Chemka Hot Springs

The Chemka Hot Springs also called the Kikuletwa hot springs or maji moto hot springs are one of the best tourist spots to visit near Moshi in Tanzania, these hot springs are situated in the middle of nowhere  off the main road between Moshi and Arusha, the 2 main starting points for Mount Kilimanjaro hikes and northern safaris to parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.

To get to these springs, you drive over dusty roads and you will be welcomed by radiant, crystal clear blue waters surrounded by lush trees inviting you to jump in.

 Chemka Hotsprings are divided into 2 areas between which you can swim through a narrow-ish canal filled with dead tree branches and leaves from the overhanging plains, the first area is where you enter and is the smallest of both. It is here that you will see local boys do their acrobatic rope jumps, where people sit at the shore and overall this is definitely the busiest, most lively part of the hot springs. It is also the area where at certain times at the day the light infiltrates through the trees in ways that are just spectacular, the second area is larger, quieter and less covered by trees and ideal for just floating quietly in the sun.

Besides rope jumping, other fun activities to do at Chemka Hot springs are tire tubbing or getting the dead skin eaten off your feet by the tiny fish on the borders

How to get to the Chemka hot springs

Chemka Hot springs can be reached by a vehicle, it is a drive of 1.5 hour from Moshi and a good 2 hour drive from Arusha. You can organize you own taxi or book a tour with a registered tour business in Moshi or Arusha that is if you don’t want to deal with organizing it yourself or if you don’t know a reliable driver.

 Another way to get there is by combining public transport and cheap local private transport, start by taking a dala dala (mini bus) to Boma N’gombe and there, find a tuk tuk that is willing to drive you to the hot springs. Be ware that the road from Boma N’gombe  is super bumpy and tuk tuk are definitely not the most comfortable means of transport. As for the part in the dala dala, it might be less bumpy but there is a saying in Tanzania that goes “There is 1 thing in Tanzania that is never full, a dala dala, so you should probably avoid this option if you struggle to share your private space with 17 others that are just like you, sweating their lives away in a packed dala dala. If you choose this option, leave early as it will take you much longer than 1.5 or 2 hours to get there.

If you are up for a long ride in the sun, Chemka can also be reached by bike. There is bike rental places in both Moshi and Arusha and most tour operators can also organize this for you.

How much does it cost to visit the Chemka hot springs?

The price to visit Chemka hot springs will depend on your means of transport and whether or not you use a tour operator or go there by yourself. And if you choose a taxi or public transport options, you will have to put your negotiating skills to the test in order to get a fair price for the bajaji or taxi part or you might end up paying just as much as the price of an organized tour.

Chemka Hot Springs
Chemka Hot Springs

The number of people in your group also has an important impact on the price and the difference between the different transport options can become bigger or smaller depending on this.

Here is an idea of prices for a trip to the Chemka Hot springs starting from Moshi

The cost would be around 45 USD per person in a group of 4 to 6 people, 55 USD per person in a group of 3 or 65 USD per person in a group of 2. This includes transport, entrance fees, food, drinks and the services of not necessarily a guide but a drive who knows the place, can give you more information about the hot springs as well as Tanzania in general and who will take care of everything for you including watching your stuff while you swim.

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