gallery of 8 photos

Lake Eyasi, Tanzania

Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp

This family run tented camp is simple and all of the tents have great views of Lake Eyasi. A stay here affords you the opportunity to visit with the Wahadzabe people - a tribe of hunter gatherers that still speak in ancient click dialect. If you are not pretty fit, the bumpy access road and hiking activities can be strenuous.  — Mango's view

This new permanent tented camp is located on the Schmeling family 200 acre plantation on the shores of Lake Eyasi. Jointly owned and operated by Christian and Nani Schmeling and George and Deborah Mavroudis, the camp is situated in a beautiful natural palm and acacia lakeshore forest with a colossal rock as a backdrop and a natural spring nearby.

The camp itself consists of six guest sleeping tents built on permanent platforms and a large dining tent. All these are thatched with traditional palm fronds and the en-suite bathroom section is built with natural palm stems, giving it a rustic appearance. There is hot and cold running water supplied by a spring and heated through environmentally friendly kuni boilers that burn dry palm fronds that have fallen from the trees. Toilets are flush type and there is a proper septic system in place. Furniture and bedding is comfortable and in keeping with traditional safari style. Lighting is supplied by inverter and generator and is of the energy saving type. From all tents there is a beautiful view of the lake.

Natural beauty comes in many forms and here in Lake Eyasi it is most striking in its abundant bird life. African fish eagles and crowned cranes are resident as are Verreauxs eagle owls and hammerkops. Guinea fowl and francolin, kingfishers, herons, egrets, cormorants, plovers, and Egyptian geese abound. As the plantation only caters to livestock and no agriculture, some of the last remaining game in the area seek sanctuary here. Walking paths have been carved through the lake shore forest and afford guests the opportunity to experience this beautiful and unique environment on foot.

There is a little known cultural aspect that has drawn small numbers of discerning travelers for many years. The Wahadzabe are the last remnants of a tribe of hunter gatherers that were pushed out of the Ngorongoro Crater and surrounding conservation area hundreds of years ago by incoming pastoralist groups, including the Maasai. Moving slowly down the foothills of Oldeani and along the lakeshore, this group of people is one of the last of its kind in Africa. Small in stature and speaking an ancient click dialect, they survive by their ability to blend into and subsist through their surroundings. A visit with them can be arranged and a morning or full day spent walking, hunting and gathering is a haunting experience.

Includes: All meals & safari activities