The Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour is an excellent full-day excursion from Moshi combining a moderate hike, rainforest scenery, Chagga culture, coffee farming and a traditional local lunch. Materuni is roughly 15–20 km from Moshi, depending on the route/measurement, and the drive generally takes around 30–60 minutes.

Tour at a glance

Starting point: Moshi
Destination: Materuni Village, southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro
Duration: Approximately 7–9 hours
Hiking time: About 1.5–2 hours round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Activities: Hiking, waterfall visit, coffee experience, Chagga culture and local lunch
Altitude: Materuni village is around 1,500–1,700 m; published figures for the waterfall vary depending on the measurement point.
Best for: Couples, families, first-time visitors, hikers and travellers looking for a Kilimanjaro-area cultural experience.

Detailed Materuni Day Hike Itinerary

8:00 AM – Pick-up from Moshi

Your guide and driver collect you from your hotel in Moshi.

After a short briefing, drive towards Materuni Village, passing through the fertile lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The landscape gradually changes from town to agricultural areas, with banana plantations, coffee farms and traditional Chagga homesteads.

Driving time: approximately 30–60 minutes depending on your hotel and road conditions.

9:00 AM – Arrival at Materuni Village

Arrive at Materuni and meet your local Chagga guide.

Before starting the hike, your guide gives you a short briefing about:

The hiking route
Local culture and traditions
Coffee farming
Plants and trees found in the area
Safety during the walk
What to expect at the waterfall

Materuni is a Chagga farming community on the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro.

9:15 AM – Begin the Waterfall Hike

Start walking from the village towards Materuni Waterfall.

The trail passes through:

Banana plantations
Coffee farms
Avocado trees
Small farms
Local homesteads
Streams and small valleys
Lush forest

The walk is not a technical mountain hike, but there are uneven, muddy and sometimes slippery sections, particularly after rainfall. Some sections involve moderate uphill and downhill walking.

Walking time: approximately 45–60 minutes each way.

10:15 AM – Materuni Waterfall

Arrive at the waterfall and take time to enjoy the surroundings.

Materuni’s waterfall is commonly described by tour operators as roughly 70–90 metres high, although published measurements differ.

Activities at the waterfall include:

Photography
Enjoying the scenery
Relaxing beside the river
Exploring the surrounding forest
Swimming where conditions are considered safe

The water can be very cold, so swimming should be optional and dependent on weather, water conditions and the guide’s advice.

Allow approximately 45–60 minutes at the waterfall.

11:15 AM – Hike Back to Materuni Village

Begin the return hike.

This section can feel slightly more demanding because there are some uphill sections.

Your guide can make stops along the way to explain:

Local plants
Traditional medicine
Coffee cultivation
Banana farming
Chagga agricultural practices
Local wildlife and birdlife

12:15 PM – Traditional Chagga Coffee Experience

Return to the village and begin the coffee experience.

This is more than simply drinking coffee. Visitors can participate in the traditional process:

Learn about the coffee plant
See or pick coffee cherries when in season
Remove/process the beans
Dry the beans
Roast the coffee
Grind the roasted beans
Prepare fresh coffee
Enjoy a freshly brewed cup

Some experiences also include traditional Chagga songs and demonstrations during the coffee preparation.

This is one of the highlights of the Materuni experience for visitors interested in local culture.

1:30 PM – Traditional Chagga Lunch

Enjoy a freshly prepared local lunch.

Depending on the season and the host, the meal can include dishes such as:

Rice
Ugali
Plantain/banana dishes
Beans
Chicken or beef stew
Seasonal vegetables
Fresh fruit

Vegetarian meals can normally be arranged in advance.

Lunch is also an opportunity to learn more about everyday life in the Chagga community.

2:30 PM – Materuni Village Cultural Experience

After lunch, spend some relaxed time in the village.

Depending on the program and time available, you can:

Visit local farms
Learn about traditional Chagga houses
See banana cultivation
Learn about local food production
Purchase locally produced coffee
Interact with community members
Take photographs

3:30 PM – Depart Materuni

Say goodbye to your local guide and begin the drive back to Moshi.

The drive gives you another opportunity to enjoy views of the Kilimanjaro foothills and surrounding agricultural areas.

4:30–5:00 PM – Arrival in Moshi

Drop-off at your hotel in Moshi.

The exact return time depends on the pace of the hike, lunch, coffee experience, traffic and weather.

What Makes the Materuni Hike Special?

🌿 1. Kilimanjaro rainforest environment

The route takes you away from the busy town environment and into the greener foothills of Kilimanjaro.

💦 2. Materuni Waterfall

The waterfall is the main natural attraction, with the Mware River dropping dramatically through the forest. (Wild Springs Adventures)

☕ 3. Authentic coffee experience

Instead of simply visiting a coffee shop, visitors can learn about the traditional farm-to-cup process.

🏡 4. Chagga culture

Materuni provides an opportunity to experience the agricultural traditions and everyday life of the Chagga communities living on Kilimanjaro’s southern slopes.

🥾 5. Suitable as a warm-up hike

The hike is considerably shorter and less demanding than a Kilimanjaro climb, making it useful for travellers who want some activity before or after a trek.