A safari can be much more than sitting in a car – one of the coolest ways to explore the natural beauty of Tanzania is by bike!

There are so many things you can do with a mountain bike in Tanzania.

From a short 2-hour ride through the coffee plantation in Arusha, to a 7-day tour around the entire base of the Kilimanjaro, and everything in between!

Our favorite here at Safari Eyes is the 2-day/1-night bike tour through Enduimet. Explore the gorgeous area in all of its diversity, and even see elephants and giraffes, all from your bike!

Now get to learn everything about the cultivation of coffee and the life of a coffee farmer!
Kilimanjaro is coffee country! For a half day excursion, those interested can visit a small-scale coffee farmer on the slopes of the Kili, who will show you everything you need to know about coffee cultivation. You will be taken through all the steps, from planting the seedling to the making of the final cup of delicious hot coffee. Guided by a local farmer, you will witness the whole process of coffee production from bean to cup.

The farmer will also explain to you about organic coffee farming and fair trade standards. The tour includes a locally prepared lunch and a homemade cup of coffee.

The tour was set up by a Dutch development program of sustainable tourism and contributes to income-generation of small-scale coffee farmers, making them less dependent on the fluctuating world market prices for coffee and seasonal effects related to farming.

Coffee from Kilimanjaro is of high quality and is popular worldwide due to its low level of acidity. For Tanzania, the Kilimanjaro coffee is the most important “cash crop” of the country. The town of Moshi in Kilimanjaro is the main hub for the coffee trade. On the plantation that you visit, coffee plants are grown, coffee beans harvested, dried, the beans separated off the undesirable ingredients and bagged. You can participate in all the steps.

Duration of the tour: 3-5 hours

About Tanzanian Coffee
Very high quality coffee beans are cultivated in the Kilimanjaro region, called “Chagga AA”, named after the local tribe. Chagga AA has a very full-bodied flavour and smell, its Arabica pearl beans contain less acid than, for instance, coffee beans from Kenya. To cultivate high quality coffee requires a lot of care and knowledge. The Arabica plant is very sensitive; it cannot be exposed to strong wind, heat or cold, and needs permeable soils which can hold a lot of water. In most cases, coffee is planted within natural forest vegetation or in combination with other crops for the provision of shade. Banana plants, for instance, can protect the sensitive coffee trees from direct sun due to their large leaves.

When reaching around 15 years, coffee trees provide the highest yield; they can be productive for around 25-40 years. Every tree only yields half a kilo of raw coffee per harvest, requiring a good selection of coffee cherries. Harvesting is always done manually, mostly because the coffee cherries on one branch are usually in different stages of the ripening process. The ripe berries, which are of dark red colour, have to be handpicked. For the harvester, this means checking on and harvesting the same trees every 8-10 days.

After the harvest, for further processing, the pulp surrounding the coffee bean has to be removed, just as the so-called “silver skin” and the parchment, all of which in the coffee cherry have the function of protecting the coffee bean.

In Tanzania, this is done making use of the “dry process”. The coffee cherries are dried in the sun in large, flat containers and as soon as the bean “rattles” inside the cherry, the cherries are broken making use of a machine. Centrifuges then separate the bean from the unwanted parts. This raw coffee is filled into sacks which are sold at the raw coffee bean auction.

In Moshi during the harvesting season there is a large weekly auction of raw coffee beans. Even though there is consistent demand for coffee, the price for raw coffee beans, which only makes 10% of the end price for consumable coffee, is exposed to strong fluctuations on the world market. This puts at stake the existence of the small-scale coffee farmers. An alternative option is “fair trade” coffee, which guarantees a fixed purchase price and purchase quantity to the farmers, independent from the price of raw coffee beans on the world market.

The roasting and final processing only takes place at the consumer countries such as the US, Germany or Italy. The right roasting requires time and experience. Using the traditional method of drum roasting, the beans are being roasted in a rotating drum over a gas flame. From the colour of the beans, the oven’s smoke and the smell, the roaster notices when the beans have the right degree of roasting. Every delivery of coffee has to be roasted separately, as the beans of every strain and harvest behave differently when being roasted. After the roasting, the hot beans are being sieved for small particles and then chilled quickly.

