Lake Eyasi is a stunning salt lake located in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania, southwest of the Ngorongoro Crater and just south of the Serengeti National Park. The lake is elongated and lies in the Eyasi-Wembere branch of the Great Rift Valley. It is home to the Hadzabe bushmen, as well as the Datoga and Mbulu tribes, who offer visitors the opportunity to learn about their unique lifestyles and traditions.

The Hadzabe bushmen are skilled hunters who live off the land and subsist entirely on the bush and bow hunting. They make their own weapons from local materials, including bows strung with giraffe tendons and arrows coated in poison. Their language, which includes clicking noises, is similar to that of the Kalahari bushmen tribe. The Datoga and Mbulu people are pastoralists like the Masai people.

Lake Eyasi’s surroundings differ greatly from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Highlands, with palm trees lining the lake’s shores and offering a tropical feel. The area is home to a variety of trees, including the umbrella thorn acacia and sandpaper bush. The lake’s water levels vary greatly between the rainy and dry seasons, with hippos attracted to its brackish waters during the rainy season.

Bird enthusiasts will be delighted by the vast array of birds that call Lake Eyasi home, including the Africa spoonbill, flamingos, gray-headed gulls, great white pelicans, pied avocet, and yellow-billed storks. The lake is also home to catfish and lungfish.

Lake Eyasi is an excellent destination for hiking and exploring on foot, with day or half-day hikes highly recommended. Visitors can also join the Hadzabe on a hunting trip or visit the other tribes. While April and May may not be the best time to visit due to the long rains, almost any other time of the year is ideal. Click here to view Lake Eyasi on our Tanzania map.