Materuni Homes was one of a kind – and simply staying there was a magical experience in itself. It marked a key stop on our East African adventure, arriving after a long drive. While the location demands a little effort, the journey was absolutely worth it. Located high above Moshi, this is more than just a place to sleep; it’s a full cultural immersion.
The Journey In: A Challenging Road to Paradise
Boarding the bus after getting Visa on Arrival to Tanzania. Land crossing at Lunga Lunga One Stop Border Cross, Kenya to Tanzania.
Our journey to Materuni Homes was the continuation of an exciting road trip. We were self-driving from Tanga Town after crossing the border from Kenya, stopped in Lushoto for a waterfall hike, and then continued on to Moshi. After leaving Materuni, our adventure continued to Maji Chai, then Arusha before embarking on our highly anticipated safari in Serengeti, and finally further down to Dar Es Salaam.
Green scenery and the dirt road to Materuni Homes, Moshi, Tanzania
Since we were still self-driving, the property kindly sent someone to pick us up nearby in Moshi town to guide us the rest of the way. This help was much appreciated! I will be honest, the final road leading up to the homes was quite challenging for foreign drivers like us, and I would strongly recommend tackling it with a 4×4 vehicle for an easier trip. Thanks God it was not raining. I guess we were really lucky. But once you arrive, the peace and atmosphere immediately make you forget the bumpy ride.
Materuni Homes and The Majestic Mountain View
The larger room of Materuni Homes and its spacious bathroom
We had booked a bigger room, which did not have the highly-coveted direct view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Despite this, the room was clean and comfortable—a welcome sanctuary after a long day of exploring.
The view of Mount Kilimanjaro welcome us that afternoon in Materuni Homes, Tanzania
One of the luckiest moment. Having breakfast with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
The Dining room in Materuni Homes is an open-air area that perfectly frames the majestic mountain. In the morning, they prepare breakfast with a stunning view of Kilimanjaro, weather permitting. We were so lucky to experience this! We enjoyed a perfect, clear morning… only for the next day to be completely cloudy, with Mount Kili hidden behind the clouds. It was a beautiful reminder that getting that perfect view is a true gift of nature!
Such a magical view of Mount Kilimanjaro seen from Materuni Homes, Moshi, Tanzania
🍽️The Unexpected Culinary Gem
Some of our delicious meals
Lunch and dinner are also served here, paid for separately. Since the location is literally in the middle of nowhere, you can’t really eat anywhere else. Fortunately, this wasn’t a problem, as the food was absolutely delicious—truly some of the best we have ever encountered!
The open-air dining area and mount Kilimanjaro in distance, Materuni Homes, Moshi, Tanzania
The meals were incredibly various and heavily incorporated fresh local ingredients. We got to taste authentic local dishes, and I had my first experience with Banana Soup! As weird as it sounds, the soup—which was mixed with cassava—tasted incredibly delicious. I also tried their special spicy chilli, which had a distinct, powerful aroma. I later found out it was something similar to habanero, giving the meal a serious kick. They offer incredible local cuisine and also serve vegetarian meals, making it a fantastic dining experience for everyone.
☕Immersive Tours: Coffee, Waterfalls
Tourists attending coffee tour in Materuni Homes, Tanzania.
Materuni Homes is a hub for local activities. The restaurant is even a popular lunch destination for other tourists coming up from the Materuni Waterfall and the local coffee tours.
Holding on to the wooden support, passing a steep and slippery rocks to Materuni Waterfalls, Tanzania
One of the coolest playground, under a 80m high waterfall. Materuni Waterfall, a popular tourist destination nearby Moshi Town.
We took the hike to the waterfall, and it was really magical. Even better was the coffee tour. They explained everything about the history, the plantation process, and the traditional way of roasting, grinding, and making the coffee. Our guide, Sylvester, did a fantastic job explaining and answering all of our questions throughout the tours.
Our guide, Sylvester, explaining all about coffee.
Our guide wrote the word Kahawa on a freshly roasted and grinded coffee. The word Kahawa means coffee in local language.
The best part? At the end, you get to taste the freshly roasted coffee—oh my, it was so delicious! (Note: Materuni Homes also provides a cooking class, which we unfortunately did not have enough time to check out.)
🛑Important Warning: Issues with Payment
While the experience was top-notch, we did encounter a significant issue during the payment process. The card machine was unfortunately broken during our stay, making card payment impossible. We might have just been unlucky with the timing, as the machine was down during our visit. However, we greatly appreciate the staff’s patience and their efforts to accommodate us and communicate with the management.
Lit sunset behind the silhouette of trees, seen from our room.
We were given an online payment link, which carried a slightly higher fee.
When we offered to pay in local currency or via M-Pesa, we were surprisingly quoted a much higher total cost, particularly for the the tours and food. This was super unexpected, as the decision resulted in higher payment when settling in local currency (either cash or electronic money). Crucially, paying in local currency meant that we would be charged for both of our children, which was not the case when paying by card or foreign currency cash.
This discrepancy was a highly unexpected situation that took us aback. I highly recommend travellers arrive with enough foreign currency cash to cover the full amount to avoid any surprising extra fees or complications.
Overall Verdict
Materuni Homes is a truly rewarding and unforgettable cultural experience that offers delicious food and breathtaking sights—a perfect stop on a grand Tanzanian itinerary! Just be sure to plan your final payment method carefully!