Mto wa Mbu is a small town and green oasis in the vast Maasai plains around Lake Manyara National Park, where you find rice and banana plantations due to the excellent water availability. This is where the tour by tuk-tuk (or bajaji as they say in Swahili) starts. This 3-wheel motor vehicle originated in India and is perfect for use on minor roads. A maximum of 3 people can sit at the back, and during the tour, you can just tell your driver if you want to stop somewhere.

The tuk-tuk drive is one of Ilmaasai Expedition favorite excursions. Imagine driving around in a tuk-tuk, surrounded by lush greens, while you pass all sorts of typical little houses and narrow roads. The first part of the tour goes through the village of Mto wa Mbu itself, after which you head for the forest. On the way you pass several farms, banana plantations, a brewery and a local artist, and on the way back you visit a Tanzanian school. The complete tour takes one to two hours, but on request, it can be shorter or longer. It’s also possible to do this tour by mountain bike.