Chemka Hot Springs

Why Chemka Is Kilimanjaro’s Turquoise Oasis

Chemka — also known as the Kikuletwa Hot Springs — is a startling pocket of turquoise in the dry plains south-west of Moshi. Fed by underground water filtered down from Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the springs form a clear, palm-fringed pool warm enough to swim in comfortably and so clean you can see straight to the sandy bottom and the fig-tree roots reaching into the water.

It is a place to relax rather than tick off sights. Visitors swim in the gin-clear water, swing from a rope into the deep end, watch weaver birds and the occasional monitor lizard among the palms, and picnic in the shade. The contrast between the surrounding arid bush and this oasis of green and blue is the whole appeal.

Chemka is a popular half-day trip from Moshi and a favourite reward after a Kilimanjaro climb, when aching muscles meet warm, soothing water. It combines easily with Moshi’s coffee tours and the nearby Materuni Waterfalls for a relaxed day off the mountain.

What to See & Do

• A turquoise, palm-shaded spring-fed pool, warm and crystal-clear
• Swimming, a rope swing, and shaded picnic spots
• Fed by water filtered down from Kilimanjaro and Meru
• Weaver birds, fig trees, and monitor lizards around the oasis
• A favourite reward after a Kilimanjaro climb

How a Visit Works

Chemka Hot Springs lie about an hour and a quarter by road from Moshi, partly on rough track, so a guided trip or sturdy vehicle is recommended. There is a small entrance fee. It is an easy half-day outing — bring swimwear, water, and a picnic. It pairs well with Moshi coffee tours and the Materuni Waterfalls, and makes an ideal recovery day after Kilimanjaro.

After six days on Kilimanjaro, floating in the warm turquoise water at Chemka was pure bliss. The most beautiful swimming spot we’ve ever seen. — Guest review, TripAdvisor

Things to Do

• Guided exploration and wildlife viewing
• Photography-focused safari days
• Custom private itinerary planning