Discover Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park offers a wilderness experience in diverse habitats, from its Rift Valley soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Apart from a spectacular setting, the park is famous for its unusual tree-climbing lions and the vast elephant herds it was established to protect. The shores of the lake attract more than 400 species of birds, many of them waterfowl or migrants. Large herds of buffalo, cheetah, Masai giraffe and impala roam the lake shores and the forested valley slopes. A Lake Manyara safari is a fascinating experience, as the park also features a ground-water forest, vachellia tortilis woodland and hot springs called Maji Moto. Troops of several hundred olive baboon appear alongside Sykes monkey and short-eared galago. Cape clawless otter, Egyptian mongoose, hippo and klipspringer are other park residents
Why visit:
Described by Ernest Hemingway as the ‘loveliest I had seen in Africa’, Lake Manyara National Park is situated on the Western escarpment of the Rift Valley. Home to lesser flamingos, tree-climbing lions, and one of Africa’s highest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania’s most popular safari destinations. The park spans a vast area encompassing two-thirds of a shallow alkaline lake called Lake Manyara. This serene lake is renowned for its breathtaking flocks of greater and lesser pink flamingos. During the wet season, from November to April, the lake’s flamingo population swells, painting the entire environment a stunning shade of pink. The park boasts numerous water birds, such as pelican, stork, and heron. The marshes surrounding the lake are also a haven for hippo, who can be seen wallowing in the mud. Lake Manyara National Park has various habitats, including grassy savannahs, acacia woodlands, and dense forests. You can spot elusive tree-climbing lion, majestic elephant with long tusks, graceful giraffe, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. The easily accessible Lake Manyara National Park offers unparalleled beauty and irresistible charm.
Best time to visit:
Like all of Tanzania’s national parks, Lake Manyara’s peak season is during the dry monthsfrom July to September. The short dry season from mid-December to early March is also a good time to visit, but the temperatures can get very hot during this period. Although you will see wildlife during the wet season, it will be more difficult to spot animals amongst the luscious vegetation. In the dry season, animals are drawn to the few remaining water sources and wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent. Bird enthusiasts may choose to visit during the short rainy season from the end of October to December. Migratory birds visit the park during these months, but muddy roads may be impassable, and some lodges close during the low season.
Weather & Climate:
The climate in Lake Manyara National Park is pleasantly warm. Average temperatures are consistent throughout the year. It is very rarely extremely hot, but it is often chilly during the evening and early morning. Taking warm clothing along on early morning game drives is recommended. Lake Manyara’s Dry season is from June to October. The Wet season consists of two rainy periods: the short rains (November to December) and the long rains (March to May), with a dry spell in between. It rarely rains the whole day.
Wildlife:
Lake Manyara National Park is home to a diverse ecosystem which contains a range of habitats, including a soda lake, acacia woodland, equatorial forest, several types of savannah, and even mountain slopes. Lesser flamingos and pelicans thrive at Lake Manyara, but its alkaline waters are undrinkable for most other animals. However,many animals are forced to drink Lake Manyara’s alkaline waters to survive the dry season since most other water sources dry up completely. Lake Manyara National Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions. The park’s lions tend to climb trees far more often than lions in the Serengeti National Park or Tarangire National Park. This phenomenon has baffled scientists and seeing tree climbing lions on a game drive is an unforgettable experience.
Hot springs can be found in the south of the park, and the park is bisected by 2 rivers, the Mto wa Mbu River and the Endabash River. Lake Manyara National Park is home to 400 bird species, and it is a paradise for bird enthusiasts. The park also contains water buffaloes, zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, and the world’s largest concentration of baboons. The park’s elephant population has suffered from poaching, but conservation efforts have protected a strong population of these gentle giants.
Bird:
Lake Manyara National Park is home to over 300 internal and migrant bird species including Eurasian migrant birds, acacia associated birds, raptors, and 3 endangered Tanzanian species. Four hours driving from Lake Manyara National Park heading to north east you will arrive at Lake Natron which also offer great opportunities of Flamingo and other water bird watching as they gather on the lake shore in flocks of ten thousand or even several hundred thousand. Lake Natron is the flamingos breeding ground and Lake Manyara, Nakuru in Kenya their feeding ground.
Getting There:
Most travelers visit Lake Manyara National Park from Tanzania’s safari capital, Arusha. By road, Lake Manyara is 126km from Arusha, and the drive to the northern gate takes 1.5-2 hours along a new tarmac road. You can also fly to Lake Manyara Airport from Kilimanjaro International Airport, and the journey takes around 40 minutes. Kilimanjaro International Airport is located around 46km from Arusha