GUIDE TO Lake Manyara National Park

Discover Lake Manyara National Park and its wonders on our exclusive Tanzania safaris. Lake Manyara National Park is undoubtedly one of the leading destinations in Tanzania. Lake Manyara is an exceptional destination, being one of the very places where the tree-climbing lions live. Besides Lake Manyara National Park, the other spot to find the unique tree-climbing lions in East Africa is Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lake Manyara National Park is found in the Rift Valley region and is part of Tanzania’s Northern tourist circuit.

The Park lies between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. It is about 126 km Southwest of Arusha. The park currently occupies the land area of 330 sq. km and derives its name from the scenic Lake Manyara which is a Soda Lake. It was declared a National Park in 1960 and features as the second oldest Park. The Park stretches 50 km on the 600m high Rift Valley escarpment. It was also designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1981, a few sites that are currently found in Tanzania and East Africa.

Key Tourist Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is where the park derives its name. The Lake is named after the scenic Emanyara tree. The Lake occupies the largest section of the Park and plays a crucial role as a main source of water to most of the wildlife in the Protected Area. It is also a home to diverse aquatic life, especially hippos, crocodiles, and bird species.

Generally, Lake Manyara features among the scenic Soda-Alkaline Lakes and was formed due to volcanic action.

Wildlife /Animals

The different wildlife to explore on a Tanzania tour in Lake Manyara National Park includes 4 of the Big 5 game: buffalo, elephants, leopards, and lions, which include the tree-climbing lions. Other wildlife to find in this Park include waterbucks, warthogs, giraffes, Dik-diks, hippos, klipspringers, impalas, Kudus, wildebeest, plus many primates. The primates to see in this Park include blue monkeys, olive baboons, and vervet monkeys.

The bird species

Lake Manyara is one of the most popular bird-watching destinations and holds over 400 species of birds. On a birding tour, expect to explore the resident, endangered, and migratory bird species in this Park. They include Ayre’s hawk-eagle, palm-nut vulture, marabou stork, white pelicans, Narina trogons, African grey hornbill, verreaux’s eagle, little bee-eaters, African jacanas, sacred ibis, palm-nut vultures, saddle-billed storks, Ashy starling, baglafetch, Hottentot teal, Fisher’s sparrow lark, long-tailed fiscals, pied avocet, silvery cheeked hornbills, spur-winged goose, crested guinea fowl, and others.

Birds of Lake Manyara National Park can be explored on normal birding excursion or combined with game drives or boat rides.

5 Best Things to do in Lake Manyara National Park

Guided game drives

Guided game drives in Lake Manyara National Park offer a great deal to nature lovers to explore the Park’s diverse wildlife. The best spots for game viewing in this Park are the lower slopes of the Great Rift Valley. Along the Rift Valley slopes, expect to observe a range of wildlife including lions, hyenas, buffalo, African elephants, zebras, giraffes, and more.

Visitors can choose to go on a day game drive or at night. The night game drives involve exploring the nocturnal species such as civets, genets, and nightjar bird species. A 4×4 safari vehicle is most recommended for all Lake Manyara National Park game drives.

Birding in Lake Manyara 

A guided birding tour in Lake Manyara National Park takes you on a remarkable journey to identify a wide array of birds. Among the diverse species of birds to find in Lake Manyara National Park include rufous tailed weaver birds, silvery-cheeked hornbills, saddle-billed storks, spur-winged goose, black-faced grouse, sacred ibis, African hawk-eagles, red-billed fire-finch, flamingos, pelicans, and southern ground hornbill. You can also get a chance to find birds such as the African spoonbill, pied avocet, whiskered tern, lesser black-backed gull, collared pratincole, bronze-winged courser, spot-flanked barbet, white-eared barbet, and more.

Guided boat rides

Boat rides on Lake Manyara expose visitors to abundant aquatic species, including hippos, birds, and crocodiles. Besides spotting the aquatic species, there is a chance to appreciate the stunning surrounding landscapes of the Lake.

Hot spring visits

Lake Manyara National Park isn’t only known for guided game viewing but also guided walks to Maji Moto hot springs. The Maji Moto hot springs feature among the Park’s iconic attractions, and you can explore them with an expert.

Treetop Walks

Lake Manyara is among the exceptional spots to experience the tree-top canopy walking excursion in East Africa. Along the walkway, visitors have a chance to encounter interesting primates and also observe the Maasai pastoralists.

The Best Time to Visit Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara Game Park experiences favorable weather conditions. This is a reason it is considered to be an all-year-round destination. But the dry season usually features as the most preferred period for game drives or generally game viewing tours. The dry months extend from June to October and is when the Park receives low or no rainfall with the game tracks accessible for tourists.

The wet season on the other hand, comes with heavy rains, and the ground can be challenging to navigate through as it can be slippery/muddy. The wet months in this park fall in March, April, May, and November.

Where to stay/Accommodation

Available lodging options in Lake Manyara include Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, Kirurumu Tented Lodge, Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp, Lake Manyara Kilimanjaro Lodge, Acacia Farm Lodge, Migunga Tented Lodge, Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, and Twiga Lodge etc.

How to get to Lake Manyara 

Getting to Lake Manyara National Park for your Tanzania tour is possible by road or air. Using road travel, especially a 4×4 safari vehicle, expect to drive for about 126 km from the heart of Arusha town. By air, you can utilize domestic flight services and depart from Arusha to Lake Manyara Airstrip or any nearby airstrip.