Lake Eyasi

Location: Arusha Region, Northern Tanzania

Overview: 

Lake Eyasi lies west of Lake Manyara, southwest of Arusha at an elevation of about 3,400 ft (1,040 m) covering an are of approx. 400sq m. This region has volcanic activity and the lake inhabits the bottom of a bowl like depression with walls of purple lava enclosing a broad expanse of white alkaline shallows with some fresh water at depth below 33 ft.

This lake is a salt water lake, with no outlet, its main inlet is the Sibiti River on the southwest. The lake drains an area of about 25,300 square miles and greater and lesser flamingoes inhabit the lake shore in vast flocks. To the south west is Serengeti, the crater highlands to the north and tropical rain forests to the south. 

At Lake Eyasi the landscape varies as such a large diversity of wild animals and birds which include giraffes, zebras, leopards, hippos, a number of species of monkeys, tropical birds. The Park is famous for its inhabitant – the Hadzabe who have been around for more than 10000 years, they speak using the clicking sounds and another tribe that lives around the Lake is the San, who are originally from South Africa.

Other tribes who live here include the Maasai and several Bantu tribes, all practice their tradition to date, hunting, milk cows for milk, and gather fruits from the nearby trees as their ancestors used to do. 

Highlights of Lake Eyasi:  

• Habitat of the Hadzabe Tribe
• An enormous amount of birdlife is attracted to the Lake Eyasi
• Being a seasonal shallow Salt Lake with no outlet on the floor of the Great Rift Valley.

Accommodation Options: 

• Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge
• Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp

Activities:  

• Visit local tribes including the Hadzabe (bushmen), Datoga and Barabaig people.
• Cultural Experience
• Hiking
• Birding
• Guided walks