Lake Eyasi is located in the Rift Valley, south of Serengeti National Park and southwest of Ngorongoro Crater in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania. Lake Eyasi boasts some of the most unique views in Tanzania, including beautiful sunsets and sunrises, as well as stunning vistas of the Great Rift Valley.
Lake Eyasi is characterized by lush green jungles, stunning beaches, various wildlife species, several bird species, and much more.
Lake Eyasi is a seasonal, endothermic salt lake with no primary outflow. Its primary inflows are the Sibiti River entering from the southwestern side and the Baray River from the northeast, along with other small seasonal rivers. Although the maximum depth of the lake is estimated to be about 1 meter, its elevation is 1,030 meters above sea level.
Lake Eyasi is seasonal, almost drying up completely during the dry season but can also flood during the rainy season, attracting aquatic life such as hippos from Serengeti National Park and various water birds.
Lake Eyasi serves as a stopover for migrating flamingoes. The Hadza, Datoga, and Masai pastoralists live around the lake. The Hadza are the indigenous inhabitants of Lake Eyasi, the Datoga inhabit the southeastern side at Yaeda Valley, while the Masai live along the Serengeti side.
The southwestern area across the Sibiti River is partly inhabited by the Sukuma, Isanzu to the south. Archaeologists and tourists can visit Mumba Cave located at the shores of Lake Eyasi. The Mumba Cave site has yielded a number of artifacts from the late Stone Age and Middle Stone Age.
Fishing can sometimes be done at Lake Eyasi, with lungfish and catfish being the most common catches. The Baray area of Lake Eyasi is the primary onion-growing region of East Africa, and farming is done by the Iraqw people who once lived on the side of Yaeda.
Visiting the People: Lake Eyasi’s surrounding area is inhabited by several tribes, and tourists can visit these communities to learn about their way of life. For example, the Hadza tribe has been living there for over 10,000 years and continues to practice their traditional way of life, including hunting techniques. The Daatoga tribe, one of the most remote tribes in Tanzania, has a rich culture similar to that of the famous Masai warriors in Tanzania and Kenya. Visitors can engage in their day-to-day activities, such as melting brass, copper, and aluminum.
Most of the tribes residing around Lake Eyasi welcome visitors into their homes and offer various activities for a small fee. These activities include preparing local food, traditional dances, and the opportunity to purchase handmade crafts as souvenirs.
Birding at Lake Eyasi: In addition to seasonal flamingoes, Lake Eyasi is home to 167 recorded bird species. Bird enthusiasts can observe various species, including red-billed ducks, cape teals, fulvous whistling ducks, black-winged stilts, pied avocets, bearded woodpeckers, variable sunbirds, red-billed parrots, gray herons, willow warblers, common greenshanks, cardinal woodpeckers, African gray flycatchers, house sparrows, Kori bustards, western yellow wagtails, Fischer’s lovebirds, white-backed vultures, black kites, bronze sunbirds, water thick-knees, emerald-spotted wood doves, yellow-necked francolins, southern red bishops, long-crested eagles, saddle-billed storks, little egrets, Egyptian geese, and eastern shantung goshawks, among others.
Boat Rides: One of the best ways to explore the flora and fauna of Lake Eyasi is by taking a boat ride on the lake. However, this should be done when water is available because the lake is seasonal. During the boat ride, you can see various wildlife and aquatic birds while enjoying the scenic views of the Rift Valley.
Lake Eyasi can be visited throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during the short rainy season in October and November when the vegetation is lush green, hippos fill up the lake, and migratory birds are present.
Tourists visiting Lake Eyasi can stay at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp, Tindiga Tented Camp, Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge, or even stay at lodges near Serengeti or Ngorongoro, as there are few lodges near Lake Eyasi.
Visiting Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Lake Eyasi is located close to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park, so tourists should not miss the opportunity to visit these two places. Serengeti National Park is famous for the great wildebeest migration, where millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles migrate to the neighboring Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Serengeti National Park also has a high concentration of wildlife, including the big five. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also teeming with wildlife, birds, and important archaeological sites.
