Lake Manyara National Park| Image Travel

Tree Climbing Lions:This is perhaps the most famous and unique feature of Lake Manyara. The park is one of only two places in Africa where lions regularly climb trees and rest on the branches of acacia or sausage trees. The reason for this unusual behavior is not fully understood, but it's believed they do it to escape biting flies, get relief from the heat, or get a better vantage point for spotting prey.
Huge baboon troops:Lake Manyara is home to one of the highest concentrations of baboons in Africa. As you drive through the park's lush groundwater forest, you'll see hundreds of these primates socializing, grooming each other, and foraging for food. Their lively and intricate social interactions are a sight to behold.
The great rift valley escarpment: The park is nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley's steep western escarpment, a stunning geological feature that provides a dramatic and beautiful backdrop to the landscape. The contrast between the lush forest and the massive, rocky cliff face is truly magnificent and offers excellent photo opportunities.

Bird Watchers Paradise: Lake Manyara is a haven for bird enthusiasts, with over 400 species recorded. The shallow, alkaline soda lake is a major attraction, particularly for migratory birds. During the wet season, the lake can be covered in a shimmering pink blanket of thousands of flamingos. Other water birds like pelicans, storks, and cormorants are also abundant.
Diverse Wildlife Habitat:Despite its size, the park's landscape is incredibly varied. It includes a groundwater forest, open grasslands, and acacia woodlands, which support a wide range of animals. Besides the lions and baboons, you can expect to see large herds of elephants (the park was originally established to protect them), giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and buffalo. The park is also home to more elusive species like leopards, which are sometimes spotted.
Treetop Walkway: A unique, sky-high canopy walk that allows you to explore the forest from a bird's-eye view, offering a thrilling adventure and a new way to observe the park's flora and fauna..

Lake Manyara National Park Wildlife Experience

Lake Manyara National Park is home to a diverse ecosystem which contains a range of habitats, including a soda lake, acacia woodland, equatorial forest, several types of savannah, and even mountain slopes. Lesser flamingos and pelicans thrive at Lake Manyara, but its alkaline waters are undrinkable for most other animals. However, many animals are forced to drink Lake Manyara’s alkaline waters to survive the dry season since most other water sources dry up completely. Lake Manyara National Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions. The park’s lions tend to climb trees far more often than lions in the Serengeti National Park or Tarangire National Park. This phenomenon has baffled scientists and seeing tree climbing lions on a game drive is an unforgettable experience.

Hot springs can be found in the south of the park, and the park is bisected by 2 rivers, the Mto wa Mbu River and the Endabash River. Lake Manyara National Park is home to 400 bird species, and it is a paradise for bird enthusiasts. The park also contains water buffaloes, zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, and the world’s largest concentration of baboons. The park’s elephant population has suffered from poaching, but conservation efforts have protected a strong population of these gentle giants.

Best time to visit
The Lake Manyara National Park

Like all of Tanzania’s national parks, Lake Manyara’s peak season is during the dry monthsfrom July to September. The short dry season from mid-December to early March is also a good time to visit, but the temperatures can get very hot during this period. Although you will see wildlife during the wet season, it will be more difficult to spot animals amongst the luscious vegetation. In the dry season, animals are drawn to the few remaining water sources and wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent. Bird enthusiasts may choose to visit during the short rainy season from the end of October to December. Migratory birds visit the park during these months, but muddy roads may be impassable, and some lodges close during the low season

How to get there

Most travellers visit Lake Manyara National Park from Tanzania’s safari capital, Arusha. By road, Lake Manyara is 126km from Arusha, and the drive to the northern gate takes 1.5-2 hours along a new tarmac road. You can also fly to Lake Manyara Airport (LKY) from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), and the journey takes around 40 minutes. Kilimanjaro International Airport is located around 46km from Arusha.

Lake Manyara National Park Birdlife

Lake Manyara National Park provides a great introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded and you might be able to observe 100 in one day. The park supports a big array of water-associated birds, including pelicans. When the water level is right, thousands of pink-hued flamingos flock to the lake to breed and feed. Unfortunately, access to the shore is restricted and you might not be able to see them. More than 50 species of bird of prey have been recorded including crowned eagle and African hawk eagle. Migratory birds are present from November to April. Lake Manyara hosts over 1.9million of pink flamingoes, including the lesser flamingoes and greater flamingoes, the great white pelican, yellow-billed stork, grey heron,pink-backed pelican, egrets, crowned eagles, stilt herons, spoonbills, silvery checked hornbills, crested guinea fowl among others.