Lake Eyasi

What happens on a visit

• •With the Hadzabe: Join a group at dawn as they light a fire, then follow a short hunting or foraging trip with bows and arrows.
• •With the Datoga: Watch blacksmiths turn scrap metal into arrowheads and jewellery.
• •The lake: Flamingos and pelicans in the wet season; a dry, white shore later in the year.

Visiting respectfully

Tourism brings income but also pressure on a small community whose land has shrunk. Go with a local guide who works with the community, ask how fees are shared, keep groups small and ask before taking photos.

Tip: Stay overnight near the lake so you can join the Hadzabe at first light, when hunts begin.

Getting there and where to stay

• •From Karatu: About 1.5 hours, partly on a rough road.
• •Where to stay: A few lodges and campsites near the lake; staying overnight lets you meet the Hadzabe at dawn.
• •Next: Return to Karatu for the Ngorongoro Crater, or continue to the Serengeti via the highlands.

When to go

All year. The lake is fullest after the rains, from about January to May, when birds gather; in the dry season it shrinks to a white salt pan. Hunting trips happen year round.

Honest downsides

Visits can feel staged when groups are large or rushed. The hunting walk is early and involves fast walking through thorny bush. If that doesn't appeal, a visit to the Datoga blacksmiths alone is shorter and gentler.

Where it is