OUR MISSION
Chagga Village is a cultural heritage centre dedicated to preserving and sharing the living traditions of the Chagga people. Here, culture is not simply observed — it is lived, shared, and kept alive.
The centre brings together a Chagga-themed café and bar, a traditional Chagga hut, a Chagga museum, Chagga-inspired cabin accommodation, and a playground and play corner for younger visitors — all nestled between a vibrant local community, sweeping banana and coffee farms, the ever-flowing mifereji (traditional irrigation channels), and the River Mrusunga winding through the ravine below.
Through a stay in our Chagga-inspired cabins, guided cultural, historical, nature, and wildlife tours, hands-on workshops, and a curated exhibition of traditional artefacts and historical items, we invite guests to step inside a story that has been unfolding for centuries. And in doing so, we hope to ensure it continues for generations to come.
HOW IT BEGAN
Every meaningful project starts somewhere. Chagga Village began with a story. While researching for a historical novel, our founder, Mr. Lauwo, found himself captivated by the depth and resilience of Chagga history — particularly the story of Mangi Sina, the influential Kibosho chief of the late 1800s, whose resistance to German colonial expansion marked a defining era in the region's past. What began as literary research quickly became a personal mission.
The question Mr. Lauwo kept returning to was simple: What should be done with all this knowledge? Keeping it locked in books and archives was not enough. It deserved to be experienced, shared, and kept alive.
And so Chagga Village was born: an immersive space where history, culture, and community meet.
Every wall, every pathway, every detail of this centre — from the masonry and carpentry to the plumbing and electrical work — was built by skilled artisans from the local community, using locally sourced materials. That is not incidental. It is foundational to who we are.
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
At Chagga Village, giving back is not a campaign
— it is a way of life.
As a locally owned and operated initiative, we are deeply committed to the wellbeing and development of the rural community that surrounds us. Many of our neighbours live without access to clean water or reliable income. We believe that a cultural heritage centre has a responsibility that goes beyond its gates — and we take that responsibility seriously.
Local employment and skills development sit at the heart of our model. Every member of our team comes from the local community. Their families depend on their work here, and we are dedicated to investing in their growth: through on-the-job training, regular skills development workshops, and a genuine commitment to nurturing local talent and capacity for the long term.
WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR
Since opening our doors, we have — thanks to the financial and in-kind contributions of our guests — donated school supplies to two local primary schools and provided blankets to elderly women in our community. It is a modest beginning. But every step forward matters, and we are committed to building on it.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
When you visit, stay, eat, or simply spread the word about Chagga Village, you become part of something larger than a holiday. Every experience you have here — and every person you tell — helps sustain the community that makes this place possible.
GET INVOLVED
There are many ways to get involved:
Stay. in one of our Chagga-inspired cabin accommodations
Visit our traditional Chagga hut and Cultural Historical Centre
Join a Tour. explore the villages, the landscape, and the living culture around us
Tell Someone. every visitor you bring helps grow our impact
Donate to our Giving Back to the Community campaign, supporting elderly residents and the children of our local primary schools — many of whom are being raised by grandparents with very little