| | | | Size:
1,050 km2/400 sq mi. | | | | |
| Wildlife & attractions: Landscape scenery and birdlife.
Some wildlife. Visits to the Hadza tribe. | | |
| | | Getting there: 3–4 hours on
poor bush road from Karatu Town between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro. | |
| | | | Tanzania map
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| Tanzania: |
| Lake Eyasi | |
| Lake Eyasi is a fairly large (approximately 1,050 km2/400 sq mi) soda
lake with a mild soda content, situated in the Great
Rift Valley south-west of the Ngorongoro Highlands in northern Tanzania. Like
most East African soda lakes, the lake size varies a lot throughout the year. Greater
and lesser flamingos may be seen, sometimes in good numbers. Storks, pelicans and other
birds may also be seen. It is not a prime area for mammal wildlife, but monkeys and
antelopes may be spotted, and hippos can be found locally. |
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The Hadza tribe
Lake Eyasi is probably best known for being the home to the Hadza tribe (also known
as the Watindiga or Wahadzabe), which lives in the bush around the northern parts of
the lake. It is a tribe of hunters and collectors, which formerly inhabited the Serengeti,
but was forced away by stronger and more aggressive tribes.
| The Hadza live in traditional ways, hunting game such as dikdiks
and collecting honey. Their huts are simple, built in a few hours and as easily
abandoned. Like another people of hunters and collectors, the San tribe of the
Kalahari in southern Africa, the Hadza speak a click language. Some tour operators
arrange tours that include visiting groups of the Hadza tribe.
Another tribe of this area is Datoga, which once inhabited the Serengeti
area, but was forced to leave by the Maasai arriving from the north more than
a hundred years ago. | 
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Lake Eyasi is off the beaten safari track, but you may include it in your itinerary
if you set aside at least one day for going there. The shortest way is from Karatu Town
on the main road between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro.
The roads from Karatu to the lake are poor bush roads, and you can expect some uncomfortable
driving. The area around the lake is pretty, though, and has many huge baobab trees.
You need a local guide to visit the Hadza, and to find them – living from hunting
and collecting, the Hadza groups never stay very long in the same spot.
Lodges and camps
There are a few lodges and camps in the Lake Eyasi area, offering scenery and a quiet atmosphere rather
than local game viewing.
 Tindiga
Tented Camp is set 1.5 km/1 mi from the eastern lake shore, overlooking the bushland of the
Eyasi area. It has ten tented rooms in a nice safari style. The camp offers bird watching, bush
walks and visits to the Hadza and Datoga tribes.
Web site: www.moivaro.com
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Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp is a permanent tented camp on the north-eastern shore of Lake Eyasi. It
offers accommodation in basic but spacious and stylish safari tents with ensuite bathrooms. All tents
are close to and have views of the lake. The activities offered include for example canoeing, mountain
biking, and visits to the Hadza and Datoga tribes.
Web site: www.kisimangeda.com
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