Responsible tourism in Tanzania

The vanishing Hadzabe

Think of East African tribes, and the Maasai probably spring to mind. But other tribes are – for better or for worse – becoming more involved in tourism, and one of the most controversial is the Hadzabe, also known as the Hadza. 1,000-2,000 Hadzabe still inhabit the plains of northern Tanzania, and less than half of these have been able to maintain the nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle that they have practised for millenia. Their hunting knowledge, traditional dress and unusual click language – which isolates them from any other tribe – make them appealing to tourists, yet at a time when they have lost up to 90 percent of their traditional hunting and foraging grounds*, this also makes them open to easy exploitation.

Having resisted attempts to “settle” them or convert them to Christianity them for centuries, the Hadzabe are now losing their land and livelihoods thanks to seemingly more innocuous sources. Datooga herders are moving in, their cattle destroying the vegetation and water holes needed by the Hadzabe. As an egalitarian, nomadic society – the Hadzabe have no “proof” that the land they have inhabited for millennia is actually theirs, and cannot claim it back. A 2001 BBC documentary created foreign interest in this “exotic” tribe – and the subsequent influx of tourists, money and alcohol proved disastrous. Finally, the annexing of land for private hunting reserves has meant that, paradoxically, the Hadzabe are now being imprisoned for being poachers if they return to hunt on their old land.

However, tourism could now present an opportunity for the Hadzabe to once again control their livelihoods and generate sustainable income. In a historical move, the Tanzanian government granted the Hadzabe land titles in 2011 and the ability to sustain activities such as tourism may strengthen their case for remaining on their land. This is an enormous achievement; as landowners, these formerly powerless people have been given an opportunity to take control of their future. They can choose whether to give tourists and tour operators access to this land – or not – and how much to charge for this. They can rent the land to a lodge or camp, and control the types of interaction that they have with tourists. The balance is finally, gradually, shifting towards the Hadzabe.

* Source: Radical Anthropology Report and Survival International

What you can do:
Currently, many tours to visit the Hadzabe are carried out in an unethical way. Those involved are likely to have been forced to abandon their traditional lifestyles, and will be “performing” purely for tourists; receiving little or none of the fee that has been paid. It has also been suggested that the hunts regularly staged for the benefit of tourists are causing a rapid depletion of wildlife, in areas where animals are already suffering as a result of climate change, overdevelopment and scarce water resources.

So if you do still decide to visit, there are a few things you can do to ensure you are helping, not harming. Longer tours and overnight stays may become possible in the near future, with money being paid directly to the community – so keep an eye out for this – but while operators and guides from outside the community continue mediating the experience, the following is advised:

Be respectful when taking photos – always ask permission first.

Currently, you shouldn’t expect to stay overnight – this is a real village, not a tourist camp.

Do not hand out gifts or money. However well-meaning, this can encourage begging or a dependence on tourists. If you do want to contribute, speak to your tour operator first and they may be able to advise you what to bring, as well as arranging the best person to distribute it.

Ensure you travel with a guide who speaks Hadzabe and has grown up locally or knows the community well.

Keep the exchange just that – an exchange. Share information about yourself as well as asking about the Hadzabe.

Hunting & conservation

Unlike Kenya, trophy hunting is currently permitted in Tanzania, with a ban imposed in 2015 lifted in 2018, and permits available to shoot everything from oryx to buffalo, elephants to lions in five regions across Tanzania. It’s not hard to see why Tanzania allows this; a couple of lion hunters can bring in more revenue than a couple of hundred tourists, and these profits can be reinvested back into conservation. Although this is far from ideal, well-managed hunting can safeguard wildlife-rich areas outside of national parks, deterring poachers and human-wildlife conflict.

Lions are the most prized – and costly – of all prey, although allowing them to be hunted has been credited with their high numbers in Tanzania, as their protection is encouraged. Other issues include the lack of restrictions on the age of the lions being hunted. If the dominant male of a pride is killed, the next male will kill his cubs, meaning that while one lion is counted as being hunted, many more will die.

Additionally, with illegal elephant poaching out of control, it has been argued that elephants should not be hunted for sport. Campaigners also argue that there is no evidence of how quotas have been calculated, and there are lax controls over the hunts themselves.



What you can do:
While it can be argued that trophy hunting protects some of Tanzania’s wildlife, we would ideally like to see most ethical alternatives in the future. Some wildlife-rich African countries do not permit hunting. It has been banned in Kenya, for example, since 1977. Spending your money wisely in national parks, game reserves and with local communities emphasises the importance of wildlife tourism over trophy hunting.

Many tour operators also have projects which promote education and raising awareness in schools of the importance of conservation. As the future protectors of Tanzania’s wildlife, their engagement with their environment is essential if there is a chance of hunting being stopped in the future.