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The lively town of Arusha, situated between the vast plains of the Serengeti to the west and the snow-covered peaks of Kilimanjaro to the east, provides an ideal starting point for your journey of discovery. If you’ve got a few hours or days to spare before you set out on safari, tackle the ‘big hill’, or head out to relax on the beach, why not join one of our short courses or tours, and discover a different side of life in Tanzania?These are just a few of the activities that Oreteti can offer in Arusha and the surrounding area, according to your budget, itinerary and interests:
  • Drum, Dance & Marimba (with optional Drum Making)
  • Maasai Bead Jewellery Workshop
  • Swahili Hip-Hop & Urban Youth Culture 
  • Tanzanian Cookery 
  • Arusha National Park Safari 
  • Mount Meru Challenge Trek or Medicine Walk
  • Traditional Barbecues with Maasai Dancing

Language Tuition 

To get more from your Tanzanian experience, one of the first steps is to learn a language. We offer Kiswahili and Maa for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. You can study at your own pace with a personal tutor, or join a group for cheaper rates if appropriate.

Drum, Dance and Marimba

One of our most popular courses, the Drum, Dance and Marimba programme is led by a professional musician from the Bondei tribe. You can learn the skills of traditional African drum and marimba playing, perform dance routines from up to 20 different ethnic groups, and even make your own drum or marimba from local materials. The standard two-day course includes six hours of music and dance tuition, plus the opportunity to make one drum that you can take home, but people on the go can start with a taster course lasting just two hours.

Maasai Bead Jewellery 

Workshop The Maasai are famous for their bead jewellery. In this course with a personal tutor, you can discover the hidden meanings of the colours, learn the significance of the various styles worn by men and women of different ages, and make your own necklace or bracelet as a ‘secret message’ for a loved one! Choose from a half-day, full day or two-day workshop, depending on the design that you’d like to make. This course is also offered in the Maasai village of Eluwai

   
   
 

Swahili Hip-Hop and Urban Youth Culture
Hip-hop music in Tanzania has a very different meaning from the ‘guns and drugs’ rap culture of the USA, often highlighting important social issues such as street children, environmental degradation and the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge. In a half-day or full day workshop, [delete prices] you can meet urban hip-hop artists, chat with them about the meanings of their lyrics, learn how music is recorded at the Aang Serian studio, watch a live performance – and even participate, if you want to!

   

Maasai Bead Jewellery

The Maasai are famous for their bead jewellery. In this course with a personal tutor, you can discover the hidden meanings of the colours, learn the significance of the various styles worn by men and women of different ages, and make your own necklace or bracelet as a ‘secret message’ for a loved one! Includes all materials. This course is also offered in the Maasai village of Eluwai as a larger workshop with a women’s group. 

Tanzanian Cookery

Taste the real Tanzania, beyond the standard tourist menu of beef with rice or egg and chips. Our talented chefs will teach you how to make Chagga plantain stew with chapattis, Maasai medicinal tea, traditional millet porridge and/or a variety of seasonal vegetable dishes according to your own preference. Ingredients are provided and Menus can be varied as appropriate. This course is also offered in the Chagga village of Uduru, Machame. 

Arusha National Park

Just an hour’s drive from central Arusha, this beautiful but little-known park is one of the last refuges for the rare black and white colobus monkey. Other highlights are wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, baboons, bushbuck, the shy and elusive red duiker, and almost 400 species of birds. The landscape is stunning, combining shady forest trails with spectacular mountain views – and unlike the other Northern Circuit national parks, Arusha National Park allows guided walking with a ranger in certain areas. It makes an ideal day trip, but there’s also overnight accommodation available in comfortable lodges. 

Meru Challenge Trek

Although Mount Meru at 4,566m (14,980ft) is a mere baby next to Kilimanjaro’s 5,895m (19,340ft), it’s actually a steeper and more challenging climb. Starting from Arusha National Park’s Momella Gate, the trek can be completed in three days, although allowing four can reduce the risk of altitude sickness - as well as giving you more time to relax and enjoy the spectacular views. The route takes in a diverse range of ecosystems, from parkland to mountain forest, heather moorland and finally a barren ridge to the summit. 

Meru Medicine Walk 

Starting from Arusha town centre and passing the dusty roadside stalls and traditional markets, our Maasai guide can lead you on a full day or half day walking tour through the foothills of Mount Meru. As well as experiencing beautiful views of Arusha and beyond, you’ll also discover some of the medicinal plants used by the Wa-Arusha people for preventing and treating a wide variety of diseases. This programme can be combined with camping or an overnight home stay with a local family, if you prefer a longer walking tour.

Traditional Barbecue with Maasai Dancing

Maasai warriors working as night watchmen in Arusha town enjoy nothing better, after their morning nap, than a traditional goat roast at lunchtime with a good song and dance! Guests can watch (and even help out with) the preparation of the meat, liver and medicinal soup; join the jumping dance, while the meat is roasting on an open fire; and finally sit round for an open-air meal under the trees. For vegetarians, we can also offer an option of roasted corncobs, followed by local greens with ‘ugali’ – a type of stiff maize porridge similar to polenta, which the Maasai often live on when they’re in town.

Oreteti Cultural Tourism Discovery is a company registered in the United Republic of Tanzania, Reg. No. 150884