Four Corners Cultural Programme

Four Corners Cultural Programme: Africa Natural Tours

AFRICA NATURAL TOURS (The best tour company in Tanzania)

Specialized in: Mountain climbing, Wildlife safaris, Cultural tourism and Beach holidays

Contact +255 653 679 958 OR +255 692 436 113

Email-info@africanaturaltours.com

We have a story to tell

We have a story to tell you about Africa. It is a story being lived as we speak. It is a story the world seldom hears because of all the other tales of wars and famine from our continent. It’s a story full of hope and beauty, of peace and coexistence, of culture and values. We don’t know when the story started, neither do we know when it will end. We only know when it started involving us. We, telling you this story, are the elders of Africa. We represent the four corners of Africa, the four main language groups of our continent. We are the Niger-Congo Language family represented by the Bantu speaking Nyisanzu and Iramba tribes, the Khoisan language family represented by the Hadzabe tribe, the Nilo-Saharan language group represented by the Nilotic Datooga tribe, and the Afro-Asiatic Language Family represented by the Cushitic speaking Iraqw tribe.

We the people of Haydom welcome you to explore, learn and know how we live in Haydom, the history of the four ethno-linguistic groups of African tribes, local royalty from the ancient to the Germany and British colonial era. You will come to know how and when Haydom was born and its hair raising adventurous history.

The following tours are offered:

* A tour of the Haydom Cultural Centre

* Murkuchida rock art paints

* Hadzabe hunting experience

* Lake Bassotu canoeing

* A visit to crater lake

* Bird watching

* Harar hill hiking

* Mulbadow wheat farm experience

* A visit to blacksmith

* Mount Hanang trekking

* Cycling tours

Haydom Cultural Centre Tour (1-3 hours)

You will embark on a guided tour around the centre. Visit the Museum with cultural artifacts collected from five different tribes: Datoga, Hadzabe, Iraqw, Nyisanzu and Nyiramba tribes. Explore traditional houses of the representing groups built within the centre and listen to stories about the culture of represented communities and get to know where they came from and when they met. Participate on various traditional sports like archery and later enjoy a barbecue prepared on request.

Murkuchida Rock paints tour (4-6 hours)

You will drive to Murkuchida village and walk for 40 minutes through various rock outcrops until you get to the painted rocks. Spend your glorious time with your local guide and explore the rock art paints while listening to well narrated stories and facts about rock art paints of Africa. Proceed to Iraqw family in the village where you will meet the local people and share stories and get to know how they coexist with other tribes living around. After a picnic lunch on one of the rock outcrops, visit Tsangwali rock art paints and then drive back to Haydom in the evening.

Hadzabe expeditions (6-8 hours/Full day tour)

Beginning at Haydom, drive down the steep slopes of the Rift Valley Escarpment toward the rising savannah heat of Yaeda valley and Kipamba area, sweet home of Hadzabe community. Around rock outcrops trace a Hadza family where your life skills adventure will begin looking for food in traditional ways as your hosts do. You will spend your day hunting with Hadza, collecting fruits, debarking edible plants, collecting roots, looking for honey and sharing stories and life experiences. An opportunity to learn the entire culture of these people with the oldest remaining culture of hunting and gathering is guaranteed.

Crater lakes tour (1-2 hours)

Explore Gidamunyoda and Ghama crater lakes, paradise of birds formed by falling asteroids in the area. Listen to well narrated stories of the history and myth about the lakes and explore its plants and birdlife.

Combination: This tour can be combined with Bassotu canoeing tour, Mulbadaw wheat farm tour and visit to nearby hippo pool.

Bassotu canoing tour (1-2 hours)

Explore Lake Bassotu and learn about its rich history. View the town’s typical structures; learn about local people’s cultures and their fishing practice around the lake. Enjoy bird watching and plant life of the area.

Bassotu can also be accessed by biking (1-1.5 hours biking) or driving for 30 minutes from Haydom.

Mulbadaw wheat Farm tour (2-8 hours)

Walk through the fertile farmlands of Mulbadaw wheat farm which is part of the former Hanang Wheat Complex. Get to know the process it takes to grow, harvest and process wheat. Listen to the history of wheat farming in Tanzania and other projects operated to support the farm. Extend the visit to tree nursery and become part of environmental restoration campaign of the Mulbadaw farm community. Enjoy a view of Mount Hanang and the rest of rolling landscapes of the farm at the view point in the midst of the 14,000-acre farm. On request a barbecue sundowner can be organized for you while enjoying a nice sunset and sometimes moonrise behind Mount Hanang

Combined Trip On your request the tour can be extended to include Bassotu canoeing tour, crater lakes tour and Mount Hanang trekking.

