Everything to know about a Safari to Tanzania’s Lake Eyasi: Lake Eyasi is a massive lake that dwarfs Lake Manyara in size, and its saline border expands and contracts depending on how much rain falls throughout the year. When the weather is particularly dry, the water levels are extremely low, allowing the Datoga and Hadzabe tribes to walk across the Lake. Doum palms are distinctive, and in a harsh environment, the trees’ shade is refreshing and very welcome. Lake Eyasi’s sunsets are spectacular, making it an ideal stop for anyone planning a photography-focused Tanzania safari. In the distance, the western flank of the Rift Valley looms large.
The lake’s northernmost tip is in the shadow of Oldeani Mountain, on the outskirts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Lake Eyasi is located in one of the oldest parts of the Eastern Rift Valley, running northeast-southwest for approximately fifty miles below the 3000-foot escarpment that forms the southern-eastern boundary of Serengeti National Park and the Maswa Game Reserve. The Yaida valley, to the southeast of the lake, is home to the Hadzabe hunter-gatherer tribe.
Though not strictly a game reserve, Lake Eyasi is a wild, scenically stunning area where you can get a real sense of some of Tanzania’s fascinating tribes, most notably the Hadzabe and Datoga. Visiting the Hadzabe Bushmen near Lake Eyasi is a must for travelers seeking genuine, “off the beaten track” cultural immersion. Get in touch with us at Focus East Africa Tours for more experiences like this, all of which focus on meeting the people who live here while also making a positive impact during your Tanzania safari tour.
Lake Eyasi is a truly off-the-beaten-path attraction in Tanzania. Despite being in the country’s most visited region, bordering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and close to Lake Manyara, this fascinating place is rarely visited, if at all, by those interested in visiting the Hadzabe “Bushmen” community.
The lack of accommodation options, the lake’s seasonality, and the fact that Lake Eyasi is located on a dead-end road, forcing you to return to Karatu, do not bode well for tourism in the area. Lake Eyasi, on the other hand, is well worth a visit, and in this travel guide, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to plan a trip to this remote Tanzania region, including how to get there, what to do, and where to stay around Lake Eyasi.
GEOGRAPHY AND WILDLIFE OF LAKE EYASI
Lake Eyasi is a sink (endorheic) lake, which means it has no outlets. Its waters are salty and shallow. The size of Lake Eyasi varies greatly depending on the season; while it is almost nonexistent during the dry season, it frequently floods nearby settlements when the rainy season is heavier than usual (which is becoming more common).
During the dry season, animals are forced to share the little water that remains, making wildlife viewing easier. During the wet season, the lake becomes deeper, attracting a large number of hippos. The heaviest rains fall in April and May, making it unwise to visit during these months because the roads can become flooded and muddy.
This fascinating lake is located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, where Africa is slowly being pushed and pulled apart by material rising from the earth’s mantle. It borders the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the crater can be seen from the south-east shores.
Lake Eyasi’s landscape is unusual, mostly sandy and dry, with odd-looking succulents like cactus trees (Euphorbia ingens), umbrella thorn acacia, and sandpaper bush, but also patches of tropical vegetation like palm trees. The weather is almost always extremely hot and humid.
GETTING THERE: THE ROAD TO LAKE EYASI
Although some maps show three routes to Lake Eyasi, only one of them is viable, according to our local expert. The two alternatives, one leading to Mbulu and the other along the lake to the road Singida-Mwanza, are likely to be tackled by true adventure seekers equipped with the necessary vehicles. In the dry season, expert bicycle tourists or motorbike travelers may make it, while the paths may be too narrow for a car.
The main road connects Karatu to Mangola (the main village on Lake Eyasi). This is a dusty road with some nasty corrugation that should be tackled by a 4×4, but locals do it in any crappy car.
