Lake​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Manyara national park.

Lake Manyara National Park is a paradise of nature, a protected safari destination in Tanzania. Situated in the Arusha and Manyara regions, the closest city is Arusha, Babati. The park consists of Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley, and Lake Manyara occupies an area of 230 square kilometers. Lake Manyara national park is one of the parks in the northern safari circuit of Tanzania. It is located along the road leading to Ngorongoro conservation area and Serengeti national park. The park also forms part of the larger Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve, which was designated by UNESCO in 1981 under its man and the biosphere programme. Lake Manyara national park owes its name to a peculiar species of tree, Euphorbia tirucalli, locally called Emanyara in the Maasai language. These trees were introduced into the area by the Maasai people as a natural fence to protect their livestock from thieves and wild animals such as lions and leopards. After being initially just a ground for sport hurting and a residency area for the Masai people, the park was officially designated a reserve in 1957.

Tourist attractions in Lake Manyara national park.

Lake Manyara.

The park is home to a shallow alkaline lake named Lake Manyara that occupies a good part of the park. The lake is the main highlight of the park and has a surface area of 230 square kilometers and a depth of 3.7 meters. Lake Manyara is the seventh largest lake in Tanzania. It lies at an altitude