Visit to Blacksmith family (2-4 hours)

A short biking or walking tour from from Haydom, through beautifully villages in the land of Datoga tribes men. Learn about their blacksmith skills as demonstrated and buy their locally made bracelet and other types of products.

Harar Hill Hiking (2-3 hours)

From Haydom, walk through the villages of Ng’wandakw, Basonyagwe and Harar to the foot of Harar hill famous for its spectacular 360 degrees view and views of Yaeda valley (Home of Hadza), Mount Hanang, Dominic Onion pads, Ngorongoro highland, Lake Eyasi, Haydom hill, Mount Hanang and surrounding villages with various crop farms.

(The tour is ideal for those acclimatizing for Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru climbs.)

Multi-day tours from Haydom:

Bassotu tour and Mount Hanang trekking (2-3 days)

From Haydom drive down to Bassotu, walk through the village, interact with local people, explore lake Bassotu, crater lakes and hippo pool. Learn about wheat production in Mulbadaw wheat farm, visit a view point of the farm and Mount Hanang before proceeding for Mount Hanang climb that takes 10 hours (6 hours ascending, 4 hours descending).

Hadzabe trekking-Yaeda valley or Kipamba (2-3 days)

Drive down to Yaeda valley, home of Hadzabe trace a family of Hadza and start life skills expedition tour. Trek through the wilderness hunting/collecting fruits/roots/ honey and medicinal plants with Hadzabe. Overnight in a camping ground and get an opportunity to share stories with Hadza people. Wake up early in the morning for early morning home chores. After lunch drive to Datoga family and learn about their daily life, pastoralist heritage and how they coexist with their neighbors; Hadzabe, Iraqw and Bantu tribes around. Overnight in a camp and after morning home chore experience, drive back to Haydom before/after lunch.

Kilimanjaro Acclimatization (3-5 Days)

Lets acclimatize together by walking to the Roof of Mount Hanang and other higher altitude villages/hills like Harar and have what you deserve to conquer the roof of Africa.

Bassotu tour (2-3 days)

Bike through traditional villages, and farmland; and experience the traditional life of the Datoga people. Explore Lake Bassotu by canoeing, fishing with local fishermen, bird watching and visiting nearby crater lakes of Ghama and Gidamunyoda. Proceed to Hippo pool and Mulbadaw wheat farm where you will learn about wheat production, tree planting and animal husbandry. Enjoy scenic view of rolling landscapes with escarpments, salt lakes and Mount Hanang, sunset and moonrise. This trip includes many opportunities to visit and learn about the development projects supported by our program and several short walks. Return to Haydom by bike or car.

Mount Hanang trekking (2 days)

From Haydom in the morning, you will drive to Hanang and start trekking in the afternoon. Trek for 6 hours to the peak of Mount Hanang through spectacular views of an exceptionally beautiful Rift Valley landscape full of small craters, Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Balangida and Balang\’dalalu, surrounding farmlands and villages. Camp at the roof for your overnight and climb down next morning after sunrise for 4 hours to the foot of the mountain. Proceed to Mulbadaw wheat farm for breakfast and short farm tour. Drive back to Haydom after lunch through crater lakes and the hippo pool.

Homestay programme

You will stay with a family in Haydom to learn more about the life of the local people. An opportunity to participate on daily home chores as per local culture is guaranteed.

4 Corners Cultural Festival (4CCF) every September

Be part of an annual cultural celebration ‘Four Corners Cultural Festival’ every September. This event is staged at Haydom Cultural Centre; bringing together the four main languages groups. Hosted in the rural Tanzania, the event provides rural population and visitors with an opportunity to integrate with various exhibitors while celebrating their cultural values including traditional artifacts shows, traditional dance performances and competitions, cultural film shows and various traditional sports of Datoga, Hadzabe, Iraqw, Nyiramba and Nyisanzu tribes.

Where to stay:

There are several guest houses within and around Haydom town and one Hostel within the Haydom Lutheran Hospital compound. Camping at Haydom Cultural Centre and in villages during multi-days safaris can be organized on request. Homestay programme is also one of interesting experience in Haydom where a local family will host you for a number of days.

Getting there:

Haydom is accessible by hired charter to Haydom airstrip and road transport. One can catch daily local buses/land cruisers from Arusha (290km), Karatu (150km), Babati (120 km), Singida (96 km) and Mbulu (90km).

For further information and bookings, please contact:

For more information visit www.africanaturaltours.com