Lake Manyara National Park. It is recommended that Lake Manyara, which is located in the shadow of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, be utilized as a gentle introduction to a safari in East Africa. When compared to the game viewing opportunities that are available in Tarangire, the Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti, the wildlife viewing opportunities in this park are so minor that they are almost insignificant.

However, the visual magnificence of this park makes it absolutely worth a visit. A trip to Manyara, which is distinguished by its tree-climbing lions, flamingos, breathtaking scenery, and the soda-ash lake in the center, is worthy of a day excursion but should not be extended for more than a few hours.

In addition to being famous for its tree-climbing lions, amazing birdlife, good elephants, and baboons, Lake Manyara is a lovely scenic park that can be found on the road that leads from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater. The lake itself occupies a significant portion of the park, leaving behind a strip of land that runs along its borders and is where the majority of the game is found.

It would be a shame to miss out on Manyara if you are driving straight past it, as it is frequently visited for an afternoon game drive on the route to Ngorongoro, but in terms of game viewing, it is not even close to being on par with the heavyweight big boys. On the other hand, if you continue on to Ngorongoro and Serengeti, you will see a very large number of animals there regardless…

Animals that can be found in Lake Manyara National Park

Although the concentrations of wildlife in this area are not nearly as high as those in the parks that are located nearby, there are a number of species that are not found anywhere else that justifies going on safari here. The most popular feature in the park is the tree climbing lions that are found in Lake Manyara.

The reason that these lions climb trees on a regular basis is still a matter of discussion; however, it is a spectacular sight to see a pride of lions reclining in an acacia tree. Wildebeest, buffalo, hippo, flamingo, zebra, warthog, waterbuck, giraffe, dik-dik, and impala are just some of the notable animals that can be found in this park. The park is also well-known for its elephants and a large number of baboons. Additionally, the park’s diverse topography is home to a wide variety of other animals. There is also a lot of interesting birding here, particularly with regard to raptors.

The number of flamingos that live on Lake Manyara is unknown.

The number of flamingos that congregate on Lake Manyara can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands, depending on the time of year. As they move between this lake and other lakes in East Africa, it is impossible to make any predictions about them. You could see one, or you could see ten thousand—it all depends. To a large extent, it is dependent on the luck of the draw.

When to visit Lake Manyara and why

In accordance with the migration pattern of the region, the official peak season for Manyara occurs between the months of July and October. However, considering that Lake Manyara is such a small park, this should not be a decisive issue; if you are in the region and have the time, Lake Manyara is an excellent place for observing soft game at any time of the year. We propose that you visit Lake Manyara as part of your Northern Tanzania circuit on your way to the Ngorongoro Crater. Lake Manyara is an excellent place to begin your Tanzania safari, and we highly recommend traveling there.

Activities At Lake Manyara – Lake Manyara

Although the park has just begun to offer night safaris and the camps deep within the park allow short walks, the primary activity for visitors is game driving during the daytime hours. However, staying in the Rift Valley outside of the park offers access to a plethora of opportunities, including the opportunity to engage in activities such as walking, visiting villages, trekking, and mountain biking, which are offered by certain lodges.

Lodges and hotels located in close proximity to Lake Manyara are available for lodging.

One of the most well-known lodges in Manyara is the magnificent Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, which is owned and operated by Beyond. This lodge is the only lodging option that is located within the park itself.

The Kirurumu Tented Camp and the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge are two of the more reasonably priced accommodations that are located on the highest point of the Rift Valley, with breathtaking views that gaze down into the park.

In addition, we make use of lodges in the Karatu region, the most reputable of which are Plantation Lodge and Gibbs Farm. Both of these hotels provide access to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater in a manner that is equally convenient.

If you would like some further background information, have a look at the Cadogan Guide to Tanzania and Zanzibar – Lake Manyara Chapter, which was written by one of our directors, Annabel. While we are working hard to make our website as complete as possible, if you would like some additional information, you can read it.

It is possible that some of the information may be slightly out of date because the most recent version was released in 2005; but, in general, it is as comprehensive as they come. For additional information, please refer to our post regarding the first treetop walkway in Tanzania, which is located within Lake Manyara Park.

Tanzania is not the only country that we are familiar with!

The most effective way to acquire additional information about Tanzania is to give us a call and have an objective conversation with us. Although we have a strong affinity for Tanzania, we also have a strong affinity for the rest of Africa and have specialists in all of the major safari countries. We would appreciate it if you could send us an email or give us a call if you are still unsure about where you would like to go.