Magoroto Camping Festival 2026
Three days of forest, lake, music and campfire — celebrating nature in the East Usambara Mountains.
Magoroto Forest Estate, East Usambara Mountains, Muheza — Tanga Region
Unwind and reconnect with nature at the Magoroto Camping Festival. Three days of tranquility and adventure set against the lush backdrop of the Magoroto Forest Estate — 591 hectares of forest, a freshwater lake, and a history that goes back to 1896.
Whether you are a yogi, a hiker, a biker or simply someone who loves the outdoors, this is more than an event. Morning yoga on the lawn, trail hikes to the waterfalls, swimming, fishing and boat rides on the lake, traditional dances from the Usambara community, and long evenings of music and bonfire stories.
Eco-tourism
Wake up in a forest recognised by WWF, IUCN and UNESCO as part of the East Usambara biodiversity hotspot.
Culture
Interactive traditional dances — Mdumange, Kitulanga, Baikoko — plus local food, arts and crafts.
Adventure
Waterfall hikes, sunset viewpoints, mountain biking, spice tours, and lake activities all weekend.
Conservation
Join the tree-planting session and meet the African violet, the flagship species of the estate.
Choose how you camp
Prices are per person for the whole festival. Residents pay in TZS, international visitors in USD. Children 5–12 pay half, under-5s are free.
Stone cabin
Sold outLakeside stone cabin for the whole festival, sleeps 2. Festival entry and all programme activities included. No meals.
- Own cabin/tent
- TZS 250,000US$100.00
- Sharing, per person
- TZS 225,000US$90.00
- Cabin for 2 nights (Fri–Sun)
- Festival entry for 2 nights (Fri–Sun)
- All programme activities: yoga, hikes, cultural nights
- Bonfire & acoustic nights
- No meals — buy them at the food stalls
Wood cabin
Sold outLakeside wood cabin for the whole festival, sleeps 2. Festival entry and all programme activities included. No meals.
- Own cabin/tent
- TZS 250,000US$100.00
- Sharing, per person
- TZS 225,000US$90.00
- Cabin for 2 nights (Fri–Sun)
- Festival entry for 2 nights (Fri–Sun)
- All programme activities: yoga, hikes, cultural nights
- Bonfire & acoustic nights
- No meals — buy them at the food stalls
Lakeside tent (tent hire)
Sold outWe pitch a tent for you by the lake — mattress and bedding included. Sleeps 2. No meals.
- Own cabin/tent
- TZS 180,000US$72.00
- Sharing, per person
- TZS 160,000US$64.00
- Tent, mattress & bedding by the lake for 2 nights
- Festival entry for 2 nights (Fri–Sun)
- All programme activities: yoga, hikes, cultural nights
- Bonfire & acoustic nights
- No meals — buy them at the food stalls
Camping tent (tent hire)
We pitch a tent for you on the ground in the forest camping area — mattress and bedding included. Sleeps 2. No meals.
- Own cabin/tent
- TZS 180,000US$72.00
- Sharing, per person
- TZS 160,000US$64.00
- Tent, mattress & bedding in the camping area for 2 nights
- Festival entry for 2 nights (Fri–Sun)
- All programme activities: yoga, hikes, cultural nights
- Bonfire & acoustic nights
- No meals — buy them at the food stalls
Camping spot (own tent or vehicle)
Bring your own tent, truck, 4x4 or rooftop tent and pitch in the camping or overlander area. Per person. No meals.
- Per person
- TZS 80,000US$32.00
- Camping or overlander spot for 2 nights
- Festival entry for 2 nights (Fri–Sun)
- All programme activities: yoga, hikes, cultural nights
- Bonfire & acoustic nights
- No meals — buy them at the food stalls
Day pass
Come for one festival day — entry and the day programme. Per person, per day. No meals or drinks.
