African lived who pulled a
ditch down to bring water from the Monduli Mountains.
experience on this while you have walking tour:
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A
climbing trip through the evergreen rain forest where you’ll
experience the trees, the birds and other animals of that
habitat.
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A
medical trip where you’ll feel and smell different medicinal
herbs and visit a traditional Maasai herbs doctor.
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A
warm welcome in a small ‘factory’ where Maasai jewels.
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Traditional’nyama choma’ with our Maasai warriors in where
you’ll cut the meat yourself.
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A
rest at astoninshing panorama’s overlooking the Rift valley,
Oldonyo Lengai, Lake Natron.
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The story of the secret cultural differences between Maasai and
waarusha.
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Walking and Climbing Tours
There are tours
available for half day, a full day, 2,3 and 4 days and they are
classified hereunder.
Half day ‘A’ – The ‘Kona Saba’ Escarpment climb
The tour starts
at Mfereji village, a 45 minutees drive from Naramatu starting
point, from where you visit Maasai boma. From there you walk through
typical tree savanna to the foot of the escarpment. Climbing
the’Kona Saba’ (Seven corners) escarpment is not difficult if you
wear good walking shoes. From the escarpment you can oversee the
wonderful panorama from rift valley, over Kitumbeine, Longido up to
Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mount Lengai. Arrival at the
Norkuman campsite, from where you will be picked up by car ( a 20
minutes drive from Naramatu starting point.)
H alf day ‘B’ – The Evergreen Rain Forest Tour
Starting point
is the ex-Eye hospital in Enguiki at the edge of the forest from
where you walk to Kilele, the eastern peak in the Monduli Mountains.
On the way you will get acquinted to specific tree (e.g. Fig tree…),
bird and animal species (e.g. Bushbuck, weavers, elephants, black
monkey…). You proceed to a water source in the middle of the forest
and continue up to Enuiki Primary School and dispensary from where
you can be picked up at Bismarck’s place ( a 15 minutes drive from
Naramatu starting point.)
Full day – The Medicinal Herbs tour
The tour starts
the Emairete dam from where you walk passing the Maasai church, the
Primary School, Kindergarten project up to Naramatu, where you can
get herbal tea. Going further up the mountain to the ex-Eye Hospital
from where you can admire the wonderful Monduli Juu Panorama. After
lunch in a Maasai boma the tour leads near the forest to Enguiki
Primary School from where can be picked up at Bismarck’s place ( a
15 minutes drive from Naramatu starting point). Along the road the
guide will explain about the different medicinal herbs used by the
Maasai and you will visit a traditional medicinal herbs doctor.
Two day’s – The Olkarya Tour
Esserian Maasai
Camp at Ilmorijo is a fairly well equipped campsite with panorama on
the Rift Valley, Mount Keremasi, Oldonyo Lengai and Lake Natron.
From here th first day you will descend to the wonderful Sominem dam
site. You will visit a Maasai boma and ‘Orpul’, a traditional Maasai
meat camp. Overnight in esserian Maasai camp. The second day is a
day walk to Olkaray, the red clay the Maasai use to color the face
and hair, from where you have to be picked up by car.
Three day’s – Ilmorijo – Enguiki Tour
The first day
is similar to the above, visit the Sominem dam site and overnight at
Esserian Maasai camp site. The second day the walk via O’Liyamei
Valley, /Sokoine dam and dipping tank, is challenging and beautiful.
Overnight at Naramatu amp. The third day the trip goes to Enguiki
over the ex-Eye Hospital and Monduli forest. Arrival at Bismarck’s
place ( a 15 minutes drive from Naramatu starting point).
Four day’s – Comprehesive Tour from Enguiki ‘Norkuman’
Basic camp for
the 3 nights is Norkuman ‘Hill of the Clubs’ in Enguiki village. The
first day you visit the famous water hole and you check the
extensive panorama from the escarpment ‘Kona Saba’ where you can see
Mount Longido, Kilimanjaro, Meru and Kitumbeine. In the evening a
Maasai elder will tell a wonderful story for those who want. The
second day you go down to Mfereji ad visit a Maasai Boma (See ‘A’
tour) ans come back to Norkuman. The third day you visit Enguiki
village with its Primary school, Dispensary and Monduli forest.
Overnight at Jackson Camp. The last day you pay a visit to Emairete
village with its ex-Eye Hospital, Primary School, Dispensary and the
kindergarten project. After lunch in Naramatu your driver can pick
you up.
Compose you own tour
We are happy to
arrange a customized adapted tour to satisfy your preferences if you
wish to focus on certain aspects. For those interested in climbing
it is possible to climb Komoloniki or Tarosero mountain. On
Saturdays you can improve your stay by enjoying the colorful Maasai
market at Emairete.
Facilities
In Monduli Juu
there are 4 local families who can offer camping sites. Three of
them have basic standards and no running water. The Esserian Maasai
Camp site is fairly good equipped and has running water when orderer
in time. All have dip toilets and fire wood.
Meals
Meals are
prepared in clean conditions by local families. The women can make
various traditional African meals but can serve western food as well
according to taste.
Guides
Taking into
consideration that all our guides are Maasai, they speak reasonable
English. They are familiar with the area and can tell you many
stories about history and daily life of the Maasai and Waarusha
people. Our guides wear an identity card of the Cultural tourism
Programme.
Please avoid to walk with unauthorized guides.
Recommended Equipment
Good walking
shoes, sun cap, sun cream and drinking water. Optional binoculars if
interested in bird life. If you want to sleep over you’ll need
camping equipment, anti malaria pills and torch.
Responsible tourism
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Nature is precious. Villagers are asking visitors to leave as
few litter as possible on their journey.
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Our culture is also precious. Please respect the customs of the
people so that tourism will not disturb our culture.
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It
is advised that women avoid wearing shots along with shirts
which expose the midsection.
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At
the same time, permission should always be granted before a
picture is taken. And it is best to have cameras concealed
before permission to take any photographs are given.
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