Engaruka

Engaruka is an archeological site from the 15th to 16th C featuring seven large villages with a complex irrigation canal and intricate agricultural system. As on of the most important historical sites in Tanzania, Engaruka was abandoned with little understanding of why this occurred around 1700.

Several archeologists have investigated the ruins including Hans Reck in 1913 and Louis and Mary Leakey in 1935. The lack of burial sites, the identity of the founders of this farming community and how they developed such an ingenious farming system are puzzling to the many researchers.

The Engaruka Cultural Tourism Program provides a half-day tour of the ruins or local farms to learn about current farming and irrigation methods. It