Lake Manyara National Park

About Lake Manyara National Park

Welcome to Lake Manyara National Park well known for the tree climbing lions, the soda ash lake that attracts thousands and pink flamingos, one of Tanzania’s biggest elephant population and breathtaking scenery! This travel guide offers you the most updated information about the attractions, Lake Manyara accommodation, getting there and so much more. Enjoy your safari in Tanzania!

Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park

There are a number of fascinating tourist attractions that can be explored within Lake Manyara National Park. Located in the northern part of Tanzania, this National Park is 126 kilometers west of Arusha Town. The park is sized 330 square kilometers of which 220 sq kilometers form the lake when the water levels are high in the rainy season. Alternating to the nearest Park of Tarangire National Park through the kwakuchinja corridor the parks share world animals. They can be seen easily nearby the roads towards Lake Manyara and Serengeti National parks.

Below we have highlighted the top attraction / things to see in Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara

The shallow lake Manyara is an alkaline lake found in this park that swells up and reduces in size basing on the seasons found within a long silvery bowl of salt deposits. It covers an area of 220 sq km which is two thirds of the park’s total surface area. The lake hosts a large number of pink flamingos in addition to other wildlife like hippos that dwell in the shallow part of the river.

Wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park

The game in Lake Manyara includes plenty of elephants, wildebeests along with so many giraffes, and buffaloes. In addition, the park is also very famous for its large number of zebras, impalas, warthogs and waterbucks. On the slopes of the escarpment, you may need to search a little hard for the tinny and renowned shy kirk’s dik dik and klipspringer.

The road circuit for game drives is limited and can be covered in about 3 to 4 hours where you can see the animals that are always on the move. It is therefore worth to revisit. Most safari companies organize for afternoon visits but taking a morning one is far much better as there are fewer other vehicles yet with more wildlife activity.

Tree Climbing Lions in Lake Manyara

Among the lions living in Lake Manyara is a healthy population of the unique tree climbing lions whose unique tree climbing character can only be found in just two populations across the world the other being in Ishasha Area in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda. A very large number of tourists and photographers visit the park to see these exceptional animals.

Birds in Lake Manyara

The large number of birds found in Lake Manyara National Parks differs basing on one habitat to another. Often; you will be able to see huge flocks of pelicans and pink flamingoes on the lake, while close to the park borders and floodplains you will enjoys views of many egrets, stilts erons, spoonbills, stalks and other waders. The woodlands equally will reward you with great bird views thanks to the so much water around. But the more interesting species will be viewed in the evergreen forests; for example, crowned eagles, crested guinea fowl and the silvery cheeked hornbills.

The Vegetation in Lake Manyara

Set under the magnificent of the Great Rift Valley’s steep western escarpment is a long narrow park that conserves the area between the escarpment and Lake Manyara safe. Within the vicinity of the lake are wide grassy flood plains and further as you move away, are bands of mixed acacia woodlands. Leaving that aside, patches of captivating evergreen forests, that are kept going by perennial ground water springs from the base of the escarpment are next to the escarpment.

The large numbers of elephants

This national park is home to a very large number of elephants which can easily be seen within the evergreen forests as well as the acacia woodlands. the high amount of ground water as well as the verdant vegetation provide adequate ground to feed these forest giants.

The Tree-top Canopy Walk

Besides the traditional way of viewing wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park, the tree-top canopy walk offers you an opportunity to see other wildlife in yet a unique way. Walking at tree-top height you will be able to see some primates and various birds within the forest.

The heart of Masaai Country houses Manyara National Park. Here is where you can visit the unforgettable appealing red-robbed pastoralists who are populous in a boma. Outside the park, undertaken can be mountain bike tours, and escarpment forest walks. When water levels are suitable, canoe safaris are also offered.

Best time to get to Lake Manyara National Park

All year through, there is a good road access to this park, however, the best time for viewing large mammals is in the dry season that comes between July to October and in January and February. The wet season that begins in November to December and March to June is characterized with rains that make the inner roads rather slippery and hard to traverse. Nonetheless, the wet season is best time for watching birds in Lake Manyara.

Lake Manyara stretches over 330 square kilometers of the Northern Rift valley floor, in the south west of Arusha, and was established in 1960. There are a number of attractions in Lake Manyara, however, its main point of focus is the Manyara Lake. In the whole of the East African Rift, Ernest Hemingway identified Lake Manyara as the most lavish place; its impressive setting that he once extolled with the documentary maker, Collin Willock. Passionate safari tourists on a Tanzania Safari visit this Lake Manyara en-route to the world famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater to explore its rich diversity of wildlife. Because it is the first stopover from the tourist town of Arusha, it can easily be accessed.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Weather
Tanzania Travel Facts
Safety
What to Pack
Meals On Safari