Mkuru Cultural Tourism Programme
Take a camel safari into the depths of maasailand between Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru, surrounded by tradition, wildlife and stunning scenery.
Mkuru Area and the Camels
Mkuru is situated on the North side of Mt Meru, not far from the irrigated fields of Ngarenanyuki and the Momella gate of Arusha National Park. From a distance it can be easily recognised by the remarkably shape of Ol Donyo Ndare, the little mountain that looks like a pyramid.
The area around Mkuru is alive with colourful birds, small mammals, zebra and giraffe in the plains to the north, and is a corridor for elephants travelling between Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro.
Maasai families live in small traditional bomas scattered throughout the area. In the early morning the warriors start wandering with their cattle looking for pasture and water. Young children take care of the goat s and sheep, and sometimes assist their mothers in collecting water and firewood.
Since the introduction of camels in the early nineties for tourism and with the assistance of the Heifer Project International, Mkuru has become one of the centers for camels in Tanzania. Over 50 camels stay in the camel boma and they are led everyday into the plains to search for forage. At the end of the day, all the camels return to be milked by Maasai warriors. They are the perfect animals for this semiarid area, hardly competing with the livestock and able to withstand drought much better than the maasai cattle. If necessary camels can stay up to fifteen days without drinking and they are capable of making long trips.
The Mkuru Camel Group offers you camel safaris of one or more days as well as a number of other options for walking, or bird watching
Facilities
A camp with the most incredible view awaits you at Mkuru, set among acacias and designed to compliment the environment.
In addition to well-designed sites for tents, simple bathroom and cooking facilities are available. You will see the Maasai milking the camels and can enjoy a cup of fresh camel milk. At night relax by a campfire listening to the sounds of the plains under a million stars.
Guides
Guides are mainly young Maasai or Wameru who grew up in the plains around Mkuru and who are experienced at organizing camel safaris. They have been trained as guides and are knowledgeable about birds, animals, and their surroundings but some may speak limited English. For longer safaris it is advisable to come with an extra guide who can translate for you.
Equipment
There are limited tents available for hire on prior request but if you have bring your own as well as sleeping bags, as well as food and drinking water. Other water is brought into the camp by the camels.
Good walking shoes are advisable as well as plenty of sun protection such as a hat or cream.
For further information please contact:
TANZANIA TOURIST BOARD (TTB) Information Center
47 Boma Road
P.O. Box 2348, Arusha
Tel (+255) –27-2507515
2503842/3
Fax (+255) –27-2548628
Email:
ttbinfo@habari.co.tz
www.tourismtanzania.org
Or
Isaya Shakweti (Programme Coordinator)
+255 748 724498
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