Mto wa Mbu is a small town on the foot of the Eastern Rift Valley escarpments, 112km West of Arusha city. The town is close to Lake Manyara national park and is surrounded by people with a rich culture and some captivating geological sites.
The trip will start just after dawn by driving to Mto wa Mbu town. Upon arrival, you will have breakfast at a local restaurant then rent bicycles (included in the package fees) that you will use to move around during this amazing trip. After breakfast we will have a tour of the red banana farms (for which the town is famous among many other things) to see how they are grown and possibly try some if they are in season, followed by a tour to rice farms both within the town.
After the farm tours, we will cycle for 7km to Lake Manyara shores (not on the national park side) for sightseeing, where you will see local fishermen carrying out their activities. The lake and the surrounding areas are full of geological sites as it is just on the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpments. This alkaline lake serves a very significant role to both locals by providing food and income, and wildlife of the Lake Manyara National Park. We will then ride back to town for lunch at a restaurant where they specialize in traditional and local foods, which is a treat on its own.
Lunch will be followed by a tour to experience local beer/alcohol brewing. The beer is made from a mix of bananas and grains creating a smooth drink that has been used in these areas for a very long time.
This will then be followed by a ride to the waterfalls which will take about 3 to 4 hours. This is mostly a sightseeing tour where you will be able to see the waterfalls and the surrounding areas. The pool at the bottom is not suitable for swimming as it is shallow and the water is not that clear.
We will finish our tour by riding back to town, moving around a little to see the local market, painters, and Makonde wood carving craftsmen. If time will be on our side, we can make a quick stop at the viewpoint that is almost at the top of the escarpment and look down at the lake and the national park. We will then drive back to Arusha.