Lake Eyasi
A remote soda lake beneath the Rift escarpment, home to the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers and the Datoga.
- Location
- South-west of Ngorongoro
- Best time
- Year-round
- Known for
- Hadzabe & Datoga cultures
- From Karatu
- About 1.5 hours by road
Discover Lake Eyasi
Lake Eyasi is a long, shallow soda lake at the foot of the Eyasi escarpment, south-west of the Ngorongoro highlands. The landscape is dry, rugged and beautiful, with doum palms, acacia bush and ancient baobabs, and the lake itself changes with the seasons, sometimes attracting flamingos and pelicans. What makes Eyasi unique, however, is its people.
The Hadzabe and the Datoga
The area is home to the Hadzabe, one of the last hunter-gatherer peoples in Africa, who still live largely by hunting with bows and arrows and gathering wild fruit, tubers and honey. An early-morning walk with a Hadzabe group offers a rare and respectful insight into a way of life that has changed little over thousands of years. Nearby live the Datoga, pastoralists known for their skill as blacksmiths, who turn scrap metal into arrowheads and jewellery.
A Meaningful Detour
We arrange visits with local guides from the community, in small groups, so that encounters are respectful and benefit the people you meet. A night at Lake Eyasi adds a deeply human dimension to a wildlife safari.
Getting There
Lake Eyasi is about an hour and a half's drive from Karatu, making it an easy one- or two-night detour between Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Where It Is
Lake Eyasi on the Map
Why Go
Highlights of Lake Eyasi
- Hadzabe hunter-gatherersJoin an early-morning hunt and learn traditional survival skills.
- Datoga blacksmithsWatch arrowheads and jewellery forged by hand from scrap metal.
- Rift Valley sceneryThe Eyasi escarpment rising above a remote soda lake.
- Seasonal birdlifeFlamingos and pelicans when water levels are right.
- Authentic encountersSmall-group visits led by local guides from the community.
- Easy detourOnly 1.5 hours from Karatu and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Good to Know
Lake Eyasi FAQs
Who are the Hadzabe? +
The Hadzabe are one of the last hunter-gatherer peoples in Africa. They live around Lake Eyasi and still hunt with bows and arrows and gather wild foods, largely as their ancestors did.
Is a visit to Lake Eyasi respectful to the local people? +
We only arrange visits through local community guides, in small groups, and with the consent of the families you meet, so that the experience is respectful and the community benefits directly.
How long should I spend at Lake Eyasi? +
One night is ideal, allowing you to join the Hadzabe at dawn, when they set out to hunt, and visit the Datoga later in the morning.
How far is Lake Eyasi from the Ngorongoro Crater? +
Lake Eyasi is about an hour and a half's drive from Karatu, the town closest to the Ngorongoro Crater gate.
Keep Exploring
More Tanzania Destinations
Plan Your Lake Eyasi Safari
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