October and March are the months for planting; February, harvesting of plants in lower altitudes; June harvesting of plants in higher altitudes. In December, the plants are in bloom and in February green beans are developing. During these two months, several steps of plant care have to be carried out.

Imagine a six days safari in Northern Tanzania natural beauties. During safari with Safari Eyes, you visit Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Parks. You meet the savannah wild animals face-to-face and you can take amazing photos of big predators and Tanzanian landscapes. All this is well organized by a Tour Operator based in Arusha, full board, private guide, exclusive use of the 4×4 jeep and high-quality selected lodges.Why not switch your safari with some Adventure activities or cultural activities?

The Marangu Route is also known as the “Tourist Route” and the “Coca-Cola Route.” This is because Marangu is the most popular route on the mountain, and thus is considered “touristy”, and because the route is the only one that offers sleeping huts, which serve beverages like Coca-Cola, on the way.

Marangu is the easiest route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s ascension profile is very gradual and steady, allowing for painless trekking for most of the way. However, due to its reputation as an easy route, Marangu is often selected by unprepared, unexperienced climbers. Correspondingly, only about 35% of the people actually make it to the top.

The trek begins in the south-east area of the mountain at Marangu Gate. The route takes five days minimum to complete, although six days is more practical and recommended. The sleeping huts along the route are structures with a dining hall and bunk beds, equipped with mattresses and pillows. The descent is done on the same path, contributing to Marangu’s overcrowded feeling. It is a cheaper climb as well, do to the close proximity of the gate to Moshi, the gateway town, and because it is a shorter route.

Scenically, Marangu is not a desirable route compared to all the other routes because it confines climbers to one area of the mountain, thus limiting the variety. However, Marangu has the best trail in the rainforest section of the trek. Of course, there are still great views of the Mawenzi and it’s equally spectacular for everyone at Uruhu.

Marangu is ideal for those who are not confident in their ability to hike over steeper paths. It’s also attractive for those who do not want to sleep in a tent. Marangu’s huts offer shelter and warmth against the weather so it is a decent choice when climbing during the rainy season. Marangu is for those who want to spend less on their climb, and do not mind crowds.

A Serengeti balloon safari is the ultimate way to experience the vastness of the national park.

Just imagine floating above the Serengeti plains skimming treetops in complete silence whilst seeing wildlife on the ground below. This is an essential safari experience for travellers to Serengeti National Park.

To walk through the African bush is to experience Africa close-up. Smells are suddenly subtle and varied and every sound has significance.

Birds and butterflies are individuals, noticed and studied, not simply rushed past in the race for the bigger game. And when the larger animals appear, they are met at eye level, standing on the same earth. Safety is not an issue – armed, experienced guides and game rangers accompany all walks. Your camp is packed up and transported to the next location by different methods: pick-up truck, porters or donkeys. The camping style tends to be lightweight and extremely mobile. You will walk for several days, travelling like nomads across the African bush often miles from any roads or tracks.

The largest of several alkaline lakes that are located inside Arusha national park of northern Tanzania. It serves as a tourist hotspot, with several animals to see including both greater and lesser flamingoes, hippos and several other bird species. It has a maximum and minimum depth of 31 m and 10 m respectively and also support micro algae.

Big Momella is located next to the north eastern border of Arusha national park, and next to its siblings small Momella and lake Rishateni. In fact, the eastern shore of the lake is land belonging to a farmer’s settlement.

Africa’s race for life.

The journey for the key players in the Great Migration, the roughly two million wildebeest, starts in the south of the Serengeti, with the birth of half a million calves between January and March. A favourite season for many of the seasoned Serengeti guides: the air during these months is full of new life and action. Read all about Africa’s biggest wildlife event on this page.

Is a uniquely beautiful lake lies at 1030m between the Eyasi escarpment ,in the north and the Oldean mountains in the south Eyasi makes a detour on the Ngorongoro trip for any one,looking for something remote and different, the Lake itself varies considerably in the size depending on the rains and supporting a mix of water birds including huge breeding season.

The Masai (or Maasai, Maassai) are nomadic herders that immigrated from northern Africa to East Africa towards the middle of the 16th century. This most well-known ethnic group in East Africa is now located in the Kilimanjaro region, both in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Currently, there are about 1,000,000 Maasai, equally divided between the two countries.