Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, the park offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views. Ernest Hemingway described the scenery of Lake Manyara as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”, and when you experience it for yourself you’ll understand the reasons behind his comment. Lush forests, bush plains, cliffs and hot springs make for a scenic idyll and give you an exciting glance into all that the Tanzanian safari experience has to offer.

Stop off on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, and the varied ecosystems, stunning bird life and spectacular views won’t disappoint. Not to forget the alkaline shores of Lake Manyara, this is the perfect place to see a carnival of pink Flamingos in their thousands, dramatic flecks of color against the volcanic backdrop. When yellow-billed storks and herons join the party, even the most reluctant bird-watcher will wonder at the display.

Lake Manyara National Park is also home to the world’s largest concentration of baboons, and countless blue monkeys that scamper between the trees. The grassy floodplain is a gathering ground for large buffalo, wildebeest, zebras and giraffes, and further inland you might even be rewarded with the rare sight of Lake Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions – unique bahaviour of Lake Manyara Lions to other species of the kind in the world.

About Lake Manyara National Park

Size: 330 sq km (127 sq miles), of which up to 200 sq km (77 sq miles) is the lake when water levels are high.
Location: Northern Tanzania. The entrance gate lies 1.5 hours (126km/80 miles) west of Arusha along a newly surfaced road, close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto wa Mbu.