Hadza Community Safari

Your adventure begins in Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania’s top safari destinations. This vibrant town offers a range of activities to enhance your experience. Start with a walking safari in Arusha National Park, where giraffe and zebra graze against the scenic backdrop of Mount Meru. For a cultural experience, visit a local farm to learn about traditional farming methods and engage with the region’s agricultural heritage. If relaxation is what you’re after, take in the serene surroundings and enjoy the fresh mountain air. Arusha provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s natural wonders, offering a balance of adventure and tranquillity as you prepare for the remarkable wildlife encounters that lie ahead.

After meeting your guide, you’ll journey to Lake Manyara National Park, a hidden treasure in Tanzania that showcases a stunning blend of lush forests, acacia woodlands, and sprawling soda lakes. The park is famous for its vibrant flocks of flamingos and is home to an array of wildlife, including tree-climbing lions, hippo, elephant, giraffe, and one of Africa’s largest baboon populations. We offer several accommodation options, including a safari lodge situated in secluded spots inside the national park, or a mobile safari setup on community land bordering Manyara’s boundaries. The flexibility of the mobile setup allows for a range of activities, including walks, community visits, game drives, and night drives, offering a well-rounded Tanzania safari experience.

Your guide will drive you to Tarangire National Park, one of those hidden gems in northern Tanzania that offers a safari experience unlike any other. What makes Tarangire so special is its peaceful atmosphere, away from the crowds, where you can truly connect with nature. The park is known for its large elephant herds and majestic baobab trees, but it’s also a vital conservation area, especially during the dry season when the Tarangire River becomes a lifeline for wildlife. You’ll see zebra, wildebeest, and antelope gathering in large numbers, alongside over 550 bird species and strong predator populations, including lion and leopard. This makes Tarangire a key destination for both conservation safaris and walking safaris.

It is a long drive up to the Yaeda Valley to meet with the Hadza communities. The Yaeda Valley Tourism Program began in the early 1990s when the Hadza community invited a small family-owned safari company to bring tourists to their homeland. Both parties were committed to ensuring that tourism in the valley would respect the Hadza’s needs and values, leading to a carefully monitored program. The Hadza, one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer societies, have remarkably preserved their culture despite pressures that have eroded similar communities worldwide. However, in recent decades, they have lost up to 90% of their ancestral land to settlement. Today, the Yaeda Valley remains one of the last strongholds for the Hadza, who number between 1,000 and 2,000 people.

Today, join the Hadza as they search for their favorite treat—honey. They track down hives of African stinging bees and stingless bees with remarkable skill. Depending on the season, you may accompany them on a special excursion to collect honey, including the unique and year-round stingless bee variety. It’s an opportunity to taste this natural delicacy and learn about the deep connection between the Hadza and their environment. The day also highlights the seasonal rhythms that guide the Hadza’s lives and sustenance, providing a rare glimpse into their traditional honey-harvesting practices and the rich ecological knowledge that guides them.

Spend today in camp, where the Hadza eagerly share their traditional skills with visitors. Learn how to make fire without matches, craft arrows, create intricate beadwork, and practice archery with guidance from Hadza experts. The day winds down with a sunset from a scenic vantage point, offering a serene view over the landscape. As night falls, gather around the campfire, where you can engage in conversations about Hadza culture, ask questions, and enjoy their traditional singing and dancing. These evenings foster a deep connection with the Hadza, making this cultural exchange an enriching aspect of your safari experience in Tanzania.

Today, explore the larger context of the Yaeda Valley and its communities. The Hadza view land as a shared resource, with tourism serving the community’s collective needs. Your visit directly supports these efforts, as proceeds from tourism are channeled into community accounts, ensuring fair distribution and preserving the Hadza’s rights to land and resources. While Mongo wa Mono is the primary Hadza village, neighboring communities like the Datoga have joined the tourism program, recognizing its environmental benefits. Through natural history walks and visits to Hadza camps, you’ll gain insight into their unique lifestyle and the conservation initiatives that protect these grasslands, rocky ridges, and baobab-filled valleys for future generations.

This trip is centered around the Hadza interaction but there is a great deal of flexibility in where you travel to after the Hadza. You can continue your safari to the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in the Masaai Highlands, or head back to Arusha to take a flight down to the Indian Ocean. Everything we create is tailored to your interests using our experience and purpose. 

Photo credit: Dorobo Safaris, Wayo Africa