KILIMANJARO, Feb. 5 -- FOR the Chagga people a Bantu ethnic group originating from the fertile slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro December is more than just a holiday; it is a sacred season of homecoming.

Known for their entrepreneurial spirit and presence in business hubs across Tanzania, the Chagga treat the end of the year as a non-negotiable period for family and ancestral reconnection.

To a Chagga, the lush foothills of the Kilimanjaro and eastern Arusha regions are the only “perfect destinations” for Christmas.

This migration is driven by a deep cultural emphasis on family unity. It is a time when relatives travel hundreds of miles from cities like Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Dodoma to gather in their ancestral homes. The com...