Katesh Travel Guide

 Bonobo2005 Says:  While his women were busy getting water , milking cows or pounding maize, the teacher was having his siësta while listening to a small radio. I was playing a bit with the kids -if I wanted or not- but it was fun..The most exiting -and actually the only- thing that happened... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  After the walking "tour" we returned to the first boma to eat our (prepacked) lunch in the man's dwelling. Hamade -my guide- left to have the tyres of the bikes repaired.I took a 3 legged stool, placed it outside in the shadow and the many children of the 2 wives approached... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  We continued our walk and visited some boma's to meet and talk to the people living there about traditions. Besides some innocent traditions like giving dowry's to the father-in-laws, the Barbaig also upkeep more controversial traditions like arranged (i.e. forced) marriage,... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  We went out for a walk around the spread out settlement. Although the Barbaig are semi-nomadic and self sufficient, the Tanzanian government put a lot of efforts in developing the area. We visited the primary school that is expanding enormously since most children go to... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  We parked the bikes near a boma -an enclosure made from cut thorn bushes to protect against wild animals - that consisted of 3 houses made of sticks and mud and with a dozen of cows within it's compound.It was the property of a schoolteacher in his mid fifties and his 2... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  In the village of Katesh, situated about 2,5 hrs. by local bus from Babati, we rented bicycles for the 16km / 2 hour ride to the settlement of Dirma. The area around Katesh is a little hilly, some of it cultivated. Spectacular Mt. Hanang dominates the views on the horizon.... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  On arrival in Babati a kind man I met in the bus guided me to the only proper hotel in the little town and then to Mr. Kahembe, coordinator of the program. Nobody there.I went back to my room and fell asleep, but not for long as someone knocked on my door. A young man -the... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  Views are great whether looking down on Katesh, on Lake Balangida, on the escarpments of the Rift Valley or on the endless green and brown plains dotted with tiny settlements and small lakes and carved with lines that are roads. 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  Once we reached Mt. Hanang's "back'' the rib became much narrower. The walls besides us were steep and deep.We were now hiking on a narrow rib on top of a mountain almost 2000 meter above the surrounding area! There were open views to the left and to the right as far as one... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  Up from "one tree" where we initially even passed a relatively flat part, we came across the very steep short ascend to the "backrib" of the mountain.The mountain, looks -with some fantasy- like a horseshoe, or a huge armchair. The summit is on the north, the approach is on... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  On the top of the first steep hill (that seems to be the summit but isn't) is "one tree", which is even visible from the settlements at the base of Mt. Hanang.Many Barbaig tribespeople have a strong belief in nature spirits and bring offers to the mountain. Regularly they go... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  After almost an hour of slightly ascending through undulating farmlands we finally reached the forest, where we followed a not too steep buffalotrail for about another hour.Then the thick forest became lush scrub and grasslands, giving away the first fine views over the Rift... 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  Everybody who has been around Katesh, can for sure remember the view of the majestic mountain towering high above the plains. Name: Mt. Hanang, 3418 meters high, 4th highest of Tanzania...Mt. Hanang can be climbed by fit hikers. Not extremely steep - but very long. From...