About this experience
Visit a small market with your host to discover locally grown produce. Learn about the ingredients used in Tanzanian cuisine before taking a tuk tuk 20 min to your host's home. Marissa, her husband William and his mother Shida are a warm and welcoming family who host you in their simple, modest mud house for a cultural and culinary experience.
You will help Shida grate coconuts to make fresh coconut milk and prepare ugali, a traditional corn meal dish. Enjoy your meal sitting on benches outdoors with the entire family. Ugali is eaten communal style, with each person picking cake with their hand, rolling it into a ball, and using it to scoop vegetables or stew. A few other dishes you may try are uji (a millet and peanut porridge), beef and green banana stew) and rice with spiced beans. Dishes are cooked in coconut milk and simmered over a wood fire, giving it a distinct and delicious flavor! End your experience by sharing peanut brittle and Shida’s local brew with friends and family.
At a glance
- Duration: 5 hr 30 min
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 5 hr 30 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Compare the available options before choosing: their itinerary, inclusions and pickup arrangements can differ. Check the price for your date and whole group.
What is included
- Private transportation
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Transfers are included for city hotels (for airport/airport hotel transfers, there is an extra cost)
- Private market visit and cooking class with your host Marissa
- Vegetarian and halal meals are available upon request
Itinerary and highlights
Experience an authentic taste of Tanzanian culture by visiting the home of locals Shida, Marissa, and William. Begin your journey at a bustling market where they’ll introduce you to fresh local produce—vibrant fruits, vegetables, and aromatic herbs. As you explore the stalls, your hosts will share insights into traditional ingredients and their role in Tanzanian cuisine, stopping by favorite vendors to pick up ingredients for your cooking class.
Afterward, take a leisurely walk or tuk-tuk ride to Shida's home, about 20 minutes away, where you’ll join a hands-on, one-hour cooking class. Learn to make fresh coconut milk the traditional way using a buzi, a small wooden seat with a grinder to shave coconut meat. This coconut milk becomes the base for vegetable and stew dishes. Then, master the art of making ugali, a staple cornmeal dish served with sautéed vegetables. Preparing ugali is simple yet labor-intensive—a real art, and Shida takes pride in sharing this family favorite.
This immersive experience is a must when visiting Mount Kilimanjaro, offering a memorable dive into Tanzanian flavors and hospitality.
See the overview, available options and booking details for the experience schedule.
Meeting and pickup information
- Your host will pick you up and drop you off at your Moshi hotel listed in your booking in a tuk tuk.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Traveling Spoon
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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