Skip to main content

into wilderness tours

Mara River crossings peak August – September · limited northern camps remain
Waterfall on the lower slopes of Mount Meru — 2400×1600
Waterfall on the lower slopes of Mount Meru — 2400×1600
Arusha · Waterfall & Hiking

Arusha Waterfalls Hike

Napuru and Marangu falls on Mount Meru's lower slopes, with almost nobody else there.

Duration
7 hrs door to door
Start
08:00 from Arusha
Walking
3 – 4 hrs
River crossings
Two, on foot
Scroll
Down through the farms — 1200×1600
Down through the farms — 1200×1600
Down through the farms
Into the forest — 1200×1600
Into the forest — 1200×1600
Into the forest
The falls amphitheatre — 1200×1600
The falls amphitheatre — 1200×1600
The falls amphitheatre
The climb out — 1200×1600
The climb out — 1200×1600
The climb out
Before You Go

Practical Notes

A more demanding and much quieter alternative to Materuni.

Your feet will get wet

Two river crossings on stones and logs, and no realistic way around them. Wear shoes that can get soaked and bring dry socks for the drive home.

Harder than Materuni

Longer, steeper and with more scrambling. If you're choosing between them and you want the easier day, take Materuni. If you want the quieter one, take this.

Far fewer people

Materuni gets busy in high season. Napuru rarely does. If solitude matters more to you than the coffee experience, this is the better choice.

Avoid after heavy rain

The river crossings become genuinely risky when the water is up. In April and May we'll sometimes recommend rescheduling rather than pushing on.

An Honest Word

Is This Your Day?

We would rather you booked something else than had a disappointing morning.

Choose this if
+Reasonably fit walkers who want a proper hike
+Travellers who've done Materuni and want something quieter
+Anyone who'd rather avoid crowds than have a coffee tour
+Photographers — the amphitheatre light is excellent midday
+Groups happy to get wet and muddy
Maybe skip it if
Anyone with knee or ankle problems
Families with young children — twelve is our minimum here
Travellers wanting a cultural experience — take Materuni instead
Anyone who won't be comfortable with river crossings
Visitors during heavy rain, when we'd rather move the day
Questions

Answered Plainly

This is the harder, quieter one. Materuni has the coffee experience, a village lunch and a shorter walk, and it gets busy. Napuru has a longer, steeper hike with river crossings, no coffee element, and you'll often have the falls to yourself. Fitter walkers who dislike crowds should choose this; everyone else is usually happier at Materuni.
Reasonably. You're walking three to four hours over uneven ground with a sustained climb at the end, in heat. If you hike occasionally at home you'll manage comfortably. If you don't walk much, or you have knee or ankle issues, this is not the day to test yourself — take Materuni or the Duluti walk.
Yes, twice, on stepping stones and log bridges. In dry months the water is shallow and it's straightforward. After rain it's deeper and your guide will judge whether it's safe. Wear shoes you don't mind soaking and bring a dry pair for the drive back.
Yes, though the pool is shallower and the water colder than at Materuni. Most people paddle rather than swim properly. Bring a towel if you intend to, and be aware there are no changing facilities beyond a discreet rock.
Twelve, which is higher than most of our day trips. The combination of steep descent, loose rock and river crossings makes it unsuitable for younger children. Families with under-twelves should look at Materuni or the Lake Duluti walk instead.
Shoes with real grip that can get wet, dry socks, a swimming towel, rain jacket, sun cream and insect repellent. Walking poles help on the climb out if you use them. We provide lunch and water, so you don't need to carry food.
Waterfall on the lower slopes of Mount Meru — 2000×1200
Waterfall on the lower slopes of Mount Meru — 2000×1200
Add This Day

The Quieter Waterfall Day

Tell us your fitness and dates and we'll advise honestly between this and Materuni. No cost, no commitment.

/* 3.10.7 CHROME ONLY: sticky, mega, drawer, accordion. ES5. Scoped by ID. */ /* ES5 only (rule 3.1). Page behaviour only — no chrome, no page-wide hijacks. */ (function(){ var items = document.querySelectorAll('.awp .iwfaq-i'); var i; for(i=0;i -1; var all = document.querySelectorAll('.awp .iwfaq-i'); var k; for(k=0;k
Loading itinerary…
Saved Trips