Lake Manyara National Park
Safari suitability: 6/10
Find your tourIt may have four of the big five and stellar bird life, but its small size means guests have seen it all after spending only one day in the park.
What YAS members think
Highlights
- The elusive, tree-climbing lion
- Over 400 species of migratory birds – a bird lover’s paradise!
- Close proximity to Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater make it a perfect addendum to a larger safari.
- Its lush, verdant groundwater forest is truly unique and worth a visit or two.
- It is within a few hours’ drive from Arusha.
About Lake Manyara National Park
Located about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park is a compact, verdant park that is highly prized by bird lovers from around the globe. Although small in size, Manyara packs a mighty punch. It starts the moment visitors drive through the entry gates and encounter the amazing groundwater forest. Here, guests can see all types of flora such as mahogany, sausage trees, ficus and wild mango trees.
Bird lovers are sure to be astounded by the vast array of birds, with over 400 species of migratory bird being found here. The saline waters of Lake Manyara are often dotted with bright-pink flamingos and stodgy pelicans. In addition to the large number of birds found at Lake Manyara, it is also possible to see several types of animals here, including the elusive tree-climbing lion.
For some reason, the lions of Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks have a penchant for climbing up into the branches of a sausage tree and lazing around in the heat of the day. Photographers will relish the opportunity to snap a photo or two, if they’re lucky enough to encounter one. It is possible to see four of the big five at Lake Manyara—buffalo, elephant, leopard and lion—with the rhino being the missing fifth animal.
When is the best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park?
Lake Manyara is recommended year-round, with only the months of April and May being a bit wet and difficult for travel. Due to its small size, most lodges are located outside of the park, en route to either Tarangire or Ngorongoro Crater. There is one lodge inside the park and it is of very high standard.
South Africa
I had visited Lake Manyara National Park as a day visitor before, as most people on the northern circuit in Tanzania do just passing through. The day visits are rewarding, there is no doubt about that. The easy-to-reach areas are enough to allow a rewarding day visit. But there is more and I didnt fully realise this until I had experienced it for myself. If you can spare the time, you will not be disappointed. Lake Manyara National Park has lots to offer. I saw my first silvery-cheeked hornbill here, my guide thought I had seen a leopard such was the level of my excitement! I spent two nights in the park and we seldom saw other vehicles. Once we started to go deeper into the park there were no other vehicles. In peak season I am sure there will be more vehicles but with just two camps in the park offering accommodation, even in peak season once you get to the area of where the camps are, there is little chance of crowds. The park is most famous for its tree-climbing lions, thanks to social media we know that there are tree-climbing lions in many other parks! If you plan to visit only to see the tree-climbing lions, most likely you will be disappointed. I did see lion but they were not in trees. Perhaps it was the rain, when I asked my guide he did comment that he had seen plenty of lion, but the 'tree-climbing lions'. If you want to fall asleep to the sound of a lion calling and wake up to the cheerful chatter of birds and the smell of fresh Tanzania coffee brewing, this is the place for you. If you want to take the time to enjoy a lake shore walk and watch the sunset from the shores of the lake, this is the place for you. It doesnt have the herds of wildebeest like the Serengeti, nor does it have the visibility of the Ngorongoro Crater. What it does have is excellent birding, a variety of fun activities that gets you out of the game drive vehicle, tall trees, herds of elephants and something exciting around every corner. Even when the bush is thick as it was when I visited in November, the wildlife enjoy the clearings as much as we do and you often come across open areas where the wildlife gather. You never know what is around the corner. We had great elephant sightings, lots of giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, hippo out of water, impala, a large (and entertaining) troop of baboons, blue monkeys and countless birds.
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Lake Manyara National Park is truly one of Tanzania's hidden gems. During our visit, we were amazed by the park's diverse landscapes, from lush forests to open plains, and the shimmering lake itself. The park is a paradise for bird lovers, with thousands of flamingos and over 400 bird species creating a stunning spectacle on the lake's edge. One of the highlights was spotting the famous tree-climbing lions, something that makes Lake Manyara National Park unique. We also saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, and hippos up close, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the Great Rift Valley. The tranquility of this park, combined with the abundance of wildlife, makes it a must-visit on any Tanzania safari tour. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time safari-goer, Lake Manyara offers a perfect blend of adventure and natural beauty. If you're planning a safari to Tanzania, don't miss out on Lake Manyara – it's a smaller park, but it's packed with unforgettable experiences!
I recently had the pleasure of guiding a 4-day safari through Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorongoro Crater with Dakado Tanzania Safari, and I must highlight the extraordinary experience we had in the picturesque Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara National Park, a hidden gem within Tanzania, enchanted us during our 4-day safari. The park's captivating features, including the picturesque lake, diverse birdlife, and iconic tree-climbing lions, created a nature lover's paradise. The lush groundwater forest and knowledgeable park rangers further enriched our experience, offering insights into the park's ecology and conservation efforts. Lake Manyara National Park, often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of wildlife and nature, providing an unforgettable and unique safari experience.
I visited this park sometime last year to do the research on lion tree climbing, This is the only park in East Africa which is famous for its lion tree climbing, Most of the lions here like climbing trees. This also help them to spot the prey while they are far, It was a lovely experience.
Lake Manyara Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which tend to sprawl out along the branches of Acacia trees most of the day. It is also sanctuary to buffalo and hippo, giraffe, impala, zebra, elephants, blue monkeys and vervets, aardvark, civet, bushbuck, waterbuck, baboons, leopard and the shy pangolin.
