Machame is an area on the southeastern slope
of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The name "Machame" refers
to an ethnic and linguistic group of people occupying this area historically as
its homeland, as well as the specific location.
Machame
language
Although sometimes lumped
with other Chaga Languages, Machame is a distinct language (also known as
"Kimachame" in Swahili and as "Kimashame" or
"Kimashami" in the Machame language itself.For most inhabitants of Machame
(i.e., the Machame "tribe"), including children born and raised in
this area, Kimachame is their first language; Swahili and English are learned
via formal schooling.
Geography
Physically, the Machame area
occupies part of Hai District, in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. It forms several of the 14 wards of Hai District. Ever since the latter part of the
20th century, the Machame Gate and Machame Camp have become the two locations
in the Machame area most known to tourists visiting Tanzania, because these
form part of the Machame Route fro treks ascending Mt. kilimanjaro. There is one major, paved road
traversing Machame. It begins at the south end stemming from the A23
Arusha-to-Himo main road (which also connects Moshi to Arusha). This
intersection is 15 km from Moshi and 75 km from Arusha. The name of
this intersection is commonly "Kilimanjaro Machine Tools", after the
defunct business of the same name which left an abandoned building at the south
edge of this intersection. This road proceeds north until it reaches the
Machame Gate at the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park. Several secondary,
unpaved roads connect points within Machame. Machame is traversed by several
rivers that flow year-round within deep gorges running down the slopes of Mt.
Kilimanjaro. In addition to the natural rivers, there are systems of flumes for
irrigation that pre-date the colonial era. Although major infrastructure
project spread piped water through much of the area in the 1990s and later, the
flumes are still used and maintained for agricultural irrigation.
Economy
and Agricultural Practices
The majority of residents of
Machame, like in many other rural areas of Tanzania, earn a living through
agriculture. The year-round temperate climate and fairly high humidity allow
cultivation of a huge variety of crops. Since the colonial period, coffee has
been an important cash crop for export; however, its prominence has decreased
in recent decades. As noted by Mbonile, et al., declining prices for exports
have influenced farmers to replace coffee with annual crops like tomatoes, of
which the surplus may be sold and consumed regionally. The overall land-use
pattern in Machame (and surrounding foothill areas of Mt. Kilimanjaro) have
changed broadly over the past 120 years—even more dramatically in the
post-independence period. Specifically, increasing agricultural planting in the
bottom three of the five climatic zones of Kilimanjaro has reduced native
vegetation. Agriculture in Machame fits generally into two modes: home gardens
consisting of multipurpose trees interspersed with food crops near houses, and
the "shamba" lands, or small fields, where food crops like maize,
finger millet, and beans are grown.
The formal economy in Machame
is broadly disbursed across many high-frequency shops ("kiosks")
throughout the many small villages comprising Machame. There are also several
formal markets—e.g., Kalali near the main road, and Bwani near Uraa—that are
organized and regulated by local government entities. Each market typically has
one or two designated market days each week. Machame is also dotted with other
small businesses such as mills for grain and presses for sunflower oil.
With growing use of the
Machame Route through Kilimanjaro National Park, a few businesses catering to
tourists have emerged. Many are informal, small-scale vendors near the Machame
Gate. Recently, the Protea hotel chain based in South Africa opened the Protea
Hotel Aisha Machame just along the main north-south road.
Machame, to the north of the Arusha - Moshi road, is a mosaic of beautful valleys, deep gorges, rivers, waterfalls and farms, and is home to the Chagga people. Explore the life of the people of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The tour includes the following:
A warm welcome in a local Chagga household
Hikes through dense natural forests and farms for acclimatization along fast flowing strems before climbing the mountain
Three different views of snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro, where local ancient Chagga legends recount tales of an iron hut that brought them strength
A visit to several development projects in the area (coffee production, traditional irrigation, afforestation, cross-breeding, bee-keeping, schools, health care, food processing, etc.)
There are various tours designed by the people of Machame:
Sieny - Ngira tour (4-6 hours)
The tour starts from the Machame Cultural Tourism Centre (Kyalia) and takes you through Kalali market to Masama. Sieny catchment forest is historically a sacred place of natural forests bridges and caves where local people worshipped during the traditional festivals. Another attraction is the natural bridge called ' Daraja la Mungu' or 'God's Bridge'.
Nronga tour (5 hours)
Walk uphill from Kyalia to Nronga village. Visit the milk purification centre run by women and the Kalali women's group specializing in cheese - making. If your visit is on a Monday, you can enjoy the colourful weekly market.
Environmental tour (5 hours)
Get a glimpse of how the locals make pottery for food and water storage. The guide will explain how the conservation activities such as rainwater harvesting undertaken in the area are ideal for a rural setting.
Nkuu tour (5 - 8 hours)
From Kyalia, walk through fertile banana and coffee farmlands and learn about an intensive inter-cropping system of mixed crop farming. Also, participate in cooking a traditional Chagga meal before return.
Mfuranungun view point (6-8 hours)
See Moshi town, Lake Nyumba ya Mungu (House of God) and learn about horticultural practice at Nkwewele. Hike to Marukeni before descending to the river Semira rich in trout.
Ng'uni hike (2 days)
The Sieny - Ngira tour can be combined with a hike to Ng'uni. At Ng'uni, learn to build the oldest Chagga traditional house called 'Mbii'. Meet Mzee Urassa who will brief you on stingless bee - keeping.
Lyamungo tour (2 -3 days)
The tour starts at Kyalia and leads you to Lyamungo village where you can learn about coffee production. Visit the Narumu Women Pottery Centre, natural forest and the source of the Weruweru river.
(Note: Tours can be undertaken on foot, but transport can be organized on request)
Tour Guides:- The guides of the Cultural Tourism Programme are of the Wachaga tribe who knows well the area, their culture & history and speaks English.
Bookings for various excursions and tours can be made at Tanzania Tourist Board-Tourist Information Office in Arusha or through your tour operators/travel agents/lodge & Hotel Operators
Getting There:
Machame is to the north of Arusha-Moshi road and easily accessible by public transport. Its a 55minutes drive fro the town of Arusha and less than 10 minutes drive from Moshi town. The junction to Machame is 12 kms away from Moshi town.After a 5 minutes drive from the junction, get off the minibus at Kyalia bus stand, you will see the offices on the southern side.
Where to stay:
Machame Cultural Tourism offers accommodation services in a campsite and a number of Homestay facilities located around. Camping ground installed with modern toilet facilities and clean water supply is available. Camping gears for hire at reasonable price are available in Moshi town.
(Income from tourist vist will be used to subsidise various omen and youth development activities within the area.)
For further information contact:
Machame:
Tel: +255 27 2756906 / +255 713 496207 / +255 754 519967
E-mail: fodamachame@elct.org, fodamachame@yahoo.com
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