The Hadzabe people (Wahadza in Swahili) in Tanzania are among the last remaining hunter-gatherers on earth. They have preserved their civilization for thousands of years with minor modifications. I joined them on a hunt to learn some of their skills and routines. That morning we woke up early, leaving our accommodation to go for a hunt with the Hadzabe people. As we were approaching Lake Eyasi, I was blown away by the landscape and I was worried about what we would come up against during the hunt. After a couple of hours driving, we got off the car and started hiking to find the village.
Few minutes later, we beheld the first houses. The Hadza people bent tree branches into round structures to provide some kind of protection from possible threats such as rain, animals etc. As I walked through the village, I could see around 30 members of this tribe; they all seemed so friendly and curious about my photographic equipment. Despite the situation they lived in, they seemed to be happy, enjoying the little things. As the time for the hunt was getting closer, the members of the tribe were getting prepared; they had to handpick their arrows.
Each one with a different arrow head, for each type of animal that they could come up against. They informed us that their favorites are baboons, but we would have to be very lucky to come across them. They smoked a plant from a nearby tree to get strength, as they said, and we started walking into the woods. The hunt had officially started. They instructed us to walk really quiet. When a sound was heard, they would aim the arrow heads towards it. If an animal was spotted then it would be shot. After a couple of hours they managed to catch a few small birds and a small pig. In case the hunt did not go as planned, they would have to survive on roots, tubers, berries and fruit such as Baobab, Grewia, Cordia, and Salvadora, which are gathered by the women of the tribe. Eventually, we started heading back to the village as everybody was tired.
Truth be told, it is cruel to witness something like this on first hand. Nevertheless, I strongly believe you should keep an open mind; the Hadzabe people kill animals for survival and treat nature with great respect; as they still live as their ancestors. On our way back I reflected on all the experiences I gained in this country, a unique destination, which invites those who seek new adventures. The hospitality of the people, the exotic food, the extraordinary places, and the memories that I would take back with me. Most of the guides I read before arriving, will tell you to steer clear of the country, focusing on all things that could go wrong. Life is too short; you have to make the most of it. I would never be satisfied with myself knowing that I turned down an adventure, not taking the chance to travel to new places, seizing an opportunity to see different cultures and environments, and exposing myself to that.
In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't get.
Stelios