A Materuni Waterfalls day trip combines a guided hike to a waterfall on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, a hands-on coffee experience in a Chagga village and an afternoon at Kikuletwa Hot Springs. With Lekobe it costs from US$200 per person, including hotel pickup in Arusha or Moshi, a guide and a traditional lunch.
Last updated: 11 November 2026. Prices checked against the live trip pages on lekobeadventures.com.
Most visitors to northern Tanzania come for the big parks, but some of the most memorable hours happen off the game-drive circuit. This guide explains what the Materuni and Kikuletwa (also called Chemka) day trip involves, how long the drives take, what it costs, what to pack and how to fit it around a safari, a Kilimanjaro climb or a Zanzibar beach holiday.
What is the Materuni Waterfalls day trip?
Materuni is a village at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, home to the Chagga people, who have farmed the mountain’s fertile slopes for generations. The waterfall sits above the village, reached on foot through farmland and green forest. The day trip packages three experiences into one outing from Arusha or Moshi:
- The waterfall hike: a guided walk from the village to Materuni Waterfalls.
- The coffee tour: a coffee-making experience in a Chagga village, where you see how beans become a cup of coffee and learn about local history and culture.
- Kikuletwa Hot Springs: a relaxed afternoon at a spring-fed pool in the lowlands, with time to swim and unwind.
It is a gentle, cultural counterpoint to safari days spent in a vehicle. You stretch your legs, meet the people who live on Kilimanjaro’s slopes and finish the day in the water, rather than on a dusty road.
Materuni day trip itinerary: how the day runs
Exact timings depend on your hotel and the season, but the day-by-day itinerary on our 3-day fly-in trip that ends at Materuni gives a realistic picture of the drive times from Arusha.
Morning: drive to Materuni Village
After breakfast you are collected from your hotel. From Arusha it is about a two-hour drive to Materuni Village at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. From Moshi, which lies closer to the mountain, the transfer is shorter.
Late morning: hike to Materuni Waterfalls
Your guide leads the walk from the village to the falls. The path passes small farms and patches of forest, and can be muddy after rain, so proper hiking shoes matter. Take your time at the base of the falls for photos before walking back.
Midday: Chagga lunch and coffee experience
Back in the village you sit down to a traditional lunch and learn about the Chagga people, the residents of the Kilimanjaro region. The coffee experience follows the process by hand, from bean to cup, and you get to taste the result.
Afternoon: Kikuletwa Hot Springs
From Materuni it is about a one-hour drive to Kikuletwa Hot Springs, where you can swim and relax for the rest of the afternoon before the transfer back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi.
How much does the Materuni and Kikuletwa tour cost?
The Full-Day Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour and Kikuletwa Hot Springs trip starts from US$200 per person. If you are coming from Zanzibar and want to combine Materuni with wildlife, our private fly-in package adds two safari days. The table below compares the main ways to include Materuni, alongside two popular northern Tanzania add-ons.
| Trip | Starts in | What’s included | From (USD per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Day Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour & Kikuletwa Hot Springs | Arusha or Moshi hotel | Waterfall hike, Chagga coffee experience, Kikuletwa, lunch, guide, transport | $200 |
| 3-Day Fly-in to Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Materuni Falls | Zanzibar | Flights, Tarangire game drive, Ngorongoro Crater, Materuni and Kikuletwa, 2 nights’ lodges | $1,485 |
| 1-Day Tarangire NP from Arusha | Arusha | Full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park | $271 |
| 2-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater from Arusha | Arusha | Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater | $1,188 |
All prices are “from” prices taken from the live trip pages. Your final quote depends on group size, travel dates and accommodation choice. For a wider look at safari budgets, see our guide to the cost of a safari from Zanzibar.
What the day trip price includes
- Round-trip transport from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi
- A professional English-speaking guide
- A traditional lunch
- Bottled water
- Entrance fees and government taxes
What is not included
- Tips (our guideline is US$10 per person per day; read how much to tip a safari guide in Tanzania)
- Visas and personal items
Can you visit Materuni Waterfalls from Zanzibar?
Yes, but not as a simple day trip by road. Materuni is on the northern mainland, while Zanzibar is an island off the coast, so the realistic option is to fly. Our 3-Day Fly-in to Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Materuni Falls (from US$1,485 per person) is designed for exactly this:
- Day 1: Early transfer to Zanzibar airport and a small-plane flight to Arusha. Your guide meets you and drives about two hours to Tarangire National Park, known for its elephants and baobab trees. Overnight at Suricata Boma Lodge.
- Day 2: A drive of about one hour to the Ngorongoro gate, then a descent to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a full game drive with a picnic lunch near a hippo pool. Overnight at Arusha Farm House.