- Per person
- TZS 40,000US$16.00
- Festival entry for one day
- Day programme & lake activities
- No meals or drinks — buy them at the food stalls
Festival extras
Paid separately from the ticket. Book now or at reception during the festival.
- Magoroto Forest Trail RunGuided trail run to the waterfalls and viewpoints.TZS 10,000US$4.00
- Magoroto Lake Swim ChallengeOpen-water swim challenge on the lake, marshalled by the guides.TZS 10,000US$4.00
- Magoroto MTB ChallengeTimed mountain-bike challenge on the forest trails. Bring your own bike or hire one at the estate.TZS 10,000US$4.00
- Sunset Paint & Sip (incl. wine)Canvas, paints and a glass of wine at the sunset viewpoint.TZS 20,000US$8.00
Programme
Gates open Friday 15:00 · Check-out Sunday 14:00
Day 1 — Friday 4 September
Arrival & welcome
- 15:00Gates open — arrival, welcome and induction
- 15:30Tent and cabin check-in
- 16:30Traditional dances and local culture
- 18:00Campfire games and stories
- 19:30Dinner feast and BBQ under the stars
- 20:00Acoustic session
- 22:00Bonfire stories to end the night
Day 2 — Saturday 5 September
Full day of adventure
- 06:00Morning yoga
- 08:00Breakfast in the open air
- 09:00Trail hike to the waterfalls and viewpoints
- 13:00Lunch at the lakeside food stalls
- 14:00Lake activities — swimming, fishing, rafting, boat rides
- 16:30Sunset tour with Paint & Sip
- 18:30Evening bonfire and board games
- 19:00Dinner
- 20:00Music, karaoke and acoustic session
Day 3 — Sunday 6 September
Morning activities & farewell
- 06:00Early morning yoga
- 08:00Breakfast
- 09:00Choose your adventure — spice tour, MTB challenge or forest walk
- 13:00Final lunch at the food stalls
- 14:00Check-out and farewell
Your ticket includes
- Your spot — a cabin, a tent we pitch for you by the lake or in the camping area, or your own tent or vehicle in the camping area
- Festival entry for the whole weekend
- The full programme: yoga, hikes, cultural performances, campfire nights, lake activities
Not included
- Meals and drinks — buy them per meal at the food stalls (no full board at the festival)
- Activity passes: MTB challenge, forest trail run, lake swim challenge and Sunset Paint & Sip (book them as extras)
- Transport to the estate
Getting here
Magoroto Forest Estate sits above Muheza, about 45 minutes from Tanga town. A 4x4 is recommended for the last stretch in the rains; transfers from Muheza and Tanga can be arranged through reception.
Your pass
After you book you get a pass with a QR code by WhatsApp and email. Show it at the gate; it also settles drinks at the bar and checks you into activities inside the festival.
Paying
Pay online where available, or reserve now and pay at the gate. Bank and Lipa Namba payments are confirmed by reception.
Bring
Warm layers for the evenings, walking shoes, a torch, swimwear, and your own tent and bedding if you booked a camping spot for your own tent or vehicle.
Questions
- Can I come for one day only?
- Yes — the day pass covers festival entry and the day programme for one day, TZS 40,000 per person. Meals and drinks are bought at the food stalls. Pick which day when you book.
- Are children welcome?
- Very. Children 5–12 pay half price on every ticket, under-5s come free.
- What does 'sharing' mean on cabin and tent prices?
- Cabins and hired tents sleep two. When two people share, each pays the lower 'sharing' rate; someone on their own pays the single rate. Hired tents are pitched either by the lake (36 pitches) or on the ground in the forest camping area — pick which when you book.
- I booked through Usambara Expeditions earlier — do I need a new ticket?
- No. Bring the reference you were given; reception can find you at the gate.
- Can I pay a deposit and the rest later?
- Yes. Reserve online, then pay a deposit by bank or Lipa Namba and settle the balance at the gate — reception tracks what is owed on your booking.
Still unsure?
Reception answers on WhatsApp — +255 629 641 466.