On new years day some CWY–UVIKIUTA members went for a hike in Marangu in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Marangu is a small and busy center of tourism, especially for climbers who want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The word Marangu means a place with too many water streams.

After a taxi ride to the entrance of Kilimanjaro National Park we spent at least half an hour, taking photos and waiting for a guide to give us the park’s information, but he didn’t come and so we continued with our hike, after getting some information sheets. After an hour’s trek we got to the Kinukamori waterfalls, which is located at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and whose crystal clear water originates from the natural springs of volcanic rocks on Kilimanjaro.

We also went into the hall of Chagga culture after a short briefing by our guide. The Chagga people are Bantu-speaking and the largest ethnic group who live at the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. They descended from various Bantu groups who migrated from the rest of Africa into the foothills of Kilimanjaro and speak a number of related Chagga language dialects. The Chagga area is traditionally divided into a number of chiefdoms, which were displayed by use of sculptures in the hall of the Chagga culture.

Below are some pics of the hike..

Brief stop at the Kilimanjaro National Park, which is also a World Heritage Site.

Inside the park

The hike

Landscapes along the way

Some biodiversity along the way

A group rest along one of the streams

At the entrance of the Kinukamori waterfalls

Getting some information before going into the falls

Briefing before going into the hall of Chagga culture

Chiefdom sculptures inside the hall of Chagga culture

Swimming at the waterfalls

Photo-shoot at the waterfalls

Refreshments after the hike..

The group left the following day for Dar Es Salaam, where they will be living with local host families and working with the local community for two months.