Lake Manyara National Park

Welcome to Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park is situated near Tarangire about 130 kilometres west of Arusha. The 325 square kilometres protected area features the most breathtaking terrain comprising of open grasslands, forests and the dominant red western rift escarpments which offer the most spectacular backdrop to the Lake itself.

Tree Climbing Lions in Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park features as one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania but encompasses a diversity of remarkable landscapes and wildlife. This park takes visitors about 90 minutes drive from Arusha with possible extensions to Tarangire National Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

This park is famous for its incredible wildlife species like dik-dik, Klipspringer, wildebeests, warthogs, cape buffaloes, ostriches, zebras, elephants, giraffes, blue and vervet monkeys, wanders and migratory flamingoes, hippos especially in the north and south of the Lake, waterbucks, tree-climbing lions, spiral-horned impalas, baboons, pelicans, storks, nomadic quelea, insect eaters, seed eaters, geese, herons, cormorants, keening crowned eagles, squawking hornbills, clucking crested guinea fowl and many more.

BirdLife in Lake Manyara National Park

Flamingos – Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania

About 300 bird species thrive within this park. There is also a waterfall that spills over the escarpment wall and fills the rivers most of which can be canoed from for amazing safari adventure. Lake Manyara National Park is famous for its most rewarding game drives, mountain biking, village tours, walking safaris and hiking adventures.

Getting to Lake Manyara National Park

This national park is accessible by road or using a plane from or to Arusha and Serengeti. There is a flight link to the Selous Game Reserve. It has 2 major entrances, the gate in the north and in the south and nearly all visitors use the northern gate a fact that it has most of the lodging options. The southern gate isn’t used most times and has limited access and few camps and lodges.

Best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is one of the most spectacular areas in Tanzania and can be visited at any time of the year. It experiences short rains from November to December and when it is hot, the temperatures go up to 35 degrees Celsius.

Between April and May, most parts of the park are wet and most lodges tend to reduce the accommodation rates. This season is best for birding in the park’s woodlands and around the Lake where most of the migratory colonies of storks, pelicans, spoonbills, cormorants, pink flamingoes flock and many others. The dry season starts from July to October and this features as the best time for game viewing at this park.

Accommodation in Lake Manyara National Park

Most accommodation in Lake Manyara National Park vary from site to site and the notable ones include the Lemala Manyara Camp-isolated site deep in the southwestern wilderness with 12 guest tents and communal mess tent, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Manyara Ranch Tented Camp, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge-situated outside the park border and near the airstrip; Lake Manyara Escarpment Luxury Lodge, Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge, Kirurumu Manyara Lodge and many more.

In conclusion, Lake Manyara National Park is remarkably one of Tanzania’s most amazing safari destinations that you shouldn’t miss to pay a visit while on your safari in Africa.