This little park is situated in the Western branch of the Great Rift Valley and it’s characterized by the lake that takes the most part of it. The forest is thick and the animals must be tracked down, chased if you prefer, but there’s plenty of them hidden in every corner. A shy elephant eating in the middle of a bush, a family of vervet monkeys climbing some tree branch and scanning the horizon, a group of female impalas drinking in a quite environment. The roads are congested with huge families of baboons crossing, eating, combing through and carrying the little ones on their back. They are really one the features of the park, always present, always numerous. And then, there’s the lake. Majestic. Last September, when I went on a quick trip to Manyara, the rains had been abundant and the roads were difficult to run across, but I could anyway enjoy the day and admire this little jewel of the Great Rift Valley.
While on a long safari we got to see the rare tree-climbing lions and it was worth it. Apart from the lions, there is also a wide variety of various wildlife including birds which is a plus considering some tourists are birdwatchers. I'd recommend this park anytime despite it not being too large.
We were very pleasantly surprised with the shear abundance of wildlife at Lake Manyara. It's an assault on the senses - literally so many birds you don't know where to look. A beautiful place and well worth a visit.
Tanzania
Never seen so many baboons in my life. We drove half hour into the park into an opening on the lake that had 100's of baboons, zebras and flamingos running around. Saw at least 10 giraffes and 20-30 elephants you'll see a lot of similar wildlife: elephants, baboons, gazelles. We absolutely loved the hippo pool, but not necessarily for the hippos. It was because of the myriad of birds - literally 1000s of them flying around, sitting around, you name it, the birds were doing it. captured a long video of the birds flying as one this way and that. Very cool to see 1000s of birds flying across the horizon. Definitely worth a visit when coming to Tanzania for a safari.
Lake Manyara National Park that the name of the park that's found in rift valley. It was amazing tour in this park of northern Tanzania, we saw many birds and animals.
Lake Manyara is a very picturesque and is a scenic beauty and is among the must visit parks on a Tanzanian safari. The park is well known for its tree-climbing lions and its vast array of birds. You will always cherish the moment when a lion king is resting on an Acacia tree and you witness and capture the moment. Lake Manyara is not a very big park. It's a relatively small park with many varieties of the animals and birds. You will enjoy witnessing variety of birds there. Our experience of the park was so wonderful that we will recommend you to keep the park in your itinerary on a Tanzanian safari.
Driving to Lake Manyara NP from Arusha
At under two hours, Lake Manyara NP is the shortest drive from Arusha. The road, in general, is in good condition and it is easy to combine a safari that includes Tarangire and Ngornogoro Crater.
Domestic flights to Lake Manyara
In addition to charter flights, a few domestic airlines also offer scheduled flights to Lake Manyara.
The following airlines travel to Lake Manyara National Park
As Salaam Air has grown to be a leading air carrier between the Tanzanian Islands. Our experienced team understands that customer satisfaction is important to the creation of a successful flight operation. Thus, we go above and beyond to satisfy our clients. The airline plies eight routes to promote tourism within and outside the country. We have two fuel-efficient aircraft Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, which are good for the environment and the safety of our clients.We would like to help you discover more about our Islands here on our website and at every step of your journey Visit website
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Auric Air Services Ltd is Tanzania's preferred corporate and safari airline with a wide network of domestic scheduled services with daily scheduled services to more than 30 destinations and handles approximately 8500 passengers every month. From its bases at Mwanza AirportMwanza, Julius Nyerere International AirportDar-es-salaam and Arusha Airport, Auric Air provides scheduled charter flights to some of the most remote and otherwise inaccessible destinations (parks & game reserves) within Tanzania. Visit website
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Coastal Aviation is an airline operating out of Dar es Salaam - charter flights. Coastal Aviation flying to some 100 strips located in some of the most isolated pockets of the East African Region. The scheduled Coastal network also connects visitors to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with the world-famous Serengeti, links the emerging tourism destinations of Mozambique with the Southern Tanzania parks of Selous and Ruaha, and unites the tropical island paradises of Pemba, Zanzibar, Mafia and Fanjove Private Iaslandwith the National Parks and towns of the mainland. Our state of the art fleet is composed of 20 aircraft and has been expertly-adapted to the African safari environment, without compromise to safety and comfort. Visit website
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Flightlink is a scheduled airline with Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and Air Service License (ASL) granted by Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority & Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to conduct Private & Scheduled Flight under Public Transport category within the region. All the aircraft in our fleet are chosen for their excellent safety records and their ability to perform in even in the most hostile conditions, so landing be it in the bush or on tarmac is not at all taxing. Visit website
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Regional air is a recognized leader in the aviation industry in Tanzania, the airline began in 1997 with one pilot and one aircraft. They are affiliated to the long-established Nairobi-based domestic airline, Airkenya. We are based in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha. Arusha is the starting point of safaris into Northern Tanzania, as the airline also offers charters to these various parks and game reserves. Visit website
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TANZANAIR was formed in 1969 and pioneered aviation throughout Tanzania. Today it continues to live up to its slogan as theComplete Aviation Company. It was founded by Dinos J Samaras who managed the Company until he passed away in April 2010. It is now headed by his son John Samaras who was his deputy since 1983. With 45 years experience, TANZANAIR offers tailor-made air travel to suit the needs of its customers. With a modern fleet of twin and single-engine Cessna and Beechcraft turbine aircraft, TANZANAIRs well-established reputation leads the way in air charter services throughout the region. TANZANAIR operates out of its own purpose-built Passenger Terminal located between Terminal I and II at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. The passenger lounge is adjacent to the two hangars. It is housed within a secure wall enclosed compound with ample parking facilities. Visit website
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ZanAir Limited is a domestic airline based in Zanzibar. Since their inaugural flight in 1992, ZanAir has continued to establish a quality reputation, serving esteemed clientele. ZanAir is an acknowledged expert within Tanzania serving all destinations, including remote unpaved bush locations. Visit website
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Lake Manyara map
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