Lake Manyara National Park is a Tanzanian national park located both in Arusha Region and Manyara Region, Tanzania. The two administrative regions have no jurisdiction over the parks. The park is governed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority. The majority of the land area of the park is a narrow strip running between the Gregory Rift wall to the west and Lake Manyara, an alkaline or soda-lake, to the east.
The park consists of 330 km2 (130 sq mi) of arid land, forest, and a soda-lake which covers as much as 200 km2 (77 sq mi) of land during the wet season but is nearly nonexistent during the dry season.
Lake Manyara is known for its lush forests, vast soda lake, and unique tree-climbing lions. The park offers a variety of landscapes, from thick woodlands to open savannahs and swamps, providing a home for many animals like elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and flamingos.
Is Lake Manyara National Park Worthy Visiting
Absolutely! Lake Manyara is a shallow soda lake set at the base of the Western Rift Valley Escarpment. The northwestern lakeshore and its hinterland are protected in a scenic national park. Manyara is one of Tanzania’s smallest parks, yet it boasts a diverse flora and fauna. Hence worth visiting.
Fauna
Lake Manyara National Park is known for the flamingos that inhabit the lake. During the wet season they inhabit the edges of the lake in flocks of thousands but they are not so present during the dry season.
More than 400 species of birds inhabit the park and many remain throughout the year. Because of this Lake Manyara National Park is a good spot for bird watching. Visitors to the park can expect to see upwards of 100 different species of bird on any day.
Leopards, lions, elephants, blue monkeys, dik-dik, gazelle, hippo, giraffe, impala, and more inhabit the park and many can be seen throughout the year. There is a hippo pond at one end of the park where visitors can get out of their cars and observe from a safe distance. The leopards and lions are both known to lounge in the trees while not hunting for prey.
Access
Lake Manyara National Park is located 126 km (78 mi) south west of Arusha and can be reached by car in an hour and a half. The park can also be reached easily from Babati the capital of Manyara Region. The park is also very close to Tarangire National Park There is also an airport, Lake Manyara Airport (LKY), located at the top of the rift wall.
What to Do
Game drives, night game drives, canoeing when the water levels is sufficiently high.
Cultural tours, picnicking, bush lunch/dinner, mountain bike tours, abseiling and forest walks on the escarpment outside the park.
- Game Drives, marvel at the large elephant herds, See the large troops of baboons through exploring the park’s diverse habitats, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.
- Scenic Drives, take in exciting views of Lake Manyara and surrounding landscapes and Lake Manyara tree-top Walkway
- Birdwatching discovers over 400 bird species.
- Wildlife Viewing, Spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, and numerous bird species.
- Nature walks, track the tree climbing lions, visit the ‘pink’ lake with flamingos
SELF-GUIDED TIPS IN LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
A self-guided safari in Lake Manyara National Park is a great way to explore this small but diverse park at your own pace. With a good 4×4 Tanzania car rental and a reliable map, you can drive through the park’s well-maintained roads, stopping whenever you see interesting wildlife or want to take in the views. The compact size of the park makes it easy to explore in a few hours, but it’s recommended to take your time and enjoy the sights. While driving on your own gives you freedom, make sure you follow the park rules, stay on marked tracks, and keep a safe distance from the animals to have a safe and enjoyable experience.
- Park rules require that you stay on the marked roads at all times, you cannot drive off-road in Lake Manyara National Park.
- Target the dry season for your visit as there is far less risk of the roads being flooded.
- Make sure you have a 4×4 vehicle with high clearance, because the roads can be rough in some areas, and you don’t want to get stuck.
- Let some air out of your tires while driving on the gravel and sand park roads. This will give you extra traction and help you prevent getting stuck, just remember to re-inflate your tires before getting back on the paved roads.
- Bring a satellite phone with you in case of emergencies.
- Never get out of your tent or lodge late in the night alone.
- Refer to the Tanzania National Parks website for current fees to enter the park and payment options beforehand.
- And finally, leave yourself plenty of time to get back to your lodge or campsite before dark.
Getting There
By road, charter or scheduled flight from Arusha, en route to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. On self drive in Tanzania, one can take a road safari along the newly tarred road connecting from Arusha which only takes 1 ½ to 2 hours to reach the entrance gate.
Considering that Manyara Park is on the way to the more renowned Ngorongoro crater and the Serengeti National Park which are the other parks on the northern circuit. You can use Car rental Tanzania a reliable company to rent you a flexible 4×4 vehicle. However, the park can be accessed either through the southern or northern gates. The northern gate is more commonly used since most accommodation is located in its vicinity.
When to Go
Dry season (July-October) for large mammals; Wet season (November-June) for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing.
All year through, there is a good road access to this park, however, the best time for viewing large mammals is in the dry season that comes between July to October and in January and February. The wet season that begins in November to December and March to June is characterized with rains that make the inner roads rather slippery and hard to traverse. Nonetheless, the wet season is best time for watching birds in Lake Manyara.
Accommodation
There are some nice budget places to find in Mto wa Mbu. For more upscale and expensive lodges, we recommend staying inside the park and the surrounding Wildlife Management Areas however.
One luxury Treehouse-style camp, public bandas and campsites inside the park.
One luxury tented camp and three lodges perched on the Rift Wall outside the park overlooking the lake.
Several guesthouses and campsites in nearby Mto wa Mbu.
The absolute favourite spot is Migombani Camp located near the entrance to Lake Manyara National Park. The camp is nestled high on a cliff overlooking the National Parks. You can pitch your tent here, or book a stay in a furnished safari tent. There is a restaurant on site, a communal fireplace under the baobab trees, and an infinity pool with spectacular views of the Rift Valley.
Other options;
- Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Chem Safari Lodge
- Lake Manyara Ranch Conservancy
- Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
- Manyara Green Camp
PLEASE NOTE:
We don’t recommend pitching your tent inside Manyara National Park. It’s not a scenic spot, and the TANAPA public campsite is located next to the entrance gate, creating lots of traffic noise. Looking for advice on camping in Tanzania? Check out our web site at 4x4africa camping guide for more tips and ideas.
