Your visit will be conducted by Maasai warriors and can be designed in various ways. Located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley, Engaruka remains one of Tanzania 's most important historic sites. Over 500 years ago a community of farmers developed a unique irrigation and cultivation system channeling water from the Rift Escarpment into stone canals and terraces. Although abandoned in the 1700s Engaruka illustrates a once highly specialized and integrated agricultural community which has been investigated by archeologists world-wide.
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This is the invitation from the Maasai from Engaruka:
»Welcome to Engaruka.
We the Maasai from Engaruka offer you:
- A walk through the mysterious ruined city of Engaruka;
- Day walks for Bird-watching at the foot and slopes of the Great Rift Valley;
- Historic visits to sites from the German colonial period;
- A climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai, a semi-active volcanic mountain;
- A view into the Maasai culture, who continue a life of simplicity and peace.
Profits from your visit are used
to protect the ruined city of Engaruka.«
LOCATION:
Engaruka is situated 63 kilometers north of Mto wa Mbu, on the road to Ol Doinyo Lengai and Lake Natron. The village of Engaruka lies at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Fast flowing streams from the escarpment are utilized to irrigating small plots and give the village a pleasant green look, in contrast to the surrounding plains where Maasai cattle graze side by side with herds of Zebras. Birds of prey circle above the area looking for a kill, while remarkable looking Secretary Birds, beloved as snake killers, strut across the plains.
ENGARUKA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:
At the ruined city there are still several remnants of houses and graves and the former irrigation channels and stone terraces can easily be identified. Although built without cement more than 500 years ago, more has remained from the agricultural settlement than from the stone houses built by Germans early this century. However with the disappearance of the tse tse fly in the area two decades ago, cattle graze the area in the dry season, thereby heavily impacting the ruins. If this situation continues for another ten years, the ruins may disappear for good. The local community now wants to design a by-law to prohibit all cattle from entering the ruined city. In return, the community will ask an entrance fee from visitors. The fees goes to a village development fund to be used for development purposes selected by the community, such as improving the primary school or buying medicines for the cattle. In this way the ruins can be conserved and at the same time living conditions of the local people can be improved.
FACILITIES:
In Engaruka there are two campsites with modest facilities. One campsite belongs to the Lutheran church and is located close to the ruined city; the other campsite belongs to a private Maasai and is situated along the main road from Mto wa Mbu to Lake Natron. In the village fresh fruits and vegetables can be bought and a women's group can prepare a meal on request.