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Lake Eyasi – Tanzania’s Cultural Crossroads & Birdwatcher’s Paradise

Lake Eyasi - Tanzania's Cultural Crossroads & Birdwatcher's Paradise

Lake Eyasi is a seasonal, shallow, endorheic salt lake located in the Karatu district of the Arusha region, Tanzania. It sits at a surface elevation of 1,030 meters above sea level, covering an area of 1,050 square kilometers and draining approximately 65,500 square kilometers.

As the largest lake in the Arusha region, Lake Eyasi receives inflows primarily from seasonal rivers, with its main inflow being the Sibiti River from the southwest, which flows almost year-round. The lake nearly dries up completely during the dry seasons but overflows during El Niño years, occasionally attracting hippos from Serengeti National Park.

On the shores of Lake Eyasi lies Mumba Cave, an important archaeological site containing artifacts from the Late and Middle Stone Ages. Some locals fish in the lake’s inflow streams and rivers, mainly catching lungfish and catfish.

Birding Paradise

Lake Eyasi is a haven for birdwatchers and serves as a stopover for migrating flamingos. Other birds commonly spotted around Lake Eyasi include black-winged stilt, fulvous whistling duck, red-billed duck, chestnut-banded plover, pied avocet, cape teal, black-headed gull, white-winged tern, red-knobbed coot, African openbill, whiskered tern, blue-naped moosebird, eastern violet-backed sunbird, Abdim’s stork, cut-throat finch, northern wheatear, black-throated barbet, Eurasian hoopoe, D’Arnaud’s barbet, speckled pigeon, African pipit, black heron, great cormorant, marsh sandpiper, Kittlitz’s plover, marabou stork, collared pratincole, red-capped lark, brubru, and red-winged starling, among others.

Visit the Hadza People

The Hadza, also known as the Hadzabe, are a prominent tribe around Lake Eyasi, near the Serengeti Plateau. Unlike any other people genetically, the Hadzabe language has been classified as vulnerable by UNESCO. These hunter-gatherers, numbering around 1,300, have lived in the area for thousands of years, though only a few hundred still practice their traditional way of life. Visitors can learn about their unique culture during a visit.

Isanzu People

The Isanzu people inhabit the southern shores of Lake Eyasi. Unlike the Hadza, the Isanzu are farmers, mainly growing maize, sorghum, and millet. They primarily speak their local language and Kiswahili, widely spoken across Tanzania.

Sukuma People

The Sukuma people live on the southwestern shores of the lake, across the Sibiti River. They are the largest ethnic group in Tanzania, occupying much of the northwestern part of the country. Traditional medicine plays a role in Sukuma culture, with both plants and animals used for medicinal purposes.

Datoga People

The Datoga people reside around the southeastern side of Lake Eyasi, in the Yaede Valley. They are pastoralists, mainly depending on livestock, and have maintained strong adherence to animist beliefs and practices. Visitors can explore Datoga culture on a trip to Lake Eyasi.

Iraqw People

The Iraqw people are the largest ethnic group in the Arusha region of Tanzania. They are a mix of Afro-Asiatic people with traditions in agriculture and animal husbandry. Although the Iraqw have intermarried with Bantu groups, they are a Cushitic-speaking ethnic group. Some Iraqw traditions are similar to those of the Jewish people.

Serengeti National Park

A visit to Lake Eyasi can be combined with Serengeti National Park, located in northern Tanzania. Renowned for the Great Wildebeest Migration, the park is one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders and one of the world’s Ten Natural Wonders.

Home to over 500 bird species and 70 mammal species, Serengeti offers exceptional wildlife viewing experiences. The park’s name comes from a Maasai word meaning “endless plains.” Beyond the migration, visitors can spot elephants, African buffalo, leopards, lions, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, gazelles, hartebeests, topi, impalas, baboons, crocodiles, African wild dogs, monkeys, and black rhinos.

Among the birds, enthusiasts can spot species like the red-throated tit, African fish eagle, grey-crested helmet-shrike, secretary bird, lilac-breasted roller, and Jackson’s golden-backed weaver.

Lake Eyasi is approximately 155 kilometers southwest of Arusha town, 100 kilometers from the Serengeti, and 75 kilometers from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.


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