Hadzabe live in harmony with each other, nature and themselves
The Hadzabe, who still live in the dry woodlands of remote Lake Eyasi, is one of the last and most remote Bushmen tribes.
It is almost impossible to spend time with traditional hunter gatherer tribes and not affect the way they live. But the Hadzabe in Northern Tanzania live today as they have lived for thousands of years: hunting for game with bows and arrows, gathering honey from the beautiful African baobab trees and digging for roots and tubers from deep within the arid ground of the acacia bush land.
Over the last few decades the Hadzabe bushman have been pushed deeper and deeper into the bush land, and are now fighting to preserve their unique culture and traditions. Wayo Africa and a few other like-minded companies are trying to help the Hadzabe to determine their own future and receive fair treatment. We have access to the area and by visiting them funds are channeled straight to various village accounts that act in their interests.
We spend time with one of the Hadzabe communities that choose to live a traditional hunter gather lifestyle. They live far from the normal tourist route and are therefore very difficult to reach by car. We always plan to spend three nights in a small mobile camp close to the Hadzabe village. Also since it is difficult to understand and absorb the harmony and serenity of the Hadzabe with a flying visit. Three days allows you to really connect with these wonderful people.
One whole day we join the men on hunting and honey gathering trips. We try to keep groups of guests small in order to avoid alerting the game to our presence and having an adverse affect on their hunting. The day could well involve walking and tracking of wild game. Although one might think that meat forms a large part of the diet, the Hadzabe are largely vegetarians and the majority of their meals are based around honey and fruit.
The second day we spend with the women of the village. Joining them as they forage for roots, tubers and berries. This is a wonderful day learning about plants and their various uses.
Spending time with the Bushmen is a powerful experience and hard to beat. But we also live and walk in the most beautiful African bush, constantly surrounded by wild animals. Anybody who enjoys spending time close to nature, in the wild, will love this trip. Some of our campsites are set at the foot of a rocky outcrop that is sacred to the Hadzabe people, and from the top there are stunning views of the valley, and beyond to the reaches of Lake Eyasi. Most afternoons are spent in and around camp, relaxing and taking our own bush walks in the area. By late afternoon, the sunsets from the escarpment are spectacular.
This cultural experience is one of the most sensitive cultural encounters available in the world today. The essence of Hadzabe culture can be summed up in one word: Harmony. They live in harmony with each other, nature and themselves.
A visit to the Hadzabe fits well between Tarangire National Park or Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Arrive JRO and overnight at Rivertrees Country Inn
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Game drive to Manyara Green Camp. Enjoy a nature walk and canoeing followed by sundowners by the Endabash waterfalls. Supper and overnight at Manyara Green Camp.
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Early morning game drive followed by a lake shore walk. Enjoy lunch in camp by the river, afternoon spent relaxing by the falls and followed by sundowners and a delicious supper.
Game drive out of the southern gate in Manyara National Park, drive up an old german road into a town called Mbulu and from here we drive into the Yeada valley. A full day drive into your private light-weight fly camp. Arrive late afternoon. Beautiful countryside on top of a ridge line. In the evening we have an afternoon walk and overnight at this light weight camp around the camp fire.
Today we go over to Hadzabe village and we spend the day hunting with the men. We will be on their time-frame. We will also collect honey ending mid-afternoon with lunch on the way. Late afternoon back to camp and chilling with sundowners and overnight in the fly camp.
The next morning we go back to the village and we spend some time with the ladies and the children. We will be digging for roots and tubas and collecting honey. We spend some more time in the village and how they build their houses and generally how the Hadzabe live.
Today we drive back to Mbulu and from there we drive to Karatu and onto the crater rim and to Mysigio Tented Camp. This is a long drive and we will arrive late afternoon, early evening. Enjoy sundowners and supper. Overnight at Mysigio.
Today we will game drive into the Ngorongoro Crater. Enjoy a packed lunch enroute and return back to Mysigio camp in the late afternoon. Enjoy a short walk with the maasai and then back to camp for sundowners and supper. Overnight at Mysigio Camp.
Depart Mysigio and venture into the Serengeti on a game drive through the plains. Arrive at Serengeti walking camp in the afternoon/evening. Enjoy sundowners round the camp fire and overnight in the walking camp.
Today we will set off early morning and have a full day of walking - with various lengths and routes available. Lunch en-route and return back to camp for the afternoon for sundowners and supper round the camp fire. Overnight at the walking camp.
Depart the walking camps and game drive to Seronera and fly out back to Arusha. Use of a day room at Rivertrees Country Inn before your departing flight from JRO.
Contact us for a safari to the Hadzabe or if you have any questions.
You can also check our other cultural activities.
Note. It is crucial, to select a visit to the Hadzabe carefully, as some of the groups are very commercialised and do not properly reflect the unique charisma and identity of these ancient people.
