LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
ACTIVITIES
LOCATION
ABOUT
Stretching for 50km along the base of the rusty-gold 600-metre high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem. The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience.
Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks
From the entrance gate, the road winds through an expanse of lush jungle-like groundwater forest where hundred-strong baboon troops lounge nonchalantly along the roadside, blue monkeys scamper nimbly between the ancient mahogany trees, dainty bushbuck tread warily through the shadows, and outsized forest hornbills honk cacophonously in the high canopy.
Contrasting with the intimacy of the forest is the grassy floodplain and its expansive views eastward, across the alkaline lake, to the jagged blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes. Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds congregate on these grassy plains, as do giraffes – some so dark in coloration that they appear to be black from a distance.
Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favored haunt of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants. Squadrons of banded mongoose dart between the acacias, while the diminutive Kirk’s dik-dik forages in their shade. Pairs of klipspringer are often seen silhouetted on the rocks above a field of searing hot springs that steams and bubbles adjacent to the lakeshore in the far south of the park.
CLIMATE
Lake Manyara has a warm to hot climate year round due to its altitude and close proximity to the equator. Minimum temperatures are 15°C/59°F to maximum 40°C/104°F, and the heat reaches its peak in the dry months of January and February.
WHEN TO VISIT
Superb game viewing is offered throughout the year but is at its peak between December and February and from August through to September. For optimum game viewing the ideal months are between July and October in the dry season. The wet season between the months of November and June are best to do some bird watching.
- Lake Manyara
- Large flock of nomadic lesser flamingo
- Rich bird watching opportunities
- The Great Rift Wall
- Luxuriant groundwater forest
- Extraordinary hot water sulfur springs on lakeshore
ACTIVITIES
- Game drives
- Night game drive
- Cycling safari
- Walking safari
- Bird watching
LOCATION
- The Park is located 1.5 hours(126km/80 miles) west of Arusha . Lake Manyara National Park also forms part of the northern circuit of Tanzania.
ABOUT
Stretching for 50km along the base of the rusty-gold 600-metre high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem. The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience.
Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks
From the entrance gate, the road winds through an expanse of lush jungle-like groundwater forest where hundred-strong baboon troops lounge nonchalantly along the roadside, blue monkeys scamper nimbly between the ancient mahogany trees, dainty bushbuck tread warily through the shadows, and outsized forest hornbills honk cacophonously in the high canopy.
Contrasting with the intimacy of the forest is the grassy floodplain and its expansive views eastward, across the alkaline lake, to the jagged blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes. Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds congregate on these grassy plains, as do giraffes – some so dark in coloration that they appear to be black from a distance.
Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favored haunt of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants. Squadrons of banded mongoose dart between the acacias, while the diminutive Kirk’s dik-dik forages in their shade. Pairs of klipspringer are often seen silhouetted on the rocks above a field of searing hot springs that steams and bubbles adjacent to the lakeshore in the far south of the park.
CLIMATE
Lake Manyara has a warm to hot climate year round due to its altitude and close proximity to the equator. Minimum temperatures are 15°C/59°F to maximum 40°C/104°F, and the heat reaches its peak in the dry months of January and February.
WHEN TO VISIT
Superb game viewing is offered throughout the year but is at its peak between December and February and from August through to September. For optimum game viewing the ideal months are between July and October in the dry season. The wet season between the months of November and June are best to do some bird watching.
