A longer time with the Hadzabe
Feb 28th, 2009, 10:50 AM
#22
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Great query, Lynn.
We're still trying to figure out our last-minute June 2009 itinerary - nothing booked yet, though there seems to be availability everywhere.
Our Hadzabe excursion is proving to be problematic logistically. We have two groups of friends who visited them and both said it was a must-do. But one said they had to drive for two grueling hours from Kisimi Ngeda before they found the Hadzabe camp - similar to raelond's experience. Our friends spent the day with them, fly camped nearby, then drove two hours back to an airstrip.
Since we'll be driving everywhere and plan to get to another location that evening (and are not fans of grilled baboon), I have decided to skip the hunting, but haven't yet dared present our itinerary to my husband yet - still too much moving around.
It seems as if our trip would be a lot simpler if we could find a non-touristy cultural encounter closer to the Serengeti. I'm also concerned about the marijuana factor because we're traveling with two teens and visiting Amsterdam on the same trip.
Does anyone know of other bushmen who are sober and more centrally located?
We're still trying to figure out our last-minute June 2009 itinerary - nothing booked yet, though there seems to be availability everywhere.
Our Hadzabe excursion is proving to be problematic logistically. We have two groups of friends who visited them and both said it was a must-do. But one said they had to drive for two grueling hours from Kisimi Ngeda before they found the Hadzabe camp - similar to raelond's experience. Our friends spent the day with them, fly camped nearby, then drove two hours back to an airstrip.
Since we'll be driving everywhere and plan to get to another location that evening (and are not fans of grilled baboon), I have decided to skip the hunting, but haven't yet dared present our itinerary to my husband yet - still too much moving around.
It seems as if our trip would be a lot simpler if we could find a non-touristy cultural encounter closer to the Serengeti. I'm also concerned about the marijuana factor because we're traveling with two teens and visiting Amsterdam on the same trip.
Does anyone know of other bushmen who are sober and more centrally located?
Mar 1st, 2009, 09:10 AM
#23
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<<"Does anyone know of other bushmen who are sober and more centrally located?">>
Perhaps I'm wrong but true bushmen are somewhat nomadic. As for the sobriety question - I won't touch that.
Eben aka climbhighsleeplow may be able to answer your question about the locations of various tribes who may or may not be bush people. Anyone here remember the name of Eben's co.?
Lynn,
No plans as of yet. I'd love to see the gorillas next or canoe down the Zambesi (Zimb. to Mozambique or mobile camp in Botswana or .......
Perhaps I'm wrong but true bushmen are somewhat nomadic. As for the sobriety question - I won't touch that.
Eben aka climbhighsleeplow may be able to answer your question about the locations of various tribes who may or may not be bush people. Anyone here remember the name of Eben's co.?
Lynn,
No plans as of yet. I'd love to see the gorillas next or canoe down the Zambesi (Zimb. to Mozambique or mobile camp in Botswana or .......
Apr 28th, 2009, 10:33 AM
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Cybor, your plans are exciting. I can't imagine why are spending time dreaming of cheese when you could be dreaming of upcoming Africa trips. (You did mention cheese dreams in the Lounge didn't you?)
<<"Does anyone know of other bushmen who are sober and more centrally located?">>
Why is that such a comical question?
I know Aby told me to come back from the Serengeti, stay on the crater rim and then head to Lake Eyasi. But I'd like to visit the Hadzabe first, then go to the crater so that on my last day I could visit the crater in the morning and be on a plane home by night.
How about this?
Leave Sopa Serengeti in the morning and arrive at Lake Eyasi before dark, ready for a hunt with the Hadzabe the next morning.
I looked at some info for Lake Eyasi accommodations and recall it was a 1/2 day drive to the Serengeti (but that could mean the southernmost point.) But I was thinking a whole day of driving would work, maybe stopping briefly to look at something, but pretty much just motoring.
What is the advantage of staying in Karatu or somewhere else outside of Lake Eyasi and then having a very early departure to arrive in time for the hunting?
