MKURU

Location:
Mkuru is situated on the North side of Mount Meru, not far away from the irrigated fields of Ngarenanyuki and the Momela gate
 
The Village
From a distance, the Mkuru area can be easily recognized through the remarkable shape of Ol Doinyo Landaree, the little mountain that looks like a pyramid. Maasai families live in small traditional bomas scattered throughout the area. In the early morning, the warriors start wandering with their cattle looking for pasture and water. Young children take care of the goat and sheep, and sometimes assist their mothers in fetching water and collecting firewood.
 
With assistance from Heifer Project International, some Maasai have also started keeping campels, and come to understand the benefits of this animal. On behalf of the requrets from Maasai societies, Heifer Project Internaional is providing camels to individuals and groups. Since the introduction of camels in Tanzania in the early nineties, Mkuru has become one of the centers for camel promotion in the country. Over a hundred camels stay in the camel camp, from where they are lead every day into the plains to search for forage. At the end of the afternoon, all camels return to the camp and are milked by Maasai warriors. The camels are seen as a perfect animal for the semi-arid plains between Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Natron. Since they eat from the trees, they hardly compete with the livestock and they can stand the droughts much better than the Maasai cattle. If necessary, camels can stay up to fifteen days without drinking, so they are capable of making long trips.
 
The area around Mkuru is alive with colorful birds. The rufous crowned roller, the red and yellow barbet an the Fischer’s lovebird are some of the more special species. Small game also regularly passes the area and in the plains to the north, giraffes and zebras are common animals.
 
Variety Of Tours
A visit to Mkuru can be designed in various ways, varying from an overnight at the camel camp to a camel safari of several days.
 
Camel Safaris
The camel camp experience: At the end of the afternoon, you arrive at the camel camp, where you can see the camel herds returning roam the plains and walk in between these animals that are very friendly to men. Often there are young camels, just born, that cannot yet walk and have to be carried by Maasai warriors to place in the shade of a tree. At night, near the campfire, you can listen to sounds of the plains and watch the thousands of stars in the sky. In the morning, you will see the Maasai milking the camels and you can enjoy the taste of a cup of fresh camel milk. You can then undertake a camel ride of several hours through the plains around Mkuru. On the back of the camel and guided by Maasai warriors, you can perfectly oversee the area and have good chances to view game and special birds. With Kilimanjaro and Longido Mountain at the horizon, and Mount Meru rising up righ behind you, the landscape you are wandering through is of an amazing magnitude.
 
In co-operation with tour operators, arrangements can be made for camel safaris of more days. Starting from the camp in Mkuru, safaris are possible in the direction of Kilimanjaro, Longido Mountain, and Lake Natron. In two days, a tour can be made in the direction of Mount Kilimanjaro, passing the wildlife corridor between Amboseli National Park and Tarangire and Arusha National Park. In three days a safari can be made to Longido Mountain, while four days is sufficient to reach the mountain of Kitumbeine. For the most adventurous ones, a seven days safar can be organized via the mountains of Kitumbeine and Ol Doinyo Lengai to the shores of Lake Natron. During the camel safaris you usually cover around 20 km before lunch. In the afternoon you can always relax and explore the area around the camp.
 
Walking Safari
For a more strenuous tour without the camels, you can climb Ol Doinyo Landaree, the mountain with the shape of a pyramid. Escorted by Maasai warriors it will take you about two hours to reach the top, from where you have a beautiful view on Mount Meru and can look out over the Maasai plain between Meru and Kilimanjaro. In about one and a half hours, you can descend the mountain and relax at the camel’s camp. Combinations of various tours are very well possible.
 
Around Meru Adventure Safari
A camel safari in Mkuru can also be combined with a visit to Arusha National Park. In two and a half days, an adventurous tour can be made around Mount Meru. The first day you leave Arusha at noon and make an afternoon game drive in Arusha National Park around the Momela Lakes. You spend the night at Arusha National Park, and make the next morning a walking safari through the natural forests on the slopes of Mount Meru. In the afternoon you proceed to the Mkuru camel camp, where you make the camel ride the next day before you return late afternoon via the west side of Mount Meru to Arusha.
 
Guides
The guides are mainly young Maasai who grew up in the plains around Mount Meru, and are well-experienced in organizing camel safaris. They speak only limited English, but can explain a lot with hand signs. Upon request, on longer safaris we can provide an extra guide who can translate Swahili into English.
 
Facilities
In the camp there are three luxury cottages, that each provides room for two persons. The cottages share one outside toilet, from where you have an excellent view on Kilimanjaro. For large groups, we will provide camping equipment. Except from tea and coffee with camel milk, there are no food and drinks for sale in the camp. On requests we can make use of the kitchen with energy saving stoves to prepare meals for our clients.
 
Development Project
There is no primary school for the Maasai people in the village of Mkuru, and as a result children who want to get an education have to walk long distances every day to neighboring villages. Especially for the younger children, this distance is simply too far. In order to provide education for the younger children, the Maasai have now started their own kindergarten in Mkuru. A part of the income generated from tourism will be used to support this kindergarten.