THE MYSTERIOUS ENTRY FEE TO LAKE EYASI
There is a tourist office about 8 kilometers from Mangola where you must register and pay a fee of $20 per car. If you intend to participate in any cultural activity, such as visiting the local Hadzabe tribe, the fee rises to a whopping 110 dollars per car. This fee should only be paid if you intend to spend the night on the lake’s shore.
THE TRIBES OF LAKE EYASI: THE HADZABE BUSHMEN AND THE PASTORALISTS DATOGA AND MBULU
The Hadzabe Tribe
The Hadzabe are not genetically related to any other people. They don’t grow food, don’t raise livestock, don’t understand calendars, and don’t know how to count past four.
They are a living hunter-gatherer tribe whose way of life has remained largely unchanged for the past 10,000 years. Their language is similar to that of the once-Khoisan of the Kalahari because of the use of distinctive clicks, but the Hadzabe language (Hadzane) has been proven to be an isolate, unrelated to any other.
According to the Tanzanian government, only about 1,200–1,300 Hadzabe people remain, with only about 400 surviving solely through traditional foraging methods. Everything they use is made locally, including their bows, which are strung with giraffe tendon, and their arrows, which are poisoned.
Should you visit the Hadzabe Tribe?
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably fascinated by these people and their way of life, as we are, but that doesn’t mean you should go visit them. Aside from the obvious ethical concerns inherent in “human safaris” (or human zoos), the Hadzabe’s isolation and unique way of life make them even more vulnerable than other African tribes.
Following the release of a few popular documentaries about the Hadzabe since 2001, the Mang’ola Hadzabe has become a tourist attraction. Although this appears to benefit the Hadzabe, much of the money generated by tourism is allocated by government offices and tourism companies rather than the Hadzabe.
Giving money directly to the Hadzabe is also pointless because they have no concept of money. It will only contribute to alcoholism and alcohol-related deaths, as well as to the loss of cultural knowledge.
The Datoga tribe: like the Maasai, they are pastoralists
The Datoga are pastoralists, like the Maasai. These pastoralists, unlike the Maasai people, are skilled silversmiths who supply the Hadzabe with iron tips, knives, and spears in exchange for honey and fruits. Their origins are thought to be in the Horn of Africa, where they migrated around 3,000 years ago. They dress in traditional attire adorned with colored beads, and the women frequently have facial scarification for beauty. The Datoga wear outfits that are reddish brown in color, similar to the soil, with reddish patched leather dresses, necklaces, beadwork, and bracelets. The decorative facial scarification with circular patterns around their eyes is another cultural feature that distinguishes the Datoga from other tribes.
WHAT TO DO: ACTIVITIES ON LAKE EYASI
- Cultural Encounters: The Hadzabe bushpeople are friendly and enjoy demonstrating their hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They will show you their cave homes and take you on a hunt while speaking a unique dialect with a distinct clicking sound. This is a unique look at a way of life that has existed for tens of thousands of years.
- Hiking: The Lake and its surroundings are beautiful and ideal for local hikes. Take a guided full- or half-day hike along its shores to see ancient rock art.
- Local Villages: Take a leisurely stroll through the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes’ villages to meet these friendly people.
- Birding: The lakeshore and surrounding areas are teeming with vibrant and active birdlife.
- Ghorofani Market: On the fifth of every month, just a few kilometers from the lake’s northeastern section, you’ll find an active market. Stroll among the local shoppers and merchants who come from all over the lake.
- Fishing: During the wet seasons, fishing activities can also be organized on the lake; the main fish found in the lake are catfish and lungfish. Even if you are not interested in fishing, a boat trip is an enjoyable experience.
- Cycling: The best way to explore Lake Eyasi’s shores is undoubtedly by bicycle. With a two-wheeler, you could travel long distances in a short amount of time to admire the changing landscapes further down the coast.
- Sundowners at the lakeshore
CONCLUSION
We hope we did Lake Eyasi and the incredible people who live there justice. If you’d like to include this beautiful area in your tailor-made Tanzania safari, please contact us for more information or to create your own personalized itinerary. Focus East Africa Tours can help you plan your next big adventure!
