Showcasing The Charms of Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park stands as a captivating destination that showcases the untamed beauty and varied wildlife of East Africa. Encompassing more than 330 square kilometers, this mesmerizing park is celebrated for its breathtaking scenery, abundant animal life, and distinctive tree-climbing lions, promising visitors an immersive safari adventure unlike any other. 

Join us as we explore the wonders of Lake Manyara National Park. Let's embark on this adventure!

Where Is The Lake Manyara National Park?

Lake Manyara National Park is one of the best national parks situated in northern Tanzania. You can enter the park from either the north or the south. Due to its proximity to lodging, the Northern entrance is used by the majority of users. The driving distance from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park is 126 kilometers or roughly 90 minutes. Lake Manyara is less crowded than other stops on the northern safari circuit. Typically, safaris to the park depart from Arusha.

Lake Manyara National Park is located in northern Tanzania 

How To Get To Lake Manyara National Park

Transportation methods refer to the various modes of travel utilized for transporting people or goods. The diverse transportation options for accessing Lake Manyara Park include:

• By road: Travelers can be chauffeured from Arusha to Lake Manyara Park via Mto wa mbu town, situated nearby. Public transportation services are also accessible from Arusha to Mto wa mbu frequently.
• By air: Several airlines provide flights to Lake Manyara National Park, including Coastal Aviation, Air Excel, and Regional Air. These airlines offer daily flights between Arusha and Lake Manyara National Park.

The Best Time To Get To Lake Manyara National Park

In addition to having sufficient road access, Lake Manyara National Park is open year-round. Large species are best seen during the dry season, which runs from July to October and in January and February. But the months of November through December and March through June are the greatest times to watch birds in Lake Manyara during the wet season. 

What is the climate in Lake Manyara National Park?

The Park receives a bi-modal rainfall season, with brief rains from November to December, lengthy rains from February to May, and a dry season from late June to October.

It is situated at an altitude ranging from 850 to 2000 meters, with an annual average rainfall of 650 to 760mm.

Top Activities In Lake Manyara National Park

Exploring Lake Manyara National Park is a rewarding experience, offering glimpses of the country's stunning natural features. Moreover, visitors have the chance to engage in a variety of captivating activities, enriching their journey with new experiences. Some of these activities include:

Game drives

Game drives are among the most popular activities in the park, conducted in various sessions: morning, afternoon, and night drives, typically starting at 7 PM and organized by park rangers. These safaris are best experienced in 4x4 vehicles, preferably open land cruisers, allowing tourists to get closer views of wildlife species like giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, leopards, and more.

Game drives are among the most popular activities in the park 

Canoe rides

When Lake Manyara's water levels are conducive, tourists have the opportunity to embark on boat or canoe rides, soaking in the picturesque scenery and observing wildlife grazing in the distance. Hippos can also be spotted in the shallower areas of the lake during these boat rides.

Bird watching

Lake Manyara National Park is a good place for bird lovers to visit because it harbors around 400 bird species. This park is renowned for its excellent bird-watching opportunities, with diverse species found in the forest, around the floodplains, and along the lake shores. Visitors can spot flamingos, yellow-billed storks, pelicans, black-collared lovebirds, silvery-cheeked hornbills, and more. The best time for this activity is from November to July in Lake Manyara National Park. 

Lake Manyara National Park is a good place for bird lovers to visit 

Top Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park in Northern Tanzania offers numerous captivating tourist attractions. This beautiful lake shares wildlife with nearby Tarangire National Park through the Kwakuchinja corridor, making it easy to spot diverse animals along the roads to Lake Manyara and Serengeti National Parks. Here are a list of top attractions to visit in Lake Manyara National Park:

Lake Manyara

The shallow lake Manyara is an alkaline lake found in this park. It covers an area of 220 sq km which is two-thirds of the park’s total surface area. Along with other animals, such as hippos who live in the shallow section of the river, the lake is home to a significant number of pink flamingos.

Wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara boasts a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, wildebeests, giraffes, and buffaloes. It's renowned for its large population of African wildlife, such as zebras, antelopes, warthogs, and waterbucks. Along the cliff slopes, you might spot the elusive Kirk's dik-dik and klipspringer.

The game drive route is limited and typically takes about 3 to 4 hours, offering sightings of animals in constant motion. Tanzanian safaris usually cost around $200 per day for road-based trips, while luxury safaris involving flights are pricier. Therefore, it's worth considering the options carefully. Although most safari companies schedule tours in the afternoon, mornings offer fewer vehicles and more wildlife activity, making it a preferable time to visit.

Wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park 

Tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is home to a thriving population of unique tree-climbing lions, a characteristic only found in two populations worldwide, the other being in the Ishasha Area of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. These exceptional animals draw a considerable number of tourists and photographers to the park eager for a glimpse. 

Birds in Lake Manyara

The diversity of bird species in Lake Manyara National Park varies depending on the habitat. Visitors often spot large flocks of pelicans and pink flamingoes on the lake, while the park's borders and floodplains offer sightings of egrets, stilts, herons, spoonbills, storks, and other waders. Woodlands around the park also provide excellent birdwatching opportunities due to the abundance of water. However, the most fascinating species are found in the evergreen forests, including crowned eagles, crested guinea fowl, and silvery-cheeked hornbills.

Visitors often spot large flocks of pelicans and pink flamingoes on the lake 

Where to Stay Nearby

• Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge: For wealthy visitors, the park's only permanent lodge, Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, is the perfect destination. Situated deep within a secluded mahogany forest, the resort is reached after a 3.5-hour game drive from the Lake Manyara airport. The resort offers delicious open-air dining, a massage sala, and a private canopy walkway perched over the park, all of which are complimented by nine opulent treehouse apartments decorated in traditional safari style.
• Kirurumu Manyara Lodge: There are 27 tented rooms at Kirurumu, each having an ensuite bathroom, electricity, and hot and cold running water. In addition, the lodge provides full-day hikes, hot air balloon tours above the park, and mountain bike rentals.
• Escarpment Luxury Lodge: With 16 luxury chalets, a spa, and a swimming pool, Escarpment Luxury Lodge has it all. The surrounding fauna frequently visits the lovely gardens, and as every chalet has a balcony, you may observe from the comfort of your own space.
• Lake Manyara Serena Lodge: From nighttime cocktails on top of the escarpment to outdoor dinners accompanied by traditional song and dance, Serena Lodge takes pride in its unforgettable experiences.

Lake Manyara National Park is an incredible Tanzania safari goal, ideal for a quick diversion as well as multi-day safaris to see the various animals in Lake Manyara National Park. Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania’s most awe-inspiring family safari destinations, suitable for children of all ages.

To embark on an exciting adventure vacation in Lake Manyara National Park, you can visit the Tanzania Immigration Service website to obtain a visa and prepare for your unforgettable journey. You can apply for a visa to visit Tanzania online in 3 steps.