ILKINDING'A

Location:
10 km north of Arusha town, a 30 minute drive on the road North at the Ilboru junction on the Moshi-Nairobi road
 
The Village
With its neighbor Ilboru, it has played a role in the history of Arusha. The Lutheran Missionaries from Germany and Sabaya, the chief of the Wa-arusha people, agreed in 1904 to build the first church and school in Ilboru. From that time on, cooperation between the church and the chiefs was settled. Youngsters were invited to study at the boarding school. In 1907, the first young men were baptized. Esizo Bene Kokan became Simeon, Lengivai Kikuyu became Johannes.
 
In those days girls were assigned a man to marry and if they refused they were beaten. They ran away from home and the missionaries received them in their schools. In 1910 the first girl was baptized. Communication between chiefs and the British ruler took place by letter, but in those days very few people attended schools to become literate, so the baptized youngsters became secretaries to the chiefs. Later on, Simeon Kokan was chosen by the Wa-arusha to become chief, and under his leadership, churches, schools, roads and the Court House were built. The main road leading to the Arusha International Conference Center is named in his memory. The last chief Stefania had to retire when the newly independent government abolished chiefdom with the Uhuru (freedom) Declaration.
 
Half Day Tour
In this tour you start at Sembeo’s household where several traditionally built, round houses give you an idea of how an extended family live together. The view of the Ngarenaro Valley and Leleto Hill is beautiful, and the presence of Mt. Meru makes it unique. Sembeo will show you how knifes are made and will explain how he runs his business. From here you will walk through a small coffee plantation and enter the open fields where potato, cabbage, maize, beans and other crops are cultivated. In Ilkisingo, you will enjoy the view overlooking Arusha. Afterwards you walk down to the house of the traditional healer. He is ready to answer all your questions and will give you advice if needed. From there you head on to visit a craftsmen group, where the members make small wooden stools, jewelry, knives and traditional clothing. If you have had enough walking you can be picked up by car or you can continue on to the canyon of Njeche. Scrambling into the canyon is an adventure, and you can observe the abundant plants that cover the caves and rocky walls.
 
Full Day Tour
From the same starting point you go down to the Ngarenaro River, cross it and start climbing Leleto Hill, from where you have a view of the Maasai steppe and its volcanoes. Then you walk through the fields in the direction of the forest reserve of Arusha National Park. You have a rest at Ilkisongo view point. From here you go back to Sembeo’s household where the Mainyoito Women’s Group is waiting for you with a traditional meal (maize, milk and red beans are the basic ingredients of the dishes). You walk down to visit the traditional healer, the craftsmen and the canyon. You also visit the primary school where money generated from tourism as development fees is used to rehabilitate the school. Tourists who still want to walk can continue down to Arusha in less than 2 hours. You will not walk alone, people are going to and from town and you are one of them.
 
Arusha - Ilkinding'a – Arusha
This is a 7 hours trip for people in good walking condition. The guide will pick you up at your hotel in the morning. Along narrow paths, passing the suburbs of town, you enter the fields of the Wa-arusha people in Ilboru. You pass the spring where people get their water for daily use, you visit a water catchment site built with help from OXFAM, a primary school, the Njeche canyon, visit the craftsmen and have lunch at Sembeo’s place. From here you walk back to Arusha, passing other villages and coming out on the Moshi-Nairobi road. This trip can also be done on mountain bikes.
 
3 Days Ilkinding'a Hike
Traditional food can be prepared in the villages along the way. If you want western food, we will bring a cook to accompany you.
 
Day 1: Arusha/Ologeruno/Ilkioga/Ormelil/Milkhasi Forest/Timbolo
 
Day 2: Timbolo/Olkolola/Ilkurot
 
Day 3: Ilkurot/Muklat/Ngaramtoni/Arusha
 
Development Project
The profit from this tour is used to improve the primary school. Your visit helps us to give the children a better education which is the base for leading a good life.