6 Most Isolated Tribes in the World

We live in a world of NetFlix, Twix, and the late 70s/early 80s band Styx. But incredibly, not everybody binges on Netflix, indulges in the chocolatey, wafery goodness of Twix, or frantically changes the radio station the instant “Come Sail Away” starts playing on K–103.5: Your Home For the Very Worst in Rock. That’s because, unbelievably, there still exist civilizations that have had little to no contact with the outside world. Why aren’t they watching those YouTube videos of you opening mystery eBay boxes and revealing what’s inside? Because most of them live on hard-to-reach islands or are hidden within vast, heavily forested areas that are difficult to reach by car/boat/helicopter/unicorn. With that in mind, here are 6 isolated tribes that would no doubt hit that subscribe button if they had a WiFi connection.

Kawahiva (Brazil)

By and large, the primary evidence of the existence of the Kawahiva has been archeological evidence (abandoned homes, arrows, hammocks, etc). But video footage of the tribe filmed in 2011 garnered significant attention around the world. Known by the locals as “the short people” or “red head people,” they only number around 30 members and live near the Brazilian city of Colniza, and while they live a nomadic lifestyle as a result of outside threats, there is evidence that they once lived in established settlements. They are known for the elaborate system of ladders they’ve built up in trees in order to collect honey.

Yanomami (Venezuela)

For thousands of years the Yanomami have been inhabiting a stretch of rainforest that encompasses southern Venezuela and northern Brazil. Most of the 35,000 Yanomami live in village settlements that dot the area, but the number of Moxateteu — the name given to the ones who remain uncontacted — is relatively large. Measles wreaked havoc upon the population in the 1960s and another 500 were infected in 2018. Gold mining is another threat.