Location of Lake Manyara National Park

Located in the northern part of Tanzania, Lake Manyara National Park is 126 kilometers west of Arusha Town. The park covers an area of 330 sq km / 125 sq mile including a lake surface of 230 sq km / 89 sq miles

Lake Manyara Wildlife

Lake Manyara has a big number of elephants, so many giraffes; zebras, wildebeests, impalas, waterbucks, and warthogs, the less-known shy Kik’s dik dik as well as the Klipspringer that dwell along the ramps of the escarpment. Leopards are hosted within the scattered forests and escarpment, while the healthy population of lions that are widely known for their unique tree climbing capability. In addition, you will not fail to notice the very large number of baboons in this park which can live in sizeable troops of up to 200 members.

The Tree Climbing Lions of Lake Manyara NP

One would wonder, are there tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park? Well, there is a thriving population of unique lions in the park which have the capability to climb tree; being nocturnal animals the animals spend most of their day resting up in the big fig trees and at sunset they descend when the temperatures are cooler. This is one of the only two populations of these unique lions the other being in Ishasha area in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Bird watching in Manyara

With a Bird list of more than 350 species and an alkaline within the park’s boundaries, Lake Mmanyara National Park is without a doubt one of the best places to visit on a Tanzania Birding Safari. Large flocks of pelicans and pink flamingos are usually spotted in the middle of the lake. While the spoonbills, egrets, herons, stalks and other waders converge around the edges and water meadows. Other habitats such as the evergreen forests and other woodlands serve as a safe haven to many other species like the crowned eagles, created guinea fowl, and the noisy silvery cheeked hornbills

Lake Manyara Eco System

There are various areas within the Park. Behind the splendid scenery of the Great Rift Valley’s steep escarpment in the west is the narrow area that safeguards the area between the escarpment and Lake Manyara. The silvery bowls of salt deposits facilitate the ability of the alkaline Lake Manyara to expand contract with the seasons. Grassy floodplains neighbor it so closely while bands of mixed acacia woodlands in the far end. There are also patches of ever green forests next to the escarpment that are watered by the perennial underground waters coming from the bottom of the escarpment.

Things To Do

Marvel at the large elephant herds

Lake Manyara National Park is home to a large number of elephants just as the neighboring Tarangire National Park and during your visit you will get a chance see them foliage around

Game Drives

The most commonly used mean of exploring this small but impressive northern Tanzania Game Park is through game drives. During the peak Tanzania safari season, the park is normally crowded with several safari vehicles especially during the afternoon game drives

Track the tree climbing lions

A large number of tourists that visit the Lake Manyara National Park do so to set eyes on these exceptional lions that have a unique character. These can be seen while in the comfort of your safari vehicles during the game drives as they rest on the large branches of the fig trees.See the large troops of baboons
On your Safari to Lake Manyara you will be impressed by the large troops of social baboons as they cater for their young ones, feed and play about.

Visit the ‘pink’ lake with flamingoes

The Alkaline Lake Manyara attracts a large number of pink colored flamingoes that form some sort of pin ‘blanket’ covering the lake surface. It is a breathtaking view to marvel at thousands of flamingoes all in one area. In addition, you won’t fail to notice a number of other wildlife within the shallows of the lake such as hippos.

Explore the Lake Manyara tree-top Walkway

This amazing canopy walk that gradually rises in height extends for over 360 meters offering you an opportunity to walk through the verdant tree top of the forest and see some of the unique wildlife including birds and monkeys.

How To Get To Lake Manyara National Park

In only 1 hour and 30 minutes you are able to reach Lake Manyara National Park by road from Arusha and in less than an hour still, if you are coming from the Ngorongoro crater. a number of areas within the northern part of the park get very busy with large numbers of tourists more so in the afternoon. You are advised to stay within the park or nearby for at least two nights to enjoy it to its fullest.

Park Entrance

Two main gates, that is in the north and the south make up the 2 main entrances to Lake Manyara National Park. The northern gate has a number of accommodations located along it hence making it very busy as most of the visitors opt to use the northern part of the park. As you move towards the far south, the gate is rarely used considering that it also has controlled access. and there are just a few lodges and camps permitted to use this gate.