The organic farm lunch and Iraqw tribe visit

Enjoy an organic farm lunch before visiting a nearby Iraqw community, who’ve lived in the Ngorongoro area for generations. Gibb’s Farm is set on a 100-year-old coffee plantation on the slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater, which means the soil is very fertile and perfect for farming. The property has acres of gardens where they grow their own fruit and vegetables, so their lunch spreads are known as the best in the area.

If we arrive early, you can have a walk around the farm or watch a coffee demonstration before having a relaxed lunch. There’s a lovely outdoor dining area beneath the guava trees where you can enjoy views over the farm and its huge trees, flower gardens and the coffee estate. The farm is on the edge of the Ngorongoro forest and conservation area, so the weather is usually sunny and warm.

After lunch, we drive a couple of kilometres to a nearby village that belongs to the Iraqw people. In Tanzania, we have 125 different tribes, each one with their own language and culture. Most people get to visit a Maasai village while on safari in Tanzania, but the Iraqw people are lesser-known. Historically, they’re farmers who make a living from the land and still practise many of their traditions. The Iraqw people originally built their small, round houses into steep slopes so they were camouflaged from the Maasai, who would often steal their livestock.

You’ll be greeted by the father of the community and gather in the main hut to listen to a talk about Iraqw life. There’s a demonstration of how the women make wedding skirts from animal skins and carry water. You’ll also learn about traditional farming techniques and see how the villagers grind maize and millet with local tools – you can even try some of their powerful homemade alcohol. Guests are usually fascinated by this cultural visit, it’s an opportunity to meet one of Tanzania’s most unique communities.