The Hadzabe (also called the Hadza) are among the last people in Africa who live by hunting and gathering. Between about 1,000 and 1,500 Hadzabe live in the bush around Lake Eyasi and the Yaeda Valley, south of the Ngorongoro highlands, and their neighbours regard them as the first people of the area. Only some still live entirely from the land, but hunting and gathering remain at the heart of Hadzabe life.
A language of clicks
The Hadzabe speak Hadzane, which uses click sounds. Because of the clicks it was once grouped with the Khoisan languages of southern Africa, but linguists now consider it an isolate, related to no other language.
Bow, honey and baobab
The men hunt with bows they make themselves: arrows with metal points, often tipped with poison made from the sap of the desert rose, for larger game, and blunt wooden arrows for birds and small animals. Honey is a favourite food, and hunters follow the call of the honeyguide, a small bird that leads them to wild bees’ nests and feeds on the wax they leave behind. The women gather tubers, berries and the fruit of the baobab tree, a staple of the Hadzabe diet.
No chiefs, few possessions
Hadzabe camps are small and move with the seasons. There are no chiefs: decisions are made together, food is shared, and people own little more than they can carry. Shelters are domes of branches and grass, quickly built and left behind when the camp moves on.
Land and the future
In the last fifty years the Hadzabe have lost most of their land to farming and grazing. In 2011 the government gave Hadzabe communities a communal title to land in the Yaeda Valley, the first time Tanzania had recognised the land rights of a minority people. Respectful visits, arranged with the community, can bring income that helps them keep their way of life.
Meeting the Hadzabe
A visit begins at dawn, when the hunters set out. You walk with them through the bush as they track game and look for honey, then return to camp to see how they make bows, arrows and fire. Most guests combine the Hadzabe with a visit to a Datoga blacksmith at Lake Eyasi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early does a Hadzabe visit start?
At dawn, when the men go out to hunt, so you leave your lodge at Lake Eyasi before sunrise. The walk lasts two to three hours.
How fit do I need to be?
Reasonably: you walk off the trail through thorny bush at the hunters’ pace. Wear closed shoes and long trousers, and bring water.
Is a visit respectful to the Hadzabe?
When it is arranged with the community, in a small group and with a local guide, yes. Follow your guide’s lead and ask before taking photographs.
