12 Nov 2018
We were up early to visit the Hadzabe tribe village. It was an hour and a half drive, most of it over rough roads. We passed a dry river bed where local families dig holes down to the high water table and have enough to water their livestock.
This area of Tanzania also has a lot of baobab trees.
These massive trees can hold tens of thousands of gallons of water with roots that can extend out up to five kilometres.
The Hadza people are a genetically distinct group of nomadic people living around the Lake Eyasi region whose genetic history goes back thousands of years. They speak with a unique language that uses a clicking sound.
There are less than fifteen hundred Hadzane left and several hundred still subsist solely on hunting and gathering to survive. The men typically hunt, going out for three to five days as necessary while the women collect fruit. The camp can have thirty to forty people and are mobile in order to find food.
The tribe won’t hunt snakes or hyena. They leave their dead to be eaten by hyenas, and as a result, they won’t eat animal for fear that they may be consuming the soul of their ancestors.
We got to the tribe’s location deep in the bush and were introduced to the men.
They showed us a baboon they had hunted.
It was sitting in a tree, skinned and some were eating one of the legs for breakfast.
One of them pulled it down and draped it over his shoulder to show us. He was quite proud of his kill and we were told how the entire animal would be used.
We were already impressed.
They hunt using bow and arrow.
Depending on what they are hunting, they have a choice of arrow. A soft arrow for small animals, a medium arrow for medium sized animals like baboon and the poison arrow for larger animals.
A younger member of the tribe gave us a demonstration.
Then we went for a walk to a massive baobab tree that had a cavity inside.
There was enough room for a dozen people to stand and they said the cavity was natural.
They even had a spot to hang their weapons.
I had a feeling it was a bit of a man cave.
Then they took us for a simulated hunt, moving through the bush as if to surround their prey and flush it towards one of the other hunters.
We stayed in a straight line like zebras while they were off in the bush, appearing from time to time.
We returned to the camp and had a chance to say hello to the women who stay separate from the men.
Others had Canada pins to give out and the women had a unique use for them.
The men then gave everyone a chance to use the bow.
And one of the tribe spoke for us demonstrating the click used in their language.
Before we left, they put on a short show.
I especially liked the puppy and the kids getting into it.
When we were done, we headed out and found a spot in the bush to have our picnic breakfast.
While we were eating, three children in old clothes walked by and the local guide waved them closer and we gave them all the leftover food.
They really liked the chocolate.
The local guide spoke to the girl and asked why she wasn’t in school. She said that she didn’t have enough money for a uniform which she needed to go to school.
We asked how much and he said $30 to $50.
Well, that doesn’t add up to much among a dozen or so people. We asked Lucas and he said the local guide could be depended upon to buy her a uniform if we donated the money. He promised to email us a picture of the girl when he gets her outfitted. (I expect the pictures after Christmas).
We said good-bye to the kids and made a stop at the dry river bed to take a closer look at the watering hole.
One man was watering his cows and goats while another was digging deeper.
Once the cows had enough, he shooed them away and let the donkeys and goats get closer.
Then a 4×4 went by.
Or is that an 16×16?
There were some donkeys following and some of them looked pregnant.
I wasn’t sure if I should hug them or run.
We headed back to the Acacia Farm Lodge and had another lunch on the lawn. Afterwards, some of us went for an amazingly refreshing swim. I got them to all jump in at the same time.
Dinner was a buffet again and I spent the evening packing after a relaxing two days.
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