Lake Eyasi - a Visit with Datoga Tribe

After visiting the Bushmen tribe, we drove a few miles further and had a visit with a Datoga family. Our guide said that it was his tribe.

The Datoga are a semi-nomadic group that herd cattle, goats and sheep. They are known as fierce warriors as well as skilled blacksmiths with a deep connection to ancestral customs. The Bushmen told us that they get their metal arrow heads from this group.

Once again, we were greeted warmly and were taken by the women into one of the mud and dung huts. We sat on simple wooden benches and they showed us how they ground corn on a lava stone that was similar to the metates in Mexico. Gourds, pots and leather clothes hung on the walls.

The women were not shy and were encouraged by our guide to ask us questions.

They asked Chris how many wives did he have? They are polygamous like the Maasai.

Where were we from? How did we get there? We told them that we flew in a big plane and they wondered if we felt dizzy or sick. Were there windows that we could open so we could vomit outside while flying?

Then a lady asked about Chris’ hearing aides. Were they air pods? Chris and Pat took out their hearing aides and fitted two women with them. The whole process was really funny. At first they were scared but then nodded their heads. Chris played Tim Armstrong’s ‘Into Action’ music for the younger lady who laughed when she heard it.

Then we went outside to a men’s shop where they showed us how they metal objects from melting down scrap metal over a wood fire. The process was amazing using simple tools. They are renowned for making intricate metal ( copper, steel, bronze) weapons and beautiful jewellery. We couldn’t resist buying a few bracelets. They were beautiful.

In the afternoon, we drove off to see nearby Lake Eyasi. So far, all the lakes that we have visited have been . The people who live here all have brown/yellow teeth due to the water.

Fishing boats were stranded way back from the shoreline as they hadn’t had rain for a long time. Fishing huts were set up and a few poor people seemed to be living in them.

We dipped our hands into the reddish brown water and within minutes our hands turned white - salt covered and a bit slimey for some reason.

Life in this area must be pretty hard but the people seemed happy.Read more