I would guess it is:
1) The previous day you don't have to drive as far if you stop in Karatu and can therefore incorporate more activities on the day before the Hadzabe encounter.
2) The Lake Eyasi accommodations are probably more expensive, so you save some $ by spending the first night elsewhere.
But I'd rather be right there the next morning and even pay a little more for the privilege of spending the night at Lake Eyasi.
Did anyone feel after the first hunt that they'd like to see how another hunt went to find out if the Hadzabe go after different prey or if the hunting party structure differs? Or maybe you could go with a different hunting party on the next day?
Or did any of you accompanying the hunters think you might also like to spend time with the women back at their homes, which is what the visitors did who did not want to accompany the hunt? But if you are there for a full day, staying over at Lake Eyasi, maybe you get to interact with the women in the afternoon.
Or what if on the day you are supposed to go out hunting there is a down pour? Maybe they just go anyway and that's not an issue.
When you were not engaged with the Hadzabe or Dagota, what did you do? Maybe bird watch? I read on Eben's site that if you stay at Tindiga camp, you can see a specialized way of growing onions. Interesting.
<<"Does anyone know of other bushmen who are sober and more centrally located?">>
Why is that such a comical question?
I know Aby told me to come back from the Serengeti, stay on the crater rim and then head to Lake Eyasi. But I'd like to visit the Hadzabe first, then go to the crater so that on my last day I could visit the crater in the morning and be on a plane home by night.
How about this?
Leave Sopa Serengeti in the morning and arrive at Lake Eyasi before dark, ready for a hunt with the Hadzabe the next morning.
I looked at some info for Lake Eyasi accommodations and recall it was a 1/2 day drive to the Serengeti (but that could mean the southernmost point.) But I was thinking a whole day of driving would work, maybe stopping briefly to look at something, but pretty much just motoring.
What is the advantage of staying in Karatu or somewhere else outside of Lake Eyasi and then having a very early departure to arrive in time for the hunting?
I would guess it is:
1) The previous day you don't have to drive as far if you stop in Karatu and can therefore incorporate more activities on the day before the Hadzabe encounter.
2) The Lake Eyasi accommodations are probably more expensive, so you save some $ by spending the first night elsewhere.
But I'd rather be right there the next morning and even pay a little more for the privilege of spending the night at Lake Eyasi.
Did anyone feel after the first hunt that they'd like to see how another hunt went to find out if the Hadzabe go after different prey or if the hunting party structure differs? Or maybe you could go with a different hunting party on the next day?
Or did any of you accompanying the hunters think you might also like to spend time with the women back at their homes, which is what the visitors did who did not want to accompany the hunt? But if you are there for a full day, staying over at Lake Eyasi, maybe you get to interact with the women in the afternoon.
Or what if on the day you are supposed to go out hunting there is a down pour? Maybe they just go anyway and that's not an issue.
When you were not engaged with the Hadzabe or Dagota, what did you do? Maybe bird watch? I read on Eben's site that if you stay at Tindiga camp, you can see a specialized way of growing onions. Interesting.
Apr 28th, 2009, 01:33 PM
#26
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Dear Lynn
<red> i have some good answers for you </red>
i've just been to the Hadzabe earlier this month; my guide, Mustafa, told me he's taking a family to sleep 2 nights with a certain Hadzabe group, a bit further inside the bush (over 30km inside). This group is less visited by tourists. BINGO
<i>"The Lake Eyasi accommodations are probably more expensive"</i> i'm not sure at all... but you can also camp.
(though wheb i was theresome tents brought by Leopard were "flooded". BTW the whole camping place was flooded;
we got stuck in the mud for about 2 hours, i was afraid we won't make it to the Hadzabe (it happened to another group i know). take into account if it rains hard during the night.
On the way back, the road was already dry and the bus and LandRover, which were stuck really deep & i thought would stay there for days, were gone...
aby
i'll check for Mustafa's email if you'd like.
