what the guide books say

Lonely Planet 3rd edition

Kahambe's trekking and cultural safaris.

A small, solid and friendly operator offering good Mt Hanang treks and a range of no frills cultural safaris around Babati. The Tours are off the beaten track, prices are very reasonable and the company is a fine choice if you want to experience Tanzania from a local perspective

Mt Hanang

The most popular route to the top and the easiest to organise is the Jorodom Route, which begins at the town of Katesh. While a guide isn't strictly essential it is recommended to go with one. This is best arranged through Kahembe's Trekking and Cultural Safaris which is the best contact for doing anything around Hanang or Babati.... Don't go with any of the freelancers who hang around Katesh and Babati saying they're with Kahembe's.

Kolo Rock Paintings

The tiny village of Kolo lies at the centre of one of the most impresive and over looked collections of anceint rock paintings on the African continent...... to visit you need to arrange a guide and a permit from the Dept of Antiquities in Kolo. Organised trips can be made through Arusha, a good budget option is Kahembe's trekking and cultural safaris.

Rough Guide 2nd edition

THe reason for the small but steady strickle of tourists who come to Babati these days is it's cultural tourism programme, amoungst the best, although not the cheapest, in Tanzania. Their office is located in Kahembe's Guest House (Babati).

The programme offers a wide variety of flexible itineraries, ranging from half day of wobbling paddling in dugouts around lake babati searching for hippos to visiting killer-bee-keepin projects. Also on offer are cycling expeditions, climbs up Mt Hanang, 3-5 walking trips in the Mang'ati Plains to a Barbaig Community. Local culture features heavily in all their tours and encludes enlightening meeings with respected village elders and visits to development projects.

Kahembe guest house's manager - the affable co-ordiantor of the cultural tourism programme - is a mine of information

The easiest way to arrange a climb of Mount Hanang is through Babati's cultural tourism Programme, which alos offers an excellent 4 day trip combining an ascent with a visit to a barbaig community