Lake Jipe Day Trip From Moshi

Lake Jipe is the located on the Tanzania and Kenya border which takes 2hrs drive from Moshi town, the Lake is only visited by very few tourists. A trip to Lake Jipe is never the same twice in a row, as the wind determines how much reeds are present at the shores of the lake and how easy or difficult it is to get through. Lake Jipe is the home a good number of hippos and crocodiles and they can be easily spotted when visit the lake around July to August on the Tanzania Side of the lake shores.  Other than that, it is also a home for birds and favorable for the birders.

Tour itinerary

The day will start with your morning breakfast from you lodging place then your driver guide will meet you at the hotel, and pick you starting the 2hrs 15mins drive from Moshi town to Lake Jipe. On your arrival at Jipe, you can have a stroll through the village while the fishermen prepare their boats. The trip differs from the number of reeds available at the lake shore whereby with no reeds and you can cross easily, starting the day by spending some hours on the lake and then hike to a nearby waterfall and with more reeds and it becomes difficult to get through which make long time through the lake and you will have no time visiting the waterfalls as the time will be spent by the fishermen clearing the reeds to create path and the amount of the reeds are unpredictable as they can rapidly change.  As you are on the Tanzania side of the Lake expect to see hippos and crocodiles and it is prohibited to crossing to Kenya without your Visa. After the tour you will then drive back to Moshi town.

Things to know ahead of the tour

This is not a luxury trip and it is kind adventures as expect to get dirty and wet for your shoes and clothes will get wet as water are inevitably coming into the boats as they are not fully watertight and the fishermen scoop it out as they go. While you are in the boat you will sit on a small bench and at times when the reeds are very dense, it might take quite a while to get through. You will take lunch boxes as there are no restaurants for your hot lunch. There is a single tourist squat toilet which is very clean but there is no place for washing your hands afterwards. You might need your wipes then. You are recommended to put on the clothes that will be comfortable even getting wet and dirty and loose trousers are not recommended and we kindly advise you to put on waterproof shoes or sandals that can handle water and don’t get uncomfortable when wet but should not be flip-flops but sandals that stay around your feet tightly are fine. Do not bring a heavy bag with you, as you’ll have to carry it on your back even when you’re sitting in the boat to keep it away from getting wet. Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must, as the water reflects the sunlight very strongly. Following this you will have a comfortable adventure to Lake jipe.