Mustafa told me he was assisting Harvard's anthropologist Frank Marlowe (you can read his papers online)
<red> i have some good answers for you </red>
i've just been to the Hadzabe earlier this month; my guide, Mustafa, told me he's taking a family to sleep 2 nights with a certain Hadzabe group, a bit further inside the bush (over 30km inside). This group is less visited by tourists. BINGO
<i>"The Lake Eyasi accommodations are probably more expensive"</i> i'm not sure at all... but you can also camp.
(though wheb i was theresome tents brought by Leopard were "flooded". BTW the whole camping place was flooded;
we got stuck in the mud for about 2 hours, i was afraid we won't make it to the Hadzabe (it happened to another group i know). take into account if it rains hard during the night.
On the way back, the road was already dry and the bus and LandRover, which were stuck really deep & i thought would stay there for days, were gone...
aby
i'll check for Mustafa's email if you'd like.
Mustafa told me he was assisting Harvard's anthropologist Frank Marlowe (you can read his papers online)
Apr 28th, 2009, 01:45 PM
#27
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also, this time i've seen the ladies gather (/dig) tubers.
it was an exciting experience for me:
two of my pre-assumptions were shattered completely:
1. i reckoned the immediate vicinity would be depleted, and they would have to go a distance and waste time searching...
they went a very short distance from camp, and within minutes(!) that the digging actually took, <u>each</u> woman/girl had some tubers
2. i thought hunter-gatherers can't be too choosey & they would eat even (somewhat) bitter roots.
It was really nice, not bitter at all, even a bit sweet; reminded me of fresh cucumber
it was an exciting experience for me:
two of my pre-assumptions were shattered completely:
1. i reckoned the immediate vicinity would be depleted, and they would have to go a distance and waste time searching...
they went a very short distance from camp, and within minutes(!) that the digging actually took, <u>each</u> woman/girl had some tubers
2. i thought hunter-gatherers can't be too choosey & they would eat even (somewhat) bitter roots.
It was really nice, not bitter at all, even a bit sweet; reminded me of fresh cucumber
Apr 28th, 2009, 03:01 PM
#28
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Just fascinating Aby.
I'd be going probably late May (not this year or next). Do you think the heavy rains would not be a problem by then?
But that's one reason I think it would be good to stay a few days with the Hadzabe. If it rains hard, you'll at least be with the Hadzabe in the rain and not trying to buzz in and out on bad roads for a quick encounter.
Whether rain or puncture or vehicle problem, all those things can interfere when you have an early morning departure and must be somewhere at a certain time, traveling on rough roads. That's why I'd stay in Lake Eyasi.
I would have had your assumptions as well, Aby.
I'd love your additional info, whenever it is convenient. I won't be going soon, but like to gather info (and maybe eventually tubers) in advance.
I'd be going probably late May (not this year or next). Do you think the heavy rains would not be a problem by then?
But that's one reason I think it would be good to stay a few days with the Hadzabe. If it rains hard, you'll at least be with the Hadzabe in the rain and not trying to buzz in and out on bad roads for a quick encounter.
Whether rain or puncture or vehicle problem, all those things can interfere when you have an early morning departure and must be somewhere at a certain time, traveling on rough roads. That's why I'd stay in Lake Eyasi.
I would have had your assumptions as well, Aby.
I'd love your additional info, whenever it is convenient. I won't be going soon, but like to gather info (and maybe eventually tubers) in advance.
May 5th, 2009, 07:20 AM
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Lynn
it seems i have a wrong email; i'll get Mustafa's email in the near future (waiting for someone to return from a trip)
or i'll use his phone number
i'll update you
aby
P.S. about May - you <u>may</u> get stuck... in 2005 i've been during May and trucks were stuck in deep mud on the main road to Ngorongoro
it seems i have a wrong email; i'll get Mustafa's email in the near future (waiting for someone to return from a trip)
or i'll use his phone number
i'll update you
aby
P.S. about May - you <u>may</u> get stuck... in 2005 i've been during May and trucks were stuck in deep mud on the main road to Ngorongoro
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