基库莱图瓦温泉(Kikuletwa Hotsprings)坐落在坦桑尼亚东北部半干旱的荒原中,距离莫希(Moshi)市区大约40公里,开车需要一个半小时左右。这处水源并非字面意义上的烫手温泉,水温常年恒定在25摄氏度到27摄氏度之间,这种温吞的体感在炎热的东非大地上反而更加清爽。这里的水质通透到了极致,阳光洒下来能直接看到水底错综复杂的无花果树根,像是一块镶嵌在尘土间的巨大蓝宝石。作为乞力马扎罗山(Mount Kilimanjaro)地下水的天然出口,这片水源孕育了周围茂密的原始植被,与周遭荒凉的灌木丛形成了强烈视觉反差。
基库莱图瓦温泉在当地更响亮的名字是切姆卡(Chemka),在斯瓦希里语里是沸腾的意思,但这指的是泉水涌出时翻滚的气泡,而非温度。温泉位于海平面以上约850米的高度,这个海拔比莫希市区要低一些,因此体感温度会更高。这里的水域深浅不一,最深处超过6米,但边缘地带有不少平缓的浅滩。泉水循环速度极快,即便每天有大量游客出入,水质依然能保持肉眼可见的纯净。周围被巨大的无花果树合围,巨大的树冠遮蔽了烈日,即使是正午时分呆在水里也不会觉得晒。
很多人以为坦桑尼亚只有驱车游猎(Safari),其实这处温泉是登山或远征后的最佳体能修复站。温泉池底并非泥沙,而是长满了青苔的岩石和纵横交错的树根,这保证了水流不会因为人的走动而变得浑浊。除了主池,周围还有几条窄细的水道相连,形成了一个微型湿地系统。这里的生态系统非常独特,水族生物丰富,最出名的当属那些密密麻麻的小鱼。只要你静坐在水中不动,成群的淡水鱼就会游过来啃食足部的老旧角质。这种在别处需要付费的鱼疗,在基库莱图瓦是完全免费且纯天然的体验。
从莫希出发的头半个小时还是平整的柏油路,但剩下的路程全是不折不扣的土路和碎石路。说实话,这路颠簸得很有节奏,旱季时尘土飞扬,前车经过留下的烟尘能让能见度瞬间降到极低。如果你打算自己租车,强烈建议选择四驱越野车,普通小轿车在这里很容易刮底盘。大多数旅行者会选择在莫希或阿鲁沙(Arusha)拼车或者包一辆突突车(Tuk-tuk)。包一辆突突车的往返价格大约在40000到60000坦桑尼亚先令之间,虽然漏风又吃土,但这种接地气的走法确实能让你深度呼吸东非荒野的尘埃味。如果从阿鲁沙出发,单程时间会延长到2小时以上,车费也会翻倍。
目前针对国际游客的入场门票通常在10000到15000坦桑尼亚先令左右,具体数额偶尔会随旅游季节微调。交完钱会拿到一张简单的收据,那是你出入的唯一凭证。温泉区内现在已经发展出了一套成熟的小型商业区。如果你不擅长游泳,岸边有租赁救生圈和救生衣的摊位,租金通常是5000先令一个。现场还有卖炸薯条、炸鸡和当地特色烤肉的档位。一份简餐的价格大概在10000先令左右,味道虽然普通,但在荒郊野外游完泳后来上这么一份热乎的卡路里,确实是件幸福的事。记得多带点现金,这里没法刷卡,更没有移动支付。
温泉最核心的玩点在于那根挂在巨大无花果树上的秋千绳。你会看到当地小伙子做出各种花哨的后空翻动作砸进水里。如果你想尝试,一定要抓紧绳索,并在晃到最高点时果断松手,否则很容易因为惯性撞到树干。水下的世界同样精彩,如果你带了浮潜面罩,能看到巨大的树根在水底构筑出的迷宫。不过要小心,有些树根处会有水流吸力。建议避开周末前往,因为周六和周日是当地人的狂欢节,小小的池子里可能塞进几百号人,那时候别说跳水了,连落脚的地方都难找。周二到周四是最佳的到访窗口,清晨十点前抵达,你甚至能独享整片果冻色水域。
这里没有像样的更衣室,只有几个用木板搭建的简易隔间,卫生条件相对简陋。建议出发前就把泳衣穿在里面,外面套一件方便穿脱的罩衫。一定要带上一条大尺寸的速干毛巾,因为即便气温高,上岸后的微风还是会让你感到一丝寒意。防蚊喷雾是必备品,水边滋生的蚊虫对细皮嫩肉的游客格外关照。另外,虽然水质看起来很清澈,但尽量不要吞咽泉水,毕竟那是纯野外的地下水。如果你想拍照,防水手机袋或者防水相机是必须的,否则在湿滑的岸边石头上,手机落水的概率高达五成。离开时请随手带走垃圾,这片绿洲的维护全靠游客的自觉。
准确说它是温的。水温常年维持在25到27摄氏度,这个温度比坦桑尼亚大多数海域的水温略低,但在平均气温30度以上的荒原里,这种温度能让你感到彻底的凉爽。它不像日本那种40多度的硫磺温泉,更像是一个恒温的天然游泳池。
两地距离约70公里,单程开车需要2到2.5小时,其中有一大段是极其颠簸的非铺装路面。虽然可以当天往返,但往返5个小时的车程会非常疲劳。如果你的行程中有莫希站,建议把温泉行程安排在莫希出发,这样单程只需1个多小时,体验感会好很多。
水域深度差异极大,从岸边的几十厘米到中心区的6米深不等。温泉池中间有很多粗壮的树根可以抓握休憩,岸边也提供5000先令一次的救生圈租赁服务。即使完全不会游泳,套着泳圈在浅水区泡着或者在岸边体验免费鱼疗也很有趣。
如果你想看清楚水底壮观的树根系统和游动的小鱼,带个泳镜或者简易浮潜面罩就足够了。水下能见度非常高,超过15米,所以不需要专业潜水设备也能看得很远。现场没有浮潜装备租赁,建议自己从莫希市区买好带过去。
