LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Lake Manyara National Park is known for its breathtaking views, an enormous soda lake filled with flamingos and amazing bird life. You can see huge hordes of baboons in the forest, but also elephants and, if you’re lucky, tree lions.
A variety of wildlife such as buffalo, warthogs, giraffes, wildebeest and zebras gather around Lake Soda. You can also enjoy stunning hippo views at the shallow Hippo Pool.
Description
Home » Products » DESTINATIONS » LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARKLake Manyara Detailed Overview
With a variety of landscapes, Lake Manyara National Park offers a compact safari experience that gives visitors the chance to see everything from the vibrant flamingoes to the fearsome lion.
Named for the seasonal alkaline lake at its heart, Lake Manyara National Park is a great place for canoeing in the wet season and traditional game drives year round. Described by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I have seen in Africa”, Lake Manyara is an ideal starting or finishing point for the northern circuit.
In addition to its flamingo population, Lake Manyara is perhaps most famous for the tree climbing lions who call it home. Found nowhere else in Tanzania, these agile predators cut a striking figure as they lounge lazily in acacia trees.
Also calling the park home are Africa’s most iconic animals such as elephants, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, and cape buffalo, as well as less well known but no less intriguing Kirk’s dik-dik and klipspringer.
Rift Valley Escarpment
Lake Manyara is also the perfect place to see the 400 meter high Rift Valley Escarpment.
The Great Rift Valley is the longest wedge of land that runs along the east side of Africa. This occurred about 20 to 25 million years ago when the earth’s crust broke apart.
This enormous feature is also visible from outer space and appears to be running two lines in Africa. It offers unique and diverse habitats. Enjoy the acacia forests, jungle forests, mountain peaks, hot springs, grasslands, acacia forests and the huge soda lake.
Check out with our Safari Expert to see how you can incorporate Lake Manyara into one go.
Most common animals in Lake Manyara
- Zebras
- Hippos
- Giraffes
- Lions
- Elephants
- Impalas
- Wildebeest
- Buffaloes
- Flamingos
- Baboons, Blue monkey
Lake Manyara facts
- Giant soda lake that covers almost two-third of the park
- World’s largest population baboons
- Park stretches along the Rift Valley Escarpment
- Hippo pool
- Hot Springs
- Birding hotspot: 400 species of birds
Excursions and activities in Lake Manyara National Park
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- Night game drive
- Canopy walk/ Treetop Walk
- Mountainbike tour Lake Manyara
- Cultural tour Mto wa Mbu
- Visit Maasai tribe
- Visit Hadzabe tribe
Travel time Lake Manyara
- Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park: 2,5 hours’ drive
- Lake Manyara National Park to Tarangire National Park: 1 hour
- Lake Manyara National Park to Ngorongoro Conservation Area: 1 hour
- Lake Manyara National Park to Serengeti: 3,5 hours
Best time to visit Manyara Lake
The best time to see large animals in Lake Manyara is during the dry season from July to October. If you are a bird lover you can visit the park from November to June. This season you will find thousands of flamingos as well as pelicans, African fish eagle, hornbill, hammercap, black heron, a little bee-eater and more.