Lake Eyasi is just south of the Serengeti National Park and immediately southwest of the Ngorongoro Crater in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. The lake is elongated, orientated southwest to northeast, and lies in the Eyasi-Wembere branch of the Great Rift Valley.
The Hadzabe bushmen live in this region, as do the Datoga and Mbulu tribes. A visit with the bushmen is worthwhile and they will graciously show you where and how they live and hunt. They subsist entirely off the bush and by bow hunting. Everything they use is made from local materials, including their bows which are strung with giraffe tendon and their arrows which are coated in lethal poison. Their language resembles that of Kalahari bushmen tribe (who were featured in the 1980 film ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’) with clicking noises used.
The Datoga and Mbulu people are pastoralists, like the Masai people. The scenery of Lake Eyasi differs dramatically to that of the surrounding areas. Compared to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Highlands this area seems downright tropical. Palm trees border the lake and make homes for birds such as Fischer’s lovebird. Other trees in this area include the umbrella thorn acacia and sand paper bush. The weather is nearly always very hot and intense, as the lake is located in floor of the Rift Valley, the oldest rift in the world. The rift is thought to have opened over 65 million years ago, shortly after dinosaurs became extinct. To view Lake Eyasi on our Tanzania map please click here.
Lake Eyasi’s water levels vary greatly between the rainy and dry seasons. During the dry season the lake is virtually nonexistent and animals are forced to share what water is left, which makes for easier wildlife viewing. The lake can get quite deep during the rainy season and it attracts hippos who like to cool off in its brackish waters.
Bird lovers will be in paradise here, as the lake attracts vast numbers of birds of all sizes and colors. Some main birds to be found here include Africa spoonbill, flamingos, gray-headed gulls, great white pelicans, pied avocet and yellow-billed storks. The main fish found in the lake are catfish and lungfish.
Lake Eysai palm trees sunset this region is particularly suited for exploring on foot, and a day or half-day hikes are highly recommended. It is also possible to go on a hunting trip with the Hadzabe or to visit the other tribes. Almost any time of year is a good time to visit Lake Eyasi with only April and May being questionable as they are when the long rains occur.
Absolutely amazing experience. Everything from the organization, the information the whole adventure was something that cannot be described with words, you have to do it on your own to really believe it. Special shout out to all the Suricata dream team.
With an estimated population of fewer than 2,000 individuals, the Hadzabe are one of the last tribes to stay true to their tribal history. Existing far from the crowds and globalization that inevitably follow tourism, they exist much as they always have. The Hadzabe people live in caves near Lake Eyasi, and their isolation and shrinking numbers have allowed them to avoid the HIV epidemic and other diseases that have spread due to intertribal marriages.
Men typically hunt and bring home honey to feed their families, while women and children gather fruits, berries, and roots with which to supplement their diet.
The men are particularly adept hunters, and their daring and inventive hunting style is a sight to behold. Using parts harvested from other animals, they cunningly lure and put down the game. They use locally made poisons and ingenious camouflage to hunt.
As this is their only source of food, they are the only tribe permitted to hunt in the Serengeti.
Whether overnighting in nearby lodges or traveling across from Karatu, visitors can join an early morning hunting demonstration before exploring the lake Eyasi region by car or on foot.
A distinctive feature of Hadzabe culture is their language. The Hadzabe language is an idiosyncratic tongue of clicks. It is similar to that of the famous Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert. Despite this and their similar physical appearances, DNA testing has shown no relations between the two groups.
Allow us to let you experience one of the most unique vacations you will ever have. Your eyes would glow from the beauty of the wildlife and nature of Tanzania. We also provide the possibility of visiting traditional Tanzanian villages to further your understanding. It will be an exhilarated experience!
We had a great experience with Suricata Safaris!! It was all very comfortable since they took care of all the transportation. As soon as we arrived, Hilary came to our accommodation to explain what our itinerary was going to be for the next few days. It is very expressive and pleasant. We started the safari with Frederic as our guide.
We are a group of six friends, we chose the 5-day safari with Suricata Safari on the recommendation of a friend who did the same last year, and of course it was a great choice. The route of the trip was Tarangire-Manyara-Serengeti-Ngorongoro. In short, an incredible experience, good value for money and above all a ten to Rocky. One hundred percent recommended!
We chose this company based on TripAdvisor reviews and we couldn't have made a better choice! From the first moment Hilary took great care of us, making sure that everything was perfect. The Florid guide is very attentive and he tried to make us see as many animals as possible; Chef Chaz cooks amazing!! Suricata Safaris is undoubtedly the best option!
We did a complete search and compared with many companies and Suricata seemed to us the best option, without a doubt a GREAT SUCCESS. We had Florid as a guide, who made an effort to find all the possible animals, apart from making us a super pleasant and fun stay.
Based On 750 Reviews
Based On 750 Reviews
Based On 750 Reviews
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