Why Visit Lake Eyasi?
South of Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Eyasi feels a world away from the classic safari circuit. It’s a shallow, alkaline lake that shrinks dramatically during the dry season, sometimes disappearing almost entirely leaving cracked mudflats stretching to the horizon.
What draws travellers here isn’t game drives, but people. The Hadzabe, one of the last true hunter-gatherer communities in Africa, still live around the lake, hunting with bows and foraging much as they have for generations. Nearby, the Datoga,a pastoralist tribe known for cattle herding and blacksmithing, call the same area home. It’s one of the most genuine cultural experiences left in Tanzania, far removed from the busier tourist trail
Lake Eyasi works best as a cultural add-on to a Ngorongoro or Serengeti-focused safari, typically as a half or full-day excursion
Getting to lake eyasi
Lake Eyasi is roughly a 2 to 3-hour drive south of Karatu, near Ngorongoro, making it a natural add-on to a Northern Circuit safari for guests wanting a cultural detour alongside their wildlife viewing.
Our team typically builds a Lake Eyasi visit in around your Ngorongoro or Serengeti days, so you get the cultural experience without adding significant extra travel time to your trip.
Top Lake Eyasi Activities
Hadzabe Hunting Excursion Join Hadzabe hunters on a traditional bow-hunting outing and see first-hand how one of the world’s last hunter-gatherer communities lives off the land.
Datoga Cultural Visit Meet the Datoga people and learn about their pastoralist lifestyle and traditional blacksmithing techniques.
Birdwatching When water levels are high, the lake attracts flamingos and other waterbirds, offering a quieter alternative birding spot away from the main parks.
Escarpment Views Take in sweeping views over the lake basin and surrounding Rift Valley landscape