Lake Manyara National Park: Located on the road from Arusha to Ngorongoro, this wonderfully scenic park, Lake Manyara National Park is set between the Great Rift Valley and the sodiforous Lake. Therefore the park is often visited on Tanzania Safaris headed to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park.
Lake Manyara National Park is a scenic park, stretch 50 kilometers along the base of the Rift Valley escarpment, with a setting described as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa” by Ernest Hemingway. Although the concentration of wildlife is less impressive than in some of Tanzania’s other parks, Lake Manyara National Park is famous for its famous tree-climbing lions, habituated baboons, large elephant populations and impressive birdlife. The park offers varied ecosystems and breathtaking views that make it an ideal stop on anyone planning a Tanzania photography safari.
The game viewing circuit through Lake Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of a Tanzania Safari. After you pass through the entrance gate, you experience a road winding through a lush jungle-like groundwater forest where baboon troops lounge casually beside the road, blue monkeys scamper between Mahogany trees, bushbuck tread carefully through the shadows, and the forest hornbills honk noisily in the high canopy.
Flora & Fauna in Lake Manyara National Park
Wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara is famously known for the rare tree climbing lions, these lions have a unique climbing character that cannot be found in lion populations in other Tanzanian parks.
Other wildlife found in the park include elephants, giraffes, hippos, baboons, leopards, blue and vervet monkeys among others.
Birdlife in Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara is home to an incredible variety of birdlife thriving on its brackish waters. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first time visitor to African can reasonably expect to see 100 of these in one day. Thousands of pink flamingoes populate the lake shore. It is impossible to predict how many flamingoes you might see, as they flit between her and other East African lakes. It really comes down to luck on that day.
From inside the Park, even reluctant bird-watchers will find something to marvel at as yellow-billed storks swoop on the winds rising from the escarpment and herons flap their wings against the sun-drenched sky.
Safari Activities to do in Lake Manyara National Park
Game Drives
This is the most common way of exploring the park, game drives allow tourists enjoy and photograph the different kinds of wildlife in the park. Marvel at the sight of the rare tree climbing lions lounging on tree branches while keeping a close eye on their prey.
Wildlife to lookout for include tree climbing lions, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, baboons, kirk’s dik-dik, klipspringer among others.
Bird watching
With more than a bird list of more than 350 species and an alkaline lake within its boundaries. Lake Manyara Park is without doubt one of the best places to visit on a Tanzania Birding Safari. Marvel at large flocks of pelicans and pink flamingoes usually spotted in the middle of the lake. Other birds to lookout for include spoonbills, egrets, herons, stalks and other waders.
Access to Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara can easily be reached from Arusha on your way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, most visitors spend just a day or half a day here. From Kilimanjaro International Airport, the park is 184 km away and the journey takes 3-4 hours by road.
You can also access the park using a domestic flight to Arusha Airport and then take a chartered flight to Lake Manyara Airport. From here, you can connect by road to the park gate which is about 30 minutes away.
When to Visit Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara’s peak season is officially from July to October but for a park as small as this, that should not be a deciding factor. If you are in the area and have the time, Lake Manyara is consistently good as a soft game viewing park through the course of the year.
Visiting Lake Manyara is a great way to start your Tanzania Safari and we recommend visiting it on your Northern Tanzania Circuit when on your way to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Accommodation in Lake Manyara National Park
There are several accommodation options in Lake Manyara ranging from budget, midrange to luxury. The most famous lodge is Lake Manyara Tree Lodge which is the only accommodation inside the park. Along the Rift Valley Escarpment, there are many accommodations that offer great views of the valley and the lake. These include Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, Africa Safari Lake Manyara Lodge, Karatu Tented Lodge, Baobab Tented Camp among others.
We hope you have been inspired to add Lake Manyara Safari as a stop on your big Tanzania Safari Tour. If you have any questions for us or you would like us to create a bespoke itinerary for you. Please feel free to get in touch, start planning your next big adventure.