- Day 3: About two hours’ drive to Materuni Village, the waterfall hike, a local buffet lunch with an introduction to Chagga history, then about an hour to Kikuletwa Hot Springs. In the evening you fly back, and our Zanzibar guide drops you at your hotel.
This trip is private, mid-range, can start any day and has a minimum age of 18. It is not available for solo travellers. Flights during the tour, park fees, accommodation, listed meals and airport transfers are included; drinks and tips are not. If you would rather spend more time with wildlife, compare the options in our Tarangire safari from Zanzibar guide.
Combining Materuni with Kilimanjaro or a safari
Before or after a Kilimanjaro climb
Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895 metres (19,341 feet), according to Tanzania National Parks. If you arrive a day early or stay an extra night in Moshi or Arusha, the Materuni trip is a relaxed way to use that day without tiring yourself out. It also gives you a first look at the mountain’s forested lower slopes. Our 8-day Machame Route trek starts from US$2,690 and the 7-day Marangu Route trek from US$2,340; both begin with an arrival day and briefing in Arusha or Moshi. Not sure which route suits you? Read Machame vs Marangu: which Kilimanjaro climb is right for you.
As a rest day between safari drives
Long game-drive days are rewarding but tiring. Slotting a waterfall and hot springs day between parks, or at the end of a northern circuit safari, breaks up the driving and adds a cultural experience to a trip that is otherwise all about wildlife.
Before flying to the beach
If your holiday ends on Zanzibar, a final day at Materuni and Kikuletwa lets you wind down before the flight to the coast. Ask us to build it into your itinerary.
What to pack for Materuni and Kikuletwa
The trip page lists swimwear, a towel and hiking shoes as essentials. We also suggest:
- Hiking shoes with good grip: the trail can be wet and slippery near the falls.
- Swimwear and a quick-dry towel: wear swimwear under your clothes to save time at Kikuletwa.
- A light rain jacket: the slopes of Kilimanjaro are greener and wetter than the lowlands.
- A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch: spray from the falls reaches further than you expect.
- Sun protection and cash for drinks, coffee or souvenirs in the village.
Check the entry rules before you travel. Our trip page notes that all travellers arriving from or transiting through yellow fever-endemic countries must show proof of vaccination. Visa and insurance details are covered in our Tanzania travel requirements guide.
Is the Materuni Waterfalls day trip worth it?
For most travellers, yes, especially if:
- You have a spare day in Arusha or Moshi before or after a safari or climb.
- You want a cultural experience with local Chagga families rather than another day in a vehicle.
- You enjoy walking and the chance of a swim.
It is less suited to travellers who cannot manage uneven, sometimes muddy paths. If you have limited mobility, tell us before booking so we can advise honestly on whether the walk will suit you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Materuni Waterfalls tour cost?
With Lekobe, the full-day Materuni Waterfalls, coffee tour and Kikuletwa Hot Springs trip starts from US$200 per person. That includes hotel pickup in Arusha or Moshi, an English-speaking guide, a traditional lunch, bottled water, entrance fees and taxes. Tips are extra, and the final price depends on group size and dates.
How far is Materuni from Arusha?
Materuni Village is about a two-hour drive from Arusha, based on the itinerary of our 3-day fly-in trip. Moshi is closer to the mountain, so the transfer is shorter if you stay there. From Materuni, Kikuletwa Hot Springs is roughly another hour by road, so expect a full day out.
Can I do Materuni Waterfalls from Zanzibar?
Not as a road day trip, because Zanzibar is an island. The practical way is our 3-Day Fly-in to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Materuni Falls, from US$1,485 per person. You fly to Arusha, spend two days on safari, visit Materuni and Kikuletwa on day three, and fly back to Zanzibar the same evening.
What should I wear for the Materuni hike?
Wear hiking shoes with good grip, light clothing you do not mind getting damp, and pack swimwear and a towel for Kikuletwa Hot Springs. A light rain jacket is useful because the slopes of Kilimanjaro are often wetter than Arusha or Moshi. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch near the falls.
Is Materuni a good activity before climbing Kilimanjaro?
Yes. It is a relaxed day that will not wear you out before the climb, and it introduces you to the mountain’s lower slopes and the Chagga culture of the region. Book it for a spare day before your trek starts, or for the day after you descend, when a swim at Kikuletwa feels especially welcome.
Book your Materuni Waterfalls day trip
Whether you want a single relaxed day from Arusha or Moshi, or a fly-in safari from Zanzibar that ends at the falls, we can tailor it to your dates and group. Send us a message on WhatsApp (+255 676 68 1293), email info@lekobeadventures.com, or use the enquiry form on any trip page, such as the Materuni day trip page. We usually reply within 24 hours with a clear, no-obligation quote.
