Barbaig the Datoga Tribe Itinerary

Zorilla Safaris and Treks arrange tours to meet the local people like Barbaig the Datoga tribe, Hadzabe (The Bushmen), Maasai, and many more tribes in Tanzania, where our guests get the opportunity to visit, interact with them, and experience their customs and daily life activities.

Barbaig the Datoga Tribe itinerary

The Barbaig the Datoga tribe itinerary takes you the nomadic tribe of people based in the northern volcanic highlands near Mount Hanang in the Manyara Region, Tanzania, speaking the eponymous dialect of the Datooga language. Their population is about 50,000.

The Barbaig are one of the Nilotic peoples who migrated south to East Africa from the Nile Valley in North Africa more than a thousand years ago. They form the largest group among the Tatooga-speaking people who reside chiefly in that part of the northern volcanic highlands dominated by Mount Hanang (3418m), whose scared nature makes it an important theme in Barabaig myth and song.

The Barbaig keep goats, sheep, donkeys, and a few chickens, but cattle are by far the most important domestic animal. The meat, milk, fat, blood, hides, horns, tendons, and cow dung of every animal have either practical or ritual purposes. They were formerly nomadic, depending largely on milk products from their diet, and moving whenever the needs of their cattle dictated. Now, however, many farm a plot of maize and sometimes beans and millet.

The Datooga themselves blend in with their environment, their dress being the color of the reddish-brown soil. Only on closer inspection will they appear colorful with their reddish, patched leather dresses, beadwork, and brass bracelets and necklaces.

The Datooga are a proud people, with a reputation as fierce warriors. Traditionally, young men had to prove themselves by killing an “enemy of the people”, defined as any human being, not a Datooga, or one of the dangerous wild animals, such as elephant, lion, or buffalo.

They are resistant to cultural change, including belief in Christianity, maintaining a strong adherence to traditional animist beliefs and practices. Since most Datooga do not speak Swahili, the national language of Tanzania, and very few are literate, communication of the gospel must be in their own language, using the traditional media of storytelling and songs.

Please, contact us at info@zorillasafaris.com for current prices and more information about this trip!

Barbaig the Datoga Tribe Itinerary: 3 Days/2 Nights Tour

DAY 1: Depending on your preference and budget, you will travel by our arranged private car or local bus to Katesh Town. On arrival, you will get your lunch before walking 5 – 7 to Barbaig village. You will be carrying your thin mattresses and sleeping bags that will be arranged by us for you use on this tour there. You will have dinner and overnight there.

DAY 2: As usual, you will expect a breakfast then start your tour program. It is time to know each other, to know their history, your history, traditions and other things. You are allowed to ask anything you want or would like to know. Then you follow how to make their traditional beer theoretically (honey beer) called Gisuda. In addition, you will be shown and taught how to use a bow and arrows. Thereafter mock fighting (fighting using sticks). Finally the women will show how they dress traditionally (skin dresses), and then lunch. After lunch in the afternoon you will now start walking slowly back to Katesh for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3: After breakfast, you will begin your travel back to Arusha City to proceed with another tour itinerary with us on the next day or depends on the overall programme of your holiday in Tanzania, head to airport to catch your flight home.

Barbaig the Datoga Tribe Itinerary: 4 Days/3 Nights Cultural Tour and Trekking Mount Hanang

Day 1: Depending on your preference and budget, you will travel by our arranged private car or local bus to Katesh Town. On arrival, our Mountain guide or a representative accompanying you will do the registration at the district council and overnight there in preparations for the trekking in next morning.

DAY 2: You will have an early breakfast at 06:00 am and start hiking at 6:30 am. It takes up to six hours to get to the summit (altitude 3417m. above sea level). You have your lunch there and then trekking slowly downhill to The Barbaig village for shower, dinner and overnight.

DAY 3: As usual, you will expect a breakfast then start your tour program. It is time to know each other, to know their history, your history, traditions and other things. You are allowed to ask anything you want or would like to know. Then you follow how to make their traditional beer theoretically (honey beer) called Gisuda. In addition, you will be shown and taught how to use a bow and arrows. Thereafter mock fighting (fighting using sticks). Finally the women will show how they dress traditionally (skin dresses), and then lunch. After lunch in the afternoon you will now start walking slowly back to Katesh for a hot shower, cold drink, dinner and overnight.

DAY 4: After breakfast, you will begin your travel back to Arusha City to proceed with another tour itinerary with us on the next day depends on the overall programme of your holiday in Tanzania or head to airport to catch your flight home.

Do not hesitate, please, contact us at info@zorillasafaris.com for our current prices and as well, for more information about these tour itineraries!

Services Included

Transport from Arusha to and from Mount Hanang in Katesh
The village entry fee and cultural tour fee.
Highly experienced and skilled English speaking Guide.
2 night accommodations: first night in a camping tent including mattress and pillow; second night’s sleep at a standard Guest house.
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Bottled drinking water