Lake Manyara National Park

Introducing

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park covers an area of 125 square miles (325 sq km). The park is located on the northern side of Tanzania and covers a distance of 126 km From Arusha Town. Manyara's landscape includes diverse, striking vegetation, grassland, saline flats, marshlands, acacia woodland, and a small forest. Ernest Hemingway called it “the loveliest I had seen in Africa.” The park hosts several fascinating tourist attractions that one can explore; compared to other parks, Lake Manyara is smaller but stunning due to its eponymous lake, which attracts wildlife, especially during the dry period.

Lake Manyara game drives are often less crowded if you are looking for a serene environment. Due to its abundant water, the park is lush and has breathtaking views of the Rift-Valley Escarpments cascading down to connect with its western shore. Lake Manyara has a unique population of tree-climbing lions whose character is found in two populations worldwide. It is a significant attraction as many tourists visit the park to see these exceptional animals. The soda ash lake attracts about 1.9 million pink flamingoes that feed on the algae of the shallow alkaline lake. Lake Manyara National Park is also a paradise for birdwatching lovers, with over 390 bird species recorded in the park.

Experience the Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park has a remarkable variety of habitats in a small area. Most notable is the dense, evergreen groundwater forest featuring ancient mahogany and fig trees. Other habitats include the grassy floodplain, rocky escarpment and acacia woodland, all of which can be covered in a half-day visit. Deeper into the park, a visit to the hot springs (Maji Moto) is recommended. You’ll see a lot of different wildlife quickly on game drives, but there are other ways to get close to nature in the park. On a night drive you’ll have a chance to find creatures that are active at night, and on a canoe safari you might possibly see the big flocks of pink-hued flamingos for which the park is famous. Lake Manyara can also be explored on foot on a walking safari. And if your nerves can take it, the treetop walkway is a must.

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.

Locate the Lake Manyara National Park

Discover: Lake Manyara National Park

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.

Getting There

By Air: Lake Manyara can be accessed by flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport(KIA/JRO), Arusha Airport (ARK) and Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). Subject to the availability of aircraft, it is possible to board a connecting flight to Lake Manyara Airstrip directly from Kilimanjaro International Airport for flights arriving before noon. The flight time is approximately 45 minutes. For international flights arriving before 10:15 am, there is a one-hour land transfer to Arusha Airport to board a connecting flight to Manyara at 1:00 pm.

Charter flights: Charter flights are available for the flight route and allow direct connections to Lake Manyara Airstrip without stops en route. Charter flights provide flexibility, the comfort of a private, pressurized cabin, no weight restrictions for luggage, and the ability to land anytime during daylight hours between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

By Road: Lake Manyara National Park is located southwest of Arusha Town, about 126 km(78)miles from Arusha Town. It is the most popular form of transport among tourists visiting the park along the northern safari circuit, with a driving time of approximately 2hrs 33 minutes.

Best time to visit

Lake Manyara is an all-year-round park that one can visit at any time due to various attractions. Long Dry Season: It is between June and October, and there is no rain. The dry season is also known as “peak tourist season”. Short Dry Season: It is a period between January and February that also experiences a high volume of visitors.

Short Rains: November to December, with hot temperatures of approximately 35°C/95°F and short thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. There is still abundant wildlife, and many migratory birds visit the park during this wet season, making it spectacular for bird viewing.

Long Rains: From March to May, the heavy rains can become challenging to manoeuvre. However, it is the best time for birdwatching, and the accommodation prices are discounted due to the low number of tourists. Minimum average temperatures are 16°C/61°F and Maximum average temperatures are 28 °C / 82°F..

Wildlife Experience

Lake Manyara National Park has bountiful wildlife, including the famous tree-climbing lions, and is home to four of the “Big Five” (leopards, cape buffalos, lions & elephants). Other animals include cheetahs, bat-eared foxes, African civets, African wild cats, spotted hyenas, honey badgers, mongoose and black jackals. Large herds of elephants, wildebeests, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, hippos, and baboons exist.

Hard Fact: Lake Manyara National Park was home to a high population of black rhinoceros a few decades ago. But by 1996, all rhinos became extinct due to poaching. Reedbucks were also present around 1984, but by 1996, they also became extinct.

Birdlife

Lake Manyara National Park provides a great introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded and you might be able to observe 100 in one day. The park supports a big array of water-associated birds, including pelicans. When the water level is right, thousands of pink-hued flamingos flock to the lake to breed and feed. Unfortunately, access to the shore is restricted and you might not be able to see them. More than 50 species of bird of prey have been recorded including crowned eagle and African hawk eagle. Migratory birds are present from November to April. Lake Manyara hosts over 1.9million of pink flamingoes, including the lesser flamingoes and greater flamingoes, the great white pelican, yellow-billed stork, grey heron,pink-backed pelican, egrets, crowned eagles, stilt herons, spoonbills, silvery checked hornbills, crested guinea fowl among others.

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