Meeting the Hadzabe at Lake Eyasi: A Respectful Visitor’s Guide

Lake Eyasi sits in a hot, dry corner of the Rift Valley, about four hours’ drive from Arusha and close to our home town of Karatu. It is not a big game destination. People come here to meet the Hadzabe, one of the last hunter-gatherer communities in Africa, and their Datoga neighbours.

Who are the Hadzabe?

The Hadzabe have lived around Lake Eyasi for thousands of years. Many still hunt with handmade bows and poisoned arrows and gather berries, roots and wild honey. Their language uses click sounds and is not related to any other language in the region. Only a small number of Hadzabe live this way today, as farms and grazing land press in on their territory.

The dawn hunt

A Hadzabe visit starts before sunrise. You walk with a small group of hunters into the bush as they track birds, dik-diks and other small animals. The pace is quick and the hunters do not stop for photos, so wear good shoes. Later the group shows how they make fire by hand from two sticks, and you may taste what was found that morning.

The Datoga blacksmiths

The Datoga are pastoralists and skilled metalworkers. At a Datoga homestead you watch smiths melt scrap metal over charcoal and hammer it into arrowheads and bracelets. Women wear detailed beadwork and leather clothing. Many guests say the Datoga visit is the surprise highlight of their trip.

When to visit Lake Eyasi

You can visit all year. From June to October the lake shrinks and the mornings are cool. From November to May the lake fills, flamingos and pelicans arrive and the days are hot. Plan two days: Datoga and the lake on the first afternoon, and the Hadzabe hunt at dawn on the second morning.

How to visit with respect

• Go with a local guide who works with the community and pays the visit fee to them.
• Ask before taking close-up photos of people.
• Follow the hunters’ pace and stay quiet in the bush.
• Buy crafts directly from the makers.
• Do not hand out sweets or money to children.

What to wear

Light, neutral clothing, closed shoes and a hat. Avoid dark blue and black, as tsetse flies like these colours. Bring insect repellent and expect dust.

Our 3-Day Lake Eyasi Cultural Safari includes the Hadzabe dawn hunt, a Datoga blacksmith visit and an Iraqw farm walk near Karatu. It pairs well with a day in the Ngorongoro Crater, two hours away.