Lake Eyasi

A SPECTACULAR SALT LAKE, NOT FAR FROM THE SERENGETI AND THE NGORONGORO CRATER
PLENTY OF WATERBIRDS & A FEW FISH
BIRDING, HALF- OR FULL-DAY HIKES, CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE AT YZ FAVOURITE ZIWANI LODGE

Lake Eyasi is located about 75 km from the Ngorongoro Crater and 100 km from the Serengeti. It’s an excellent add-on to a safari in either or both of those areas, as well as a great destination in its own right!

Overview

Lake Eyasi is well worth visiting. Local eco-lodge Ziwani provides opportunities for birding, hiking, and fascinating cultural experiences!

Location

The lake is situated about 75 kilometres south-west of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and 100 kilometres south of the Serengeti National Park. This area is known as the Serengeti Plateau. Eyasi occupies its base, on the floor of the spectacular Great Rift Valley.

History

The age of Lake Eyasi is estimated at 65 million years, just after dinosaurs became extinct. The feature formed due to the opening of a rift on the valley floor. For over 50,000 years, hunter–gatherers known as the Hadza or Hadzabe have lived around the lake’s shores. To the south-east, specifically the swampy Yaeda Valley, there are the Datooga, a pastoralist people.

Wildlife in Lake Eyasi

Eyasi boasts an exciting variety of birdlife! Among the area’s highlights are flamingos, great white pelican, grey-headed gull, yellow-billed stork, pied avocet, and African spoonbill. The two main fish species in the lake are lungfish and catfish.

Activities & things to do

Our recommended lodge here, Ziwani, offers birding, hiking, and cultural experiences. If you’re a fan of feathery friends, make sure you bring your binoculars! Hikes take you along the shores of the lake and can involve looking at ancient rock art. You can also wander through local villages and meet members of the Hadza and Datooga tribes. The former, their number now at just a thousand, are skilled hunter–gatherers. The men hunt both large and small animals using bows-and-arrows, while the women forage for berries and fruit. And the Datooga are superb silversmiths, making hunting tools for the Hadzabe in exchange for skins and food. Spending any amount of time with these peoples makes for a thrilling experience!

Times of year to travel to Lake Eyasi

Tanzania receives little to no rainfall during the months from June to October, so this is the period to consider if you’re interested in the easiest wildlife viewing. As Lake Eyasi dries up, local species are particularly visible as they tend to cluster around the dwindling water supply.

Top travel tips

As mentioned, our tip for top property in the area is Ziwani Lodge. A stay of at least two nights here can combine well with a safari in the Serengeti and/or the Ngorongoro Crater. For more information about visiting Lake Eyasi, please contact a member of the YZ team!