温泉景区内目前没有酒店,大多数游客选择住在莫希。不过在温泉入口附近有一些简易的露营地,提供基础的帐篷搭建空间和简单的公用卫生间。如果你追求舒适度,建议结束游玩后返回莫希市区居住,那里有更多20美元到100美元不等的优质民宿和精品酒店。
FOOD CRITICISM This is amazing place, I am sure that you never seen nature like this before! Also local guides are friendly, you swim with them and they guide you very well. You should go and spend time in there
Alan Egan The Chemka Hot Springs are not hot, but a warmish, all natural, stunningly beautiful swimming hole in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. A 1 hour drive from Moshi and around 2 hours from Arusha, this place is a hidden gem. It's amazing the way this lush mini paradise is surrounded by dry arid land. One of the best places I've swam in my life. Everyone was in great form enjoying themselves, so it was great to bond with the locals. The 'fish massage' was ticklish when all the Red Garra fish nibble on your skin - loads of them! As the water is crystal clear, you can see them perfectly. The rope swing was great craic, and the inner child in me did it about 20 times. The toilets and changing rooms were horrific shacks, but we got by. The last thing you want is this place built up, so was happy to rough it. A fair trade for natural beauty. We got a driver from Moshi and spent the afternoon out here. Time well spent. I didn't want to leave. In a fantasy world, I would have this place as my back garden at home.
Sharon Gathoni The guides were so polite. I liked how they kept the place clean. The water was nice, a little bit saltt and warm. Overall I had so much fun over there I would definitely advice you visit the place. They also sell food there so you can grab something when hungry
Dash Nibedita It's a beautiful place and a must visit if you are near Moshi or Arusha. Easily one can spend half a day chilling in the crystal clear water and enjoy swimming or floating. The only concern was there are no well defined guidelines for guide charges or entry fees. Also I recommend taking your own swimming goggles as what they rent has no clarity.
Agroturystyka Forteca The long drive over a 'african massage' road is certainly worth it. The clean water and lush surroundings are very inviting for a dive. The fishes like to tickle your feet. So cool!