Lake Manyara national park is a remarkable Tanzania safari destination famous for the tree climbing lions and flocks of flamingoes at Lake Manyara, Lake Manyara national park is situated at the base of the Great Rift Valley covering an area of 330 square kilometers with 230 kilometers of the park covered by Lake Manyara. Lake Manyara national park is located in Arusha and Manyara regions of Tanzania in the Tanzania northern safari circuit along the route leading to Ngorongoro conservation area and Serengeti national park.
Lake Manyara national park derives its name from a Eurphorbia tirucalli plant locally known as Emanyara in the Maasai language, this tree species was used by the Maasai people to protect their livestock from predators, poachers and thieves who used to attack Maasai communities. Lake Manyara national park was a ground for sport hunting since 1920s and in 1957, the area was established as a game reserve and in 1957 it was upgraded to a national park status, in 1981 the park was recognized as by UNESCO as part of its Man and the Biosphere programme. Lake Manyara national park is part of the larger Manyara Biosphere reserve.
Lake Manyara national park is the only place in Tanzania to see the tree climbing lions and the best place to watch elephants since it hosts the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, elephants in this park were studied during the first long term field study of elephants in the world and the book entitled “among elephants” by Lain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton documents the study. Apart from elephants and tree climbing lions, Lake Manyara national park is a home to giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, hippos, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, Bohor reedbucks, giraffes, wildebeests and the largest troops of baboons ever documented.
Lake Manyara national park is one of the best Tanzania birding safari destination with more than 400 bird species recorded to be in the park, the park is famous for large flocks of thousands of flamingoes seen feeding along the edge of Lake Manyara especially in the wet season. Other birds found in Lake Manyara national park include pink backed pelicans, yellow bellied storks, grey heron, marabou stork, egrets, stilts heron, spoonbills, black faced sandgrouse, stalks, crowned eagles, Narina Trogon, emerald cuckoo, crowned hornbill, ground dwelling crested guineafowl, Schalow’s turaco among others.
Tanzania safari activities to do in Lake Manyara national park
Game drives
Lake Manyara national park is unmissable destination during your Tanzania game viewing safari in Tanzania, the park is rich with a variety wildlife species which you are to enjoy spotting as you drive through the reserve. Lake Manyara national park is the only place in Tanzania where tourists get to spot the rare tree climbing lions, some of the animals to spot in Lake Manyara national park during Tanzania wildlife safari include elephants, giraffes, leopards, bat-eared foxes, servalsm black-backed jackals, bushbucks, warthogs, African civet, impalas, banded mongoose, Kirk’s dik dik, Bohor reedbucks among others. These animals are easily spotted in acacia woodlands, flood plains and savannah plains
Bird watching
Lake Manyara national park is a perfect destination for Tanzania birding safaris, the park boosts over 400 bird species including large concentration of flamingoes concentrated at the shores of Lake Manyara. While on bird watching safari in Lake Manyara national park some of the birds to watch include pink flamingoes, Abdim’s stork, African fish eagle, African grey hornbill, African hawk eagle, African jacana, African spoonbill, Baglafecht weaver, Comb duck, Crowned eagle, Great white pelican, Greater flamingo, Grey crowned crane, Hamerkop, Hottentot teal, Lesser flamingo, Little stint, Pied avocet, Pied kingfisher, Pink-backed pelican, Sacred ibis, Saddle-billed stork, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Southern ground hornbill, Spur-winged goose, Von der Decken’s hornbill, Yellow-billed stork and many more.
The best time for bird watching in Lake Manyara national park is during the wet season from November to April, in this period migratory bird species from Europe and Northern Africa can be spotted, this best time of the day to see animals is during late afternoon and early mornings.
Hiking and nature walks
Lake Manyara national park is an ideal destination for Tanzania hiking and nature walking safaris, the park has 3 trails on which walking safaris are done, these trails include Msara trail, Lake shire trail and the Iyambi river trail.
- The Msara trail is a trail of 11 kilometers and the nearest path to the gate following the river along the Rift Valley Escarpment, this trail passes through a great bird watching territory leading to a viewpoint.
- Lake Shore trail is a trail of 38 kilometers into the park near the beautiful Maji Moto hot springs, this trail runs through acacia woodland and savannah plains. While hiking on this trail you get to spot large herds of animals such as elephants, buffaloes and pink flamingoes.
- Iyambi river trail is a trail of 50 kilometers running from the gate through wooded and rocky, this trail offer excellent bird watching opportunities and an opportunity to see many animals.
Canoeing
Canoeing in Lake Manyara national park are a must do activity during your Tanzania safari in the park, canoeing is done on the beautiful Lake Manyara and they last for 3 and a half hours. Canoe safaris are done in a two man canoe with a guide and the canoe sets off early in the morning at 07:00 am or 02:00 pm in the afternoon depending on the interest of the tourist.
While paddling on the waters of Lake Manyara you get to watch many animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes as they graze and wallow in the muddy waters of the shoreline, also hippos can be seen approaching the deep end of the lake but they are not of threat. Canoeing safari also offer an opportunity to spot many birds inhabiting the lake shore such as huge concentration of flamingoes, pelicans, cormorants, storks and many more.
Mountain biking safari
Mountain biking safari in Lake Manyara national park is one of the adventurous activities to do during a Tanzania wildlife safari, mountain biking offers a great chance to explore the scenic terrain of Lake Manyara national park and seeing a number of animals found in the park. Before the start of this safari experience an experienced safari guide takes you through the bike logistics including mountain bikes, packed snacks gloves, boots, helmets and bottled drinking water which you need on this safari.
Mountain biking in Lake Manyara national park is done of a 3 and a half hours trail descending downhill and passing through the beautiful rift valley floor proceeding to the local villages of Mto Wa Mbu, while in the Mto Wa Mbu village you get to meet and interact with friendly local nomadic people who adorn themselves with beautiful multi-colored beads, hides and skins which you will enjoy watching while on your expedition.
Cultural tours
A Tanzania safari to Lake Manyara national park is never complete without visiting the Karatu local villages and market for an amazing Tanzania cultural safari, Karatu local villages are situated between Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater Lake and visiting this village offer an insight in trhe African local setting and history of Lake Manyara national park. Cultural tours in Lake Manyara national park are about 2 hours and half walk of visiting the traditional homes “bomas” which are led by the Maasai Women , the bomas are unique houses built in circular form using local materials such as wood, mud and thatch grass. Other activities you to do while in Karatu village include tasting local food, meeting the and interacting with local people and purchasing beautiful beaded jewelleryand other hand made craft pieces.
Where to stay in Lake Manyara national park
In Lake Manyara national park there is a number of safari lodges, tented camps and camps offering a place to stay for tourists on a Tanzania safari in the park, the accommodation ranges from luxury, midrange and budget.
Accommodations in Lake Manyara national park include Twiga camp, Manyara wildlife safari camp, Kiruruma Manyara lodge, Burudika Manyara lodge, lake Manyara Serena safari lodge, Escarpment luxury lodge Manyara, Lake Manyara Kilimamoja lodge, AndBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and many more.
