Hadzabe Bushman Walking Safaris with African Yellowstone safaris

TRADITION HUNTERS
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.

Preserve unique culture
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.

Visit Hadzabe village
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.

Hunting trip
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.

Join Hadzabe women
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.

Photo Credit Pietro Luraschi
Close to nature
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.

Unique cultural encounter
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.

Location
A visit to the Hadzabe fits well between Tarangire National Park or Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Discover the picturesque beauty of Lake Eyasi, a creation of the Great Rift Valley, where the lakeshore is a unique home to the Hadza and Datoga tribes, each with distinctive lifestyles.

Hadza Tribe: The Hadza people, nomads in the past, lived by hunting and gathering. Over 10,000 years, they have made Lake Eyasi their home, showcasing exceptional survival skills and unparalleled archery abilities. Despite the evolving world, the Hadza tribe has preserved its primal African life, allowing us to immerse ourselves in their traditional lifestyle, including the opportunity to join them in hunting activities.

Datoga Tribe: In contrast, the Datoga people have been engaged in cattle-breeding and land farming. Driven to Lake Eyasi by other tribes with superior weapons, they have maintained their distinct way of life. The Datoga tribe practices worship cults of ancestors and spirits, performing rainmaking rituals and healing magic. The preservation of their customs and traditions amidst the encroaching civilization is truly remarkable.