Osotwa is situated 1.9 km off the Arusha-Nairobi road from Ngaramtoni junction. Osotwa is a programme by the people dwelling on the slopes of Mt.Meru, blessed with rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage.
There are tours available for half day,full day, and full day one
night.
The following is on offer:
1. Walk through nine identified villages in the Arumeru district.
You will go with Maasai eco-tour guides to meet people,ejoy the beautiful scenery and see how people live in this rural part of Tanzania.
2. A view intothe culture of the Maasai in the II Iarusa settlement
3. A lunch of traditional East African food and Maasai herbal tea or locally grown and processed coffee.
4. Visit to the colourful Maasai markets on Thursday and Sunday.
5. A climb up the impresssive Sambasha Hill (2000m, an old volcano with a
crater and natural forest on top. Watch birds,butterflies, colobus and blue
monkeys and enjoy a wonderful view of Arusha town.
6. A visit to Kitakuk Hill-Osotwa's Environmental Conservation Project where 18,000 indigenous trees are planted.
7. A visit to historic and ritual sites.
8. A visit to a Maasai traditional healer and a craft village.
9. Visits to community development projects that aim at improving the living
conditios through income generating and environmental conservation activities.
10. A visit to Olmotonyi forestry training institute.
11. A visit to Meru/Usa forest plantations.
12. A visit to a sawmill complex in the Mt.Meru area.
Half day tours
1. Walk across the boundary of Meru/Usa Forest Plantation and the villages adjacent to the forest. Observe farming activities, the Olmotonyo river valley, blue monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys and birds. Climbthe Sambasha Hill (2,000m) to see a mini crater and proceed to Kitakuk Hill to see an environmental project. Get a glimpse of Maasai culture before returning to the Osotwa offfice.
2. Start from the Osotwa office and pass the primary and secondary schools. Enjoy the scenic plateu land covered with banana plantations and coffee farms. Walk through the villages and learn about the Selian and Ngarenaro rivers and unique ''strangler'' tree. Visit a traditional healer, and bead and handicraft makers.
Full day tour
Start at the Osotwa office and walk through the Meru/Usa Forest Plantation and along Olmotonyi river to Sambasha Hill. Enjoy a view over Arusha town and see white and black colobus monkeys and blue monkeys, a caldera and many birds. Visit a boma where you will be served a hot traditional Tanzania meal. Later, meet a traditional healer, and makers of beads and other handicrafts.
Getting there:
There are buses from Arusha to Ngaramtoni bus stand, or travel by private transport up to the same junction. There you will be met by the eco-tour guides to take you to the Osotwa office.
(Income from tourist visits will be used to promote socio-economic activities at village level. Your visit helps to conserve the environment and cultural heritage.)
