1 Day Kikuletwa Hotspring ( Majimoto )

A day trip to Kikuletwa Hot Springs is a very relaxing experience. The water at Kikuletwa Hot Springs has a beautiful turquoise color, almost unreal. The lagoons are surrounded by banyan trees, with roots cross over the shore and descent deep towards the bottom of the springs.

There are two options to get into the water: either you use an old wooden staircase, or you jump in the deeper part of the lagoon. As soon as you step onto the ladder, little fish will “attack” your feet and start nibbling the dead skin on your feet. It’s like a free fish spa treatment. If you have never done it, you will probably feel ticklish and maybe even uncomfortable. But no worries, as soon as you start moving around, the fish will leave you alone.

The water is so clear that you can easily see its bottom, strewn with big boulders and tree roots. Even if Kikuletwa is called a hot spring, you should know that the water is not hot, but lukewarm. It is refreshing, especially if the temperature outside is high. Also, there is a current inside the water which will pull you away. There are two ropes to hold on to, if you want to rest.

The water is deep, so if you can’t swim it would be a good idea to rent an inflatable device to keep you above the water. Don’t accept the first price given, negotiate. For adrenaline seekers, there is a rope swing which you can use to jump in the water. The locals like to show off by doing different tricks before jumping in the pools.

We’ll pick you up from your accommodation in Moshi around 10 in the morning and drive for about 1,5 hours before we reach the Kikuletwa hot spring, also called Maji Moto hot springs or Chemka hot springs. We’ll drive you back around 4 in the afternoon, and everything you do in between is completely up to you.

Usually a day tour to the Chemka hot springs from Moshi or Arusha, which includes transport from Arusha/ Moshi, entrance fee and lunch would cost around 60$ or £45, booked in town. This fee does not include tips and, as everything else around, is negotiable. The price is lower is there are more people, so find some travel companions in the hotel if you want to pay less. If you book a tour, you have about four hours to spend at the spring, which is plenty of time for a proper relaxation session.

Going on your own to Chemka Hotsprings is more stressful and time consuming, but much cheaper. From Moshi, you will have to take the dala dala towards Arusha and get off at Boma. This should cost you around 1500 shillings (£0.5). 

Once in Boma, you can choose between going further with a tuk tuk or a boda boda (motorbike taxi). Depending on your negotiating skills, you should pay about 30,000 shillings (£10) for a return trip to the hot springs. The entrance fee to the Kikuletwa hot springs is another 20,000 shillings (£6). In total, if you do it on your own, you should be looking at spending around 50,000 shillings (£17), after you include lunch as well.

The way to Kikuletwa Hot Springs is in bad shape, so prepare for a good half an hour to an hour on a bumpy, unpaved road, full of holes and sometimes flooded

There are some Bureaus de Change in Arusha clustered around the Clock Tower, and some ATMs in the city centre. It is a good idea to stop by these before your safari to take out some notes. There are not many other options during the Northern Circuit and it is good to have cash to buy souvenirs or tip drivers and guides. 

Arusha is known for being the safari capital of Tanzania, and a popular stopover for adventurers who are preparing for a Kilimanjaro trek.