Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park Size: 330 km2 (130 sq mi), of which 200 km2 (77 sq mi) is
lake when water levels are high
Established: 1960
Distance from Arusha: 126 km (78 mi)

Description:
Lake Manyara National Park is one of the smaller national parks in Tanzania, but still offers beautiful scenery and an interesting collection of wildlife. The lake itself is a soda/alkaline lake and reaches a maximum depth of 3.7 m. The vegetation changes from groundwater forest to floodplain and finally to acacia forest.

Welcome to Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions, a soda lake that attracts thousands of people, pink flamingos, one of the largest elephant populations in Tanzania and breathtaking scenery! This travel guide provides the most up-to-date information on Lake Manyara attractions, accommodation, how to get to Lake Manyara and much more. Enjoy your Tanzania safari!

Highlights Overview:
For bird lovers, this park is truly rewarding as it is home to over 400 species of birds. Other residents of the park include elephants, buffalo, hippos, baboons, ducks, impalas, giraffes, zebras and wildebeests. There are many leopards in the park, but sightings are rare due to the dense vegetation. If lucky, visitors may catch a glimpse of the famous “tree-climbing lions”.

Park Details:
Upon entering Lake Manyara National Park, visitors are greeted by an underground water forest, home to ancient mahogany trees, giant fig trees and kapok trees. It is common to see crystal clear water flowing directly from the ground. The area is evergreen and is also home to olive baboons, who proudly call Manyara their home. Troops of up to 150 can be seen happily playing and feeding in the forest.

Elegant blackbucks can be seen grazing silently. Occasionally, the silence of the forest is interrupted by the trumpeting of silver woodpeckers, who like to perch in the giant trees.

As he continues, the water table forest changes to a flash of green and yellow, signaling the arrival of the acacia forest. Vervet monkeys are common residents here, as are the noisy red-billed woodpeckers. Be sure to stop at the new hippo viewing platform, where visitors can watch these large mammals go about their business. Waterfowl such as blacksmith plovers, herons and egrets are just some of the many birds that can be seen here. Large herds of wildebeest, zebras and buffalo like to gather on the open plains where they graze and can keep an eye out for approaching predators.

The acacia forests deep inside the park are famous for the famous “tree-climbing lions”. These big cats have evolved over generations to add tree-climbing to their daily activities.

The lake itself receives its water mainly from the Simba River to the north and the Makuyuni River to the east. However, the Rift Valley also provides plenty of water, especially during the rainy season. The groundwater forest also feeds the swamps that eventually drain into the lake.

When to Visit Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is considered a year-round safari destination in Tanzania; however, the best time for game viewing is considered to be the dry season from June to October.

At the foot of the escarpment in the river valley is a small park, Lake Manyara National Park. Unlike the parks dominated by savannah, the groundwater forests provide a great change of scenery. During the peak tourist season, the northern part of the park is very busy, especially in the mornings, from June to October; However, the park experiences rainfall in March and April, making it a low season for tourists.

How to get to Lake Manyara National Park
From Arusha, a road safari takes about 1 to 2 hours to reach the entrance gate. The entire road into the park is well paved, but the internal roads may require a good 4WD vehicle. As you approach the northern entrance to the park, you pass through the town of Mto Wa Mbu, where you can visit the local market. This town is home to many indigenous tribes who have lived and traded here since colonial times. These include the Masai, Tatoga, Iraqi, Gorowa and Chagga.

Access to this park is very easy all year round, but it is usually best to go during the dry season, from July to October, when the internal roads are dry and passable.