Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is located in northern Tanzania on the edge of the Rift Valley beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment. This is park is among the top destinations for Tanzania safaris. Named after its eponymous alkaline lake, Manyara.

Lake Manyara National Park is located about 126 kilometers southwest of Arusha and is the ultimate safari stopover for travelers on African safaris to the Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro Crater. The park has a total size of about 325 square kilometers, including a lake surface area of 230 square

Why visit Lake Manyara national park?

Lake Manyara National Park is home to a diverse population of wildlife including an impressive population of tree-climbing lions; whose unique tree-climbing persona is witnessed in only one other destination in Uganda. Furthermore, Lake Manyara is home to thousands of greater and lesser pink flamingoes that flock its shoreline, as well as pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed storks, grey herons, and hippo pools, that congregate on its beaches. The lake is surrounded by marshlands, grassy plains, and acacia forests, which are home to long-tusked elephants and giraffes, that can be seen prancing through, grazing with herds of buffalo, gazelle, zebra, and wildebeest etc.

Things to do in Lake Manyara national park

Lake Manyara national park attracts a number of tourists from all over the world to visit its attractions and engage in various activities which include the following.

Game drives

The game drives are among the famous wildlife viewing activities that tourists visiting Lake Manyara national park engage in. Being home to the famous tree climbing lions that can be seen relaxing in tree branches, this national park also has diverse habitats for other wildlife species that include elephants, baboons, impalas, giraffes, klipspringers, zebras, hippos, warthogs, antelopes among others.

Game drives in Lake Manyara national park take place at different times of day and include morning game drives, afternoon or evening game drives, night game drives as well as full day game viewing excursions.

Morning game drives start early and chances of catching sight of a variety of wildlife species during this game drive is high because of how active the animals are at this time of day. Tourists also get to catch the sunrise over the rocky escarpment of the rift valley as they drive in the savannah plains.

Night game drives are also available for tourists visiting Lake Manyara national park and they provide an opportunity to catch sight of the nocturnal wildlife species in the national park. This form of game drive is accompanied by a ranger guide.

Nature walks

 

This activity is carried out in the company of a ranger guide who accompanies the tourists as they explore the nature around them and follow different routes in the national park. In Lake Manyara national park, these nature walks include the treetop walkway that involves walking along a designated walkway into the forest area of the national park which gives an up-close experience with nature and wildlife species such as monkeys. Different bird species can also be seen during this nature walk.

 

Another trail followed by tourists during nature walks in Lake Manyara national park is the majimoto board walkway. This route followed during game drives enables the tourists to enjoy views of Lake Manyara and also other scenic photography locations at the destination.

There are also different viewpoints around the national park which gives the tourists a good vantage point to see the rest of Lake Manyara national park and these include the hippo pool view point which is a raised wooden platform on the northern shores of the lake that offers a view of the hippos and the walls of the rift valley.

Bird watching

Different bird species can also be seen during a visit to Lake Manyara national park which boosts of a diverse habitat making it a good birding spot for an avid tourist. Lake Manyara in particular is a good birding location in the national park.

The bird species which can be seen during birding excursions in the national park include flamingos, secretary birds, storks, cormorants, herons, egrets, pelicans, ducks, glossy ibis, the long-crested eagle, grey crowned crane, guinea fowls, hornbills, crown eagles among others.

Boat or canoe ride 

A boat or canoe ride is another activity that tourists visiting this national park can opt to engage in as they relax and enjoy the scenic views around the national park. The cane ride is also a good way to explore the aquatic species.

During a boat ride on Lake Manyara, hippos can be seen in the shallow lake and also enjoy views of the rift valley escarpment as well as the beautiful scenery in the national park made up of a forested area, open savannah plains and the woodlands.

Community visits

Community visits involve tourists visiting the local community in Mto wa mbu town located close to the national park. This activity involves interaction between the tourists and the Maasai locals known for their unique culture.

During these cultural or community visits, tourists engage in activities such as visiting the “manyattas” and the kraals of the Maasai where livestock such a goats, cattle and sheep is kept. The homesteads are enclosed in thorn fences which help to keep out any form of danger that threatens the locals and their livestock.

The Maasai people also perform their traditional dances for the tourists during these community visits and tourists can also join in on the fun as traditional songs are chanted and the Maasai warriors jump around in rhythm.

The Maasai also have different artifacts such as the famous beaded jewelry such as necklaces, bangles, earrings and anklets that are usually made by the Maasai women. The beads are significant to the Maasai and are made in different colors and patterns.

Where to stay at Lake Manyara national park?

There are a variety of accommodation facilities to choose from during your visit to Lake Manyara national park. These facilities include, Moonbow Lodge, Ngare Lodge, Manyara Lakeview Oasis, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Chem Chem Safari Lodge, Lake Manyara Ranch Conservancy, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, Manyara Green Camp and others.

The best to visit Lake Manyara national park

Like all of Tanzania’s national parks, Lake Manyara’s peak season is during the dry months from 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.

How to access Lake Manyara national park?

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 (LKY) from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), and the journey takes around 40 minutes. Kilimanjaro International Airport is located around 46km from Arusha.