Lake Eyasi

Eyasi, located south of the Serengeti National Park and immediately southwest of the Ngorongoro Crater in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania, is one of several lakes on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The southwest flank of Ngorongoro Volcano drains into the northeast end of the lake. The lake is generally rectangular, except for the indented southeast side, which appears to be shallower because sediment has filled in the shore. Most of the former shoreline can be identified by the colour change around the fairly steep embanked perimeter of the lake. Seasonal water level fluctuations in the lake are dramatic, perhaps indicating that Lake Eyasi is relatively shallow even during periods of maximum water

The Bushman Tribe

The Bushman (also known as the Wahadzabe tribe) still maintains their traditional hunter-gatherer way of life.

A visit to the village will be led by a local guide who will describe their lifestyle. The Bushman will make fire from sticks and will show you their very few belongings. They will take you on a simulated hunt in the area with their bows and arrows, and visitors can try a little target practice. The visit concludes with traditional singing and dancing.

In the rainy season, they live in caves, and in the dry season, they live in trees and bushes. Homes are marked by upright sticks in a semi-circle. Beds and floor mats are hides from kudu and impala.

The men hunt for wild animals and birds with bows and arrows. There are different arrows for different types of animals. Poisoned arrows are used for large animals. They also eat honey, tubers out of the ground, and fruits from the Baobab tree. In the dry season, they must dig down in the dry river bed to find water.

Men and women socialize in very separate groups. Small children and babies stay with the women and boys of 7 and older group with the men.

The Bushman are monogamous. The dowry to get married to a woman is 2 big baboons and many liters of honey.

Men wear shorts and animal hides. Women wear colorful clothes wrapped around them. Jewelry is made from beads, porcupine quills, fur, and hide.