Deep in the dry woodlands of northern Tanzania lives the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer communities in Africa. For thousands of years, the Hadza people have survived by living in harmony with nature, relying entirely on the land for food, water, and shelter. One of their most important sources of meat is the monkey, which they hunt skillfully using traditional methods passed down through generations.
The Hadza use handmade bows and arrows tipped with poison from local plants. These weapons are lightweight but powerful, allowing them to silently hunt monkeys high in the trees. Hunting monkeys requires sharp eyesight, patience, and deep knowledge of the forest. The hunters move quietly, watching for signs of movement in the canopy. Once they spot a monkey, they take aim with careful precision.
Monkeys are not the only food the Hadza eat, but they are a reliable source of protein in the wild. The meat is shared among the group, cooked over an open fire, and eaten with other foraged foods like berries, tubers, and wild honey. Every part of the monkey is used, reflecting the Hadza’s deep respect for nature and their belief in never wasting what the land provides.
For the Hadzabe, hunting is not just survival—it’s tradition, identity, and connection to their ancestors. Despite growing pressure from modernization and land disputes, the Hadza continue to live in their ancestral ways, resisting the pull of a changing world.
Watching the Hadzabe hunt monkeys is witnessing a way of life that is both ancient and highly skilled. It shows us the strength, knowledge, and resilience of a people who live off the land, honoring the natural balance that has sustained them for centuries.
