Many of the world’s “most dangerous” tribes are also known as uncontacted peoples because they live in self-imposed isolation.
Fiercely protective of their lands, they attack outsiders who try to enter and, more often than not, feast on their succulent flesh later.
There are more than 100 uncontacted groups around the world, but here’s a look at six of the most notoriously dangerous tribes.
1. Korowai — Papua, Indonesia
The Korowai tribe lives deep in the rainforests of southeastern Papua, Indonesia, in tall stilt houses perched 30 to 50 feet above the forest floor to protect them from flooding, pests, and rival tribes. Until the late 1970s, the Korowai were virtually unknown to the outside world and were considered one of the last “Stone Age” tribes.
Although sensationalized reports once described them as practicing cannibalism as punishment for alleged witchcraft, many anthropologists believe these stories were exaggerated or possibly influenced by interactions with outsiders seeking dramatic accounts. The Korowai remain wary of strangers, and some remote groups are still largely uncontacted. Logging and encroachment on their forest territory now pose major threats to their traditional way of life, which means workers might go missing soon.
2. Kakataibo — Peru
The Kakataibo (also spelled Cashibo) tribe has lived in Peru since the 17th century and consists of three subgroups: the Kashinon, Kakataibo, and Runo. They inhabit five villages and speak Cashibo-Kakataibo, a Western Panoan language. In the mid-17th century, the tribe killed a missionary who approached them, leading them to remain isolated until the 20th century. In 1930, a chief persuaded the tribe to adopt a new way of life, but rapid cultural change brought many challenges. Today, illegal logging and mining threaten both the tribe’s land and their way of life.
3. Matses — Brazil and Peru
The Matses, also known as the Mayoruna, avoided outside contact until 1969, when they made permanent contact with missionaries. The tribe is known for the distinctive appearance of its women, who have facial tattoos and wear thin palm-fiber “demuj” inserted into their noses. Some women also sport six to ten decorative sideburns on each side of the face, which is considered beautiful.
Though they have interacted with outsiders, the Matses were long feared for practicing ritual cannibalism—not as a means of hunting humans, but as part of spiritual customs. Family members once consumed the remains of deceased relatives to absorb their spirits. You are what you eat, as they say. Today, it’s believed they no longer snack on human flesh, but who’s bold enough to test it?
4. Sentinelese — India
The Sentinelese are perhaps the world’s most famously isolated and fiercely protective tribe. They attack anyone who tries to set foot on North Sentinel Island and reject all contact. Armed with bows and arrows, they defend their territory with deadly force. It’s like they’ve seen the news and don’t want to have anything in common with the barbaric outside world.
Anthropologist Triloknath Pandit made repeated attempts to contact them starting in 1967, offering gifts such as coconuts. For years, the Sentinelese kept their distance, threatening intruders from the shore. In 1991, the tribe unexpectedly approached Pandit’s team in the water, accepting gifts but still refusing to allow outsiders on the island. The tribe remained largely undisturbed until 2019, when an American missionary was killed after illegally attempting to visit the island to convert the tribe to Christianity.
5. Waorani — Ecuador
The Waorani, or Huaorani, are a nomadic tribe known for their deadly accuracy when wielding spears and blowguns tipped with poison. Unfortunately for the Waorani tribe, they live in areas rich in valuable resources, which has led many outsiders to attempt to displace them. The tribe, numbering around 2,000, fiercely defends its land and way of life.
First contacted by missionaries in the 1950s, the Waorani initially responded with violence, killing several outsiders with spears. Although the tribe no longer regularly attacks strangers, they remain vigilant and will defend their territory if threatened.
6. Yanomami — Brazil and Venezuela
With a population of over 35,000 people, the Yanomami are the largest tribe in South America. They live in vast, circular communal houses capable of housing up to 400 people. Unlike many tribes, the Yanomami value equality and make decisions by group consensus rather than under a single leader.
The tribe consists of about 250 villages scattered across the Amazon rainforest and the mountains of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. Permanent contact with the outside world began in the 1940s, which led to tragic losses when diseases like influenza decimated entire villages. Gold miners have further endangered the Yanomami by spreading illnesses like malaria and polluting water sources.
The tribe also practices endocannibalism as a ritual believed to protect and guide the souls of departed relatives. They hold the belief that the soul can only transition once their tribesmen have burned and consumed the body.
