Exotic Mto Wa Mbu, In a world full of war, where hundreds of different nationalities, tribes, and clans live in either an uneasy peace or open hostility, the small, beautiful town of Mto Wa Mbu in Tanzania stands out as a sign of hope for the future.Why? You’ll be entering a world where more than 120 tribes live together peacefully when you walk into this colorful community of shops, restaurants, art projects, and banana farms.

As you walk through the village market and take in all the different styles and languages, you’ll feel a peaceful mix of cultures that the UN could only dream of.

Still, the different tribes in Mto Wa Mbu get along and work together, sharing skills in art, crafts, farming, and business.

A Different Kind of Safari

While on your tour in northern Tanzania, take a break to learn about a different culture. A lot of people go on safaris to see the famous Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park, which are close to Mto Wa Mbu.

But you can have your own little safari just by going to the village. During their migration, a lot of giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, and other animals use the roads that lead there.

When you get to the village’s banana farm, you can meet the people who live there and learn how they’ve grown 32 kinds of this useful fruit by riding their motorbikes around.

An event to honor art

A small town in the middle of nowhere might not seem like a good place to find a lot of art, but Mto Wa Mbu is full of surprises. Check out the youth arts project to see the colorful works of local teens and young adults who are happy to share their creative ideas and let you buy their work.

The Makonde are one of the many tribes in the town, and they make very detailed masks and figurines. You can visit their workshop and learn how they use local woods to make art. They may even offer to help you cut your own pieces. Of course, you can buy the fine things they make.

Lunch? Did Someone Say That?

We can stop at the main market on our way to one of the restaurants in the area to try some of the fruits, veggies, meats, and spices that are sold there.

As we sit down for lunch, traditional foods will be brought to you straight from a wood stove nearby. Mbege is a local beer made from bananas that goes well with your lunch.

You could also try a shot of konyagi, a popular drink in Tanzania that is made from sugarcane. Then, take a slow walk to Balaa Hill after lunch to get a great view of Lake Manyara and the vast area beyond.

You might not have thought that the idea of “The Melting Pot” could still bring people together in today’s broken world, but little Mto Wa Mbu is proud to show us we were wrong… and help us believe.

Please get in touch with us, and we will include this lovely village in your tour.