Explore Maasai and Hadzabe tribes in Tanzania

Explore Maasai and Hadzabe tribes in Tanzania

Join us on a life-changing eight days journey to participate and observe Maasai and Hadzabe traditions and culture in Northern Tanzania. Space is limited for this precious opportunity to learn from and interact with one of the world's last hunter-gatherers people who live from nature. During this trip, you will also meet Maasai laibon in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, who is a spiritual leader and medicine man. You experience a lot of singing and dancing Maasai's ancestral songs, sharing Maasai and Hadzabe peoples rich culture, hunting with the Hadzabe and collecting wild honey from Baobab trees, reconnecting with nature and expanding consciousness for environmental healing. The aim of this ethnographic expedition is to address the need for balance and harmony between people and the environment and to share collective Maasai and Hadzabe wisdom.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Arusha

Pass By: Arusha Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania
We pick you up from Kilimanjaro airport when your flight arrives. We transfer you to a 3-star Safari Lodge in Arusha. We eat dinner together in a local African restaurant and start to get to know each other.

Meals included:
• Dinner: We eat dinner together in a local African restaurant
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 3-star safari Lodge

Day 2: Stay with the Maasai

Pass By: Mto wa Mbu, Monduli, Tanzania
After breakfast, we head from Arusha to Mto Wa Mbu-village which is about two hours drive. When we arrive in Mto Wa Mbu village, we continue to drive in the savanna until we reach our first Maasai boma (village). We set up a camp inside the Maasai boma. This is your new home for a few days. Our private chef prepares lunch and dinner for us. We dine outside enjoying the great views of the East African Great Rift Valley which is one the geologic wonders of the world. Enjoy welcoming celebrations with a lot of dancing and singing with the Maasai warriors and women. After dinner, we gather around a campfire. We sleep in tents inside the Maasai boma.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Maasai village where we set up our tents.

Day 3: Exploring Maasai culture

Pass By: Mto wa Mbu, Monduli, Tanzania
After enjoying our breakfast with scenic views, we head to Mto Wa Mbu village. The name of the village means “river of mosquitos.” Here we have a painting workshop with an African artist. Make your own Maasai portray or other painting that you can take home with you. We also visit the local market before returning to the Maasai boma for lunch. In the afternoon you can rest or join the Maasai women who go to fetch firewood and water. We explore the gender roles, division of labor and women's role in the Maasai society. Dinner, campfire and overnight in the Maasai boma.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Maasai village where we set up our tents

Day 4: See the most beautiful Ngorongoro Conservation Areas

Pass By: Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
After breakfast, we head to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The world’s largest intact caldera from a long extinct volcano, Ngorongoro is home to about 26 000 wild creatures who live within the safety of the caldera walls. The Maasai are the indigenous peoples whose traditional lands are Ngorongoro including the Crater where they still herd their cattle. We have a privilege to meet Maasai spiritual leader and medicine man, laiboni. We learn about Maasai wisdom and use of bush medication. You have a chance to meet laiboni in private too if you wish. We do a bush walk inside the Ngorongoro to see some wild dame on foot and have a picnic lunch. We head back to our Maasai boma in Mto Wa Mbu for dinner and overnight.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a Maasai village where we set up our tents

Day 5: Stay with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers

Pass By: Lake Eyasi, Karatu Tanzania
Today we head to the Lake Eyasi to meet the famous Hadza hunters. The drive is about 1,5 hours. Lake Eyasi is a seasonal shallow salt lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley at the base of the Serengeti Plateau. For thousands of years, the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers have lived in Lake Eyasi. They are some of the last remaining hunter-gatherers on the Earth. The hadzabe grow no food, raise no livestock, and live without rules or calendars. We join the Hadzabe to the deep bush and experience the real life of hunter-gatherers. We set up a bush camp near Hadzabe's huts. Dinner and storytelling around a campfire in the wild bush.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in the bush with the Hadzabe where we set up our tents

Day 6: Stay with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers

Pass By: Lake Eyasi, Karatu Tanzania
We spend 2 full days with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers. Join the Hadzabe on their hunting trips early in the morning and late in the evening. Learn their hunting techniques and maybe we are lucky to see how they gather wild honey from a Baobab tree. We also join the Hadzabe women to gather tuber plants and fruits. We learn more about their beliefs, practices, and culture. The Hadzabe sing and tell stories every night at slow burning Acasia fire. We sleep in the wild bush with the Hadzabe.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Stay with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers

Pass By: Lake Eyasi, Karatu Tanzania
We spend two full days with the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers. Join the Hadzabe on their hunting trips early in the morning and late in the evening. Learn their hunting techniques and maybe we are lucky to see how they gather wild honey from a Baobab tree. We also join the Hadzabe women to gather tuber plants and fruits. We learn more about their beliefs, practices, and culture. The Hadzabe sing and tell stories every night at slow burning Acasia fire. We sleep in the wild bush with the Hadzabe.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in the bush with the Hadzabe where we set up our tents

Day 8: Back to Arusha

Pass By: Arusha Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania
After breakfast, we head back to Arusha which is situated at the foot of Mount Meru, Africa's 5th highest mountain. The altitude gives the city a pleasant climate and lush green environment. Enjoy your free time in the city or at the lodge before we drive you back to Kilimanjaro airport when your flight departures or book an extra night in a lodge or a safari with us

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.