Lake Eyasi

Lake Eyasi : When you hear the term “hunter-gatherer,” enduring visions of humans scavenging the land tens of thousands of years ago spring to mind. However, you’ll find a number of hunter-gatherer tribes in Lake Eyasi in what is now northern Tanzania. These tribes continue to live as they have for millennia, seemingly unaffected by modern technology.

If you take a diversion to the lake during your African safari, you will come across the communities of the Hadzabe people, who have been subsistence bow-hunting and gathering local fruit and honey for 10,000 years.

The Tindiga Bushmen, who also reside near the banks of this sizable saltwater lake on the Great Rift Valley bottom, agree. Then there are the Datooga, skilled artisans who exchange meat and animal pelts for the Hadzbe’s expertly constructed spears.

We should take a cultural break from the typical safari route and spend time with these bush people, touring their villages, going on foot explorations with them, and getting a close-up look at how these hunter-gatherers skillfully employ their survival abilities.

A Welcoming People.
You are quite welcome to join the Hadzabe as they welcome guests to their villages, display their way of life, and pick local fruits. You are welcome to spend the night there and participate in their everyday activities, including learning a few steps of their ceremonial dances.

They will extend an invitation for you to tour their cave dwellings and experience the way of life of the final hunter-gatherers. Even though the British and the Tanzanian government repeatedly introduced the Hadzabe to the idea of farming, they have always returned to their more pastoral way of life, subsisting on the soil.

Their ability to hunt is essential to their survival; they make strong bows by stringing giraffe tendons. They’ll invite you to accompany them on the hunt so you can see firsthand how our ancestors interacted with the local fauna.

Most Unique Language.
The Hadzabe people have a distinct clicking sound to punctuate their language, which is unrelated to any other spoken in the area.

When you meet them, you’ll be in the company of a very unique community in which the concept of animal ownership is ill-defined. A Hadzabe hunter will view any animal he comes across as literally fair game. These people are genuinely egalitarian; there are no chiefs or distinctions in status based on gender or age.

Visitors are guaranteed to enjoy a peaceful, joyous, and eye-opening experience after spending a day or two at their camp.

Take An Easy Walk.
You’ll quickly become accustomed to this tranquil society’s rhythms. Take a stroll to the several camps and along the shore of Lake Eyasi, where a variety of vibrant birds will complete this picture-perfect setting.

Feeling rejuvenated, you will proceed with your safari in northern Tanzania with a fresh outlook on the terrain, the fauna, and the intriguing locals who teach us something about the finest of our kind.