Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park bursts with life and color. A shimmering sapphire lake stretches across the park, and during the right season, thousands of pink flamingos drape its surface like a living, moving painting. Towering acacia trees and lush forests frame the scene, while elephants, giraffes, and baboons wander the savannah, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of wildlife and natural beauty. From tree-climbing lions to glittering flocks of birds, every corner of Lake Manyara feels like nature’s masterpiece come alive.
The lush green vegetation consisting of tall trees of the ground water forest, the tree climbing lions, the soda lake inhabited with thousands of pink-hued flamingos, large water birds and the troops of baboons and blue monkeys and the rift valley escarpment make your safari to this area unforgettable.
The park derives its name from a plant called Euphorbia tirucalli, known as Emanyara in Maasai language and covers an area of 648.7 km2.
Climate
The Park experiences bi-modal rainfall season with short rains starting from November to December and long rains from February to May and dry season is from late June to October.
It is located at an altitude between 850 and 2000 meters with annual average rainfall ranging from 650 to 760mm.
Getting there
The Park can be accessed by road or air
Road – The park is 115 km from Arusha city to main gate via Makuyuni-Ngorongoro road.
Air – Can be accessed through scheduled flights to Manyara Airstrips.
Park Attractions
The Park has remarkable attractions, most notably the tree climbing lions, Marang’ forest, hot spring, ground water forest, diversity of bird species and the rift valley. Plan your trip by visiting Lake Manyara National Park where you will get exceptional experience that quenches your travel thirst.
Wild Animals
Animals found here include elephant, buffalo, hippo, lion, leopard, occasional cheetah and giraffe. Lions here have opted to rest up during the heat of midday in trees, giving Manyara lions somehow different behaviour.
Birds
The park offers a high diversity of bird species over 390 birds’ species both migrants and residents including 50 birds of prey, raucous forest hornbills, pink-hued flamingos and flotillas of pelicans. Lake Manyara National Park is a birding spot. Visitors can see up to 100 different species of bird in a day.
Hot springs
Its water is heated by volcanic activity to a temperature of 76.5 0C. Water is important source of food for lesser flamingos and the mineral content of the water is associated with curative values.
Ground Water Forest
These dense evergreen harbors resident bushbucks, primates and multitude of bird species.
The varied habitats
The varied diversity of habitats including the rift valley escarpment, open grassland, woodland and the lake makes the area an ideal place to visit.
Marang’ Forest
It lies above the escarpment and harbours elephants, buffaloes, duikers, baboons, blue monkeys, leopards and many forest dwelling birds species.
Tourism Activities
Lake Manyara National Park offers a range of exciting activities including day game drives, walking safaris, night game drive, canoeing, canopy tour, bird watching and hot bush meals that gives someone a reason to smile!
Game Drive
Game drive along the lower slopes of the great rift valley inhabited with variety of wildlife species like Elephants, Buffalo, Antelopes, Lions, Leopards and Giraffe gives unforgattable sightings all the day
Night Game drive
The night game drive safari through a diverse ecosystems gives the chance to see nocturnal animals and birds makes you feel like you’ve entered a whole new world!
Walking safari
The present natural walking trails takes you up and down the hills. The trails pass in areas with higher concentration of wildlife and varied habitats providing a chance of exploring the wilderness and getting close to nature
Canoeing
This activity will expose visitors to view the steep escarpment patched with ever green forests as well as getting close to dozens of aquatic and birds species.
Canopy Tree Walk
Manyara has one of the longest tree canopy walkways in Africa with intermittent viewing decks positioned around the trees on the walk. This canopy offers a unique view of birds, butterflies and Monkeys.
Filming and Photographing
Lake Manyara National Park is an ideal place for filming and photographing. Visitors are welcomed to perform this activity that will create a life time memory.
Accommodation Facilities
There is one luxury lodge within the Park which is &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, there however other bandas, hostel and a number of campsites. All other overnight options for Manyara are outside the Park including many on the edge of the Rift Valley with wonderful views across the valley.
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