Mt Kilimanjaro 360 Tour!

Kilimanjaro. Climb it, Bike it, Tour it, or Just Be In Awe Of It.

A true, majestic icon of this spectacular country, and drawcard of tourists, worldwide.

The Mt Kilimanjaro 360 Tour, driving or biking, takes you deep into the lifestyles of the many micro communities calling Kilimanjaro home, and showcases the diverse rural landscapes, contrasting environments and climates, shaped by the mountain itself.

Our Mt Kilimanjaro 360 Tour Begins

Leaving the bustle of Moshi early, our route was clockwise around the mountain, leaving the highway at Boma N’gombe – but not before stocking up on cool bottled water, traditional Mundazi, Vitumbua and Chapati, and, of course, the not to be missed tribal staple, Halfcake.

Windswept and harsh, the road to Sanya Juu takes us through barren plains where farmers work hard to produce quick growing maize for the domestic market……often now using tractors to cultivate their land in preparation for resowing in time for the typical African “Large Rains” expected soon.

New homes with the ‘fashionable”, steep pitched tin roofs are appearing on the landscape as farming land is sold off for residential development. With good access to the main road to Moshi and Arusha, prices remain low in these areas, attracting home seekers, keen to improve their lifestyle.

Passing through Sanya Juu, lush and green in its high rainfall belt, the last busy mecca as we move into West Kilimanjaro and our first sighting of magnificent Mt Meru to the West. Like Kilimanjaro, a dormant Volcano, spectacular on a clear day, towering over the plains and rural regions

Landowners are tending their crops of wheat and barley for the large beer making industry here.  Machine harvesting today, and the more traditional gathering and threshing of dried beans for domestic markets.

Home once to large Maasai tribes, the introduction of timber milling in West Kilimanjaro from plantations on the higher slopes of the mountain has seen communities adapt to lifestyle changes dependent on work from the timber milling.

Quaint villages call out to be visited as we pass.

Makeshift streets lined with an eclectic array of flimsy timber offcut constructions, shrouded in dust from logging trucks rattling along the rough, dirt tracks, just meters from shops and homes shunted together snugly.

Patient locals, draped in their bright Tanzanian fabrics, going about their daily routines, or just sitting, seemingly waiting for something they waited for yesterday. Occasionally glancing our way, in case we were what they were waiting for.

West Kilimanjaro is filled with unique accommodation opportunities….our stopping point for morning tea, the stunning farming property, Simba Farm Lodge – Kilimanjaro. Owned and farmed today, by the resident Family, was established in the early 1900’s when the government opened cropping land throughout the West Kilimanjaro Region and provided a rail service to transport crops to sales points.

Boutique accommodation, developed more recently at Simba Farm Lodge, offers an inviting array of traditional rooms, cottages and suites to suit all needs…..even camping for the more adventurous, overlooking never ending northern Tanzanian Safari plains and Maasai Steppe. Visit Simba Website>>

As our journey winds us further toward the Kenyan border, we climb slowly into undulating farming land  and villages, our drive occasionally paused for herds of goats or cattle meandering the roadways reminding us, they were here first.

Reaching the gate of Rongai Forest home of large expanses of both native forest and conifer plantations, our drive takes us higher, flashing glimpses to the north of vast Kenyan plains far below.  

Flourishing in the now cooler, higher rainfall area, vegetation is dense and lush, with stands of healthy maize, beans and potatoes growing to the edge of the sealed roadside. All available for purchase at bargain farmgate prices and a jovial chat, by travelers enjoying the hospitality of these welcoming mountain dwellers.

Commercial Resin Tapping initiatives throughout Rongai Forest not only create local employment opportunities, the tapping formations symmetrically laid out, add a surprising new perspective on the forest drive.

Our accommodation for the night, Snowcap Cottages is nestled within the conifer plantation, alongside the Rongai 7-day hike to Kilimanjaro Summit. Just one of several routes, offering a range of hike experiences and bringing good guest visitation to the cottage style accommodation.

Cosy rooms with private bathroom facilities, hot showers and western toilet, are set amid beautifully manicured gardens featuring well established trees, walking paths and garden beds filled with cool climate plants. Local dinner and breakfast are included in the tariff.

Like many accommodation facilities on the lower slopes, Snowcap offers camping and dormitory style sleeping with shared kitchen facilities for larger biking or trekking groups.

Learn More About Snowcap>>>

The Journey Returns to Moshi

Heading back to Moshi on our second day, sees us winding down to the Rongai checkpoint gate and onto Rombo Village, just inside the Kenyan Border on the East side of Kilimanjaro. A gradual descent through bustling villages and busy marketplaces catering to the stream of travelers commuting between Kenya and Tanzania.

Our final stop, Mamsera to purchase in season Green Bananas grown by the Chaga tribes-women of these East Kilimanjaro regions, used predominantly for traditional dishes, Machalari (Green Banana Stew) Mtori (You guessed it, Green Banana Soup) and Deep-Fried Green Bananas, enjoyed traditionally as a side dish.

Mbege, green banana beer, a fermented beverage enjoyed by locals, absolutely an “acquired taste”!

And, Kilimanjaro, shy custodian of this truly splendid country, was just that for our journey, too shy to bless us.

To plan your Moshi tour adventures, visit Kili Bike Heros>>>

Real African Experiences

The Mt Kilimanjaro 360 Tour is just one of the amazing experiences you can have on holiday in Tanzania. To read more about the experiences and things you can do while holidaying in the area please visit our Cultural Experiences Page.

Looking for REAL African Accommodation? Learn about the Lion King Homestay, your Tanzanian home away from home, placing you in the heart of African life, please visit our Lion King Homestay Page.

OneLoveTanzania.com

Mount Kilimanjaro 360 tour, Cycling around Mount Kilimanjaro, Driving tour around Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kilimanjaro cultural tour, Kilimanjaro local village tours, Tanzania rural tourism experiences, Kilimanjaro scenic travel routes, Kilimanjaro off-the-beaten-track tours, Authentic Tanzania travel experiences, Tanzania mountain tourism, What is the Mount Kilimanjaro 360 tour experience, Best way to explore villages around Mount Kilimanjaro, Unique things to do around Mount Kilimanjaro besides trekking, Is cycling around Mount Kilimanjaro worth it, Where to stay for authentic Kilimanjaro cultural experiences, Travel itinerary for West and East Kilimanjaro regions, Hidden travel experiences near Mount Kilimanjaro, Local food and culture tours around Kilimanjaro,  Sustainable travel experiences in Tanzania, Traditional Tanzanian food experiences, Chaga tribe cultural tourism, Maasai cultural village visits, Authentic African food tourism Tanzania, Tanzania local market tourism, Tanzanian cultural travel experiences, Indigenous tribe tourism Kilimanjaro, African rural lifestyle tourism, Cultural immersion travel Africa, Things to do in Moshi, Travel experiences near Mount Meru, Touring West Kilimanjaro villages, Rongai Forest travel guide, Travel near Kenya and Tanzania border villages, Kilimanjaro mountain rural communities, Northern Tanzania safari plains travel, Tanzania farming and village tourism, Kilimanjaro steppe and Maasai lands tours