Day Trip: Coffee Tour and Materuni Waterfall in Moshi, Tanzania

What is your drink preference if you had a choice between coffee or tea? We’re tea drinkers, yet that didn’t stop us from taking a day trip for a coffee tour and also visiting the Materuni waterfall in Moshi, Tanzania.

The day after we landed in Kilimanjaro was supposed to be a lazy, lounge around type of day to get over the jet-lag. However, during our pre Mt. Kilimanjaro hike meeting with Manase (the owner of Top Climbers Expedition), we decided to maximize our trip and join a supplemental tour . Normally costing $65 a person, we were offered a discounted rate of $45 USD/person which included a guide, transportation, admission cost, boxed lunch, and water. Why not?

Kasim, our guide from Top Climbers Expedition, picked us up from Key’s Hotel in the morning and we were on our way! Prepare yourself for a bumpy yet fun ride due to the dirt roads.

Coffee Tour

Our first stop was to Hillborn Organic Coffee. We signed in at a shack in the parking lot area and took a short hike up a dirt path. We met our tour guide from Hillborn Organic Coffee and he shared the history of coffee in Tanzania, the agricultural area, and how the Chagga people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Tanzania, are involved with coffee.

The best part was seeing the coffee get processed from bean to the final drink. We loved listening to the team sing during various stages in the coffee making process.  

1. Remove floating (bad beans) and let them dry
2. Pound beans with large pestle to separate husk
3. Shake the beans to remove husk
4. Sort through beans and remove bad ones
5. Shake the beans to remove remaining husk
6. Roast beans in pot and let it cool
7. Pound beans with large pestle to grind coffee
8. Strain coffee and drink!

Everyone said that our hearts will go “boom boom” after drinking this coffee, and it didn’t disappoint. The coffee was flavorful and not too bitter after two scoops of raw sugar.

Our video of the process:

Materuni Waterfall

After enjoying a delicious cup of coffee, it was time for a short drive to the waterfall. Cars can drive along the dirt path to get to the waterfall, but we opted to take the 20-30 minute walk to the falls. The path was irresistible with the luscious greenery – endless fields of banana trees, avocado trees, coffee plants, and corn. It was a peaceful walk as we were the only ones on the trail. The path wasn’t too dusty or muddy, so hiking shoes were not necessary.

The Materuni waterfall was beautiful with the clear water and rushing falls. You could swim in the water if you’d like. We took a bunch of photos and relaxed on one of the mountainside benches with our box lunches, soaking in the view.

On our way to Materuni waterfall

Beautiful scenery

Funny group photo

Vegetarian lunch box with samosas

Regular lunch box with BBQ chicken

Headed back to the van

Overall, it was a fun day trip and we would recommend it. Enjoy the outdoors!

Is this a place that you would interested in visiting? Let us know where we should see other amazing waterfalls!