- The only tanzanite source on Earth · Active mine visit
- not a re-creation · Meet working miners · Cutting and grading demonstration · No purchase obligation
Tanzanite exists in exactly one place on the planet: a roughly 7 square kilometre stretch of hills south of Kilimanjaro, discovered by accident in 1967 when a Maasai herder named Jumanne Ngoma noticed blue crystals after a bushfire. Tiffany & Co. named the stone the following year, and every piece of tanzanite that has ever been sold, anywhere, came from these hills.
What the day looks like
About seventy kilometres and ninety minutes from Arusha, on the lower slopes near Kilimanjaro International Airport. The mining area is organised into blocks, some run by larger operators and some by small local claims, and access depends on which sites are working and willing to host visitors on a given day u2014 we confirm this the week of your visit rather than promising a specific mine in advance.
You watch the extraction and sorting process, and depending on the site, may be able to descend a short distance into a working shaft with safety equipment provided. This is a real mine, not a re-creation u2014 miners are working, and the tour moves at the pace their day allows rather than a fixed script.
The market
Afterwards, a visit to the local mineral market, where cutting and grading happens in front of you. If you want to buy, we can help you understand what you are looking at, but there is no obligation and no commission built into the price above u2014 what you spend on a stone is between you and the seller.
Being straight about this one
This is a working industrial site, not a polished tourist attraction, and some days are more active than others. If you want a guaranteed dramatic underground experience every time, the bigger operators running from Arusha city centre can promise more because they book a fixed commercial site permanently u2014 we go to where mining is actually happening that day, which is more honest and occasionally less photogenic.
Honest suitability
Families
Suitable for families. Tell us ages and we will pace the day accordingly.
Couples
Works well for couples; we can arrange a private vehicle.
Solo travellers
Popular with solo travellers.
Accessibility
Tell us about any mobility needs and we will adapt where we can — and say so honestly where we cannot.
What to bring
- Neutral colours — khaki, olive, grey
- Wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- High-factor sun cream
- Insect repellent
- Binoculars
- Layers — dawn is cold, midday is hot
- Reusable water bottle
Missing something? We rent almost all of it — see the equipment list.
Add this to your trip
Tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly whether it fits — and what it costs for your group size.
What it costs your group
One vehicle, one guide, one tank of fuel — whether two of you come or eight. Split further, the per-person price falls. Only the entrance fee is per head. This is the price, not an estimate.
Includes transport, a licensed guide and every entrance fee. Nothing is added afterwards — the figure above is what you pay.
Answers, right now
The things people usually message to ask — answered here so you do not have to wait for a reply.
How much is it for my group?
It depends how many of you there are, and the reason is simple: one vehicle, one guide and one tank of fuel cost the same whether two of you come or eight. Split further, the price each falls. Only the entrance fee is per head.
- 2 people — $145 each
- 4 people — $91 each
- 6 sharing — $181 each
Use the group calculator above for your exact number. That figure is the price — nothing is added afterwards.
What is included?
Private transport and all fuel, a licensed local guide, every park or village entrance fee including VAT, drinking water, and pickup and drop-off at your hotel.
Not included: tips — appreciated, never expected — drinks other than water, and personal items.
Nothing is added at the vehicle door. What you see is what you pay.
Can I book for tomorrow?
Usually yes, if you message tonight. Same-day depends on where you are staying and what you want to do.
Send your dates and group size on WhatsApp and you will get a straight answer — including if the answer is no.
Do East Africans pay less?
Not on this particular trip. The entrance fee here is a community or village fee, which is the same for everyone — there is no government differential to pass on, so we do not pretend there is one.
On national park trips the saving is real and significant. Ask and we will tell you which.
How long is the day?
A full day. Pickup from your hotel in the morning, back in the late afternoon or early evening — exact times depend where you are staying.
If you are jet-lagged or acclimatising for a climb, say so and we will tell you honestly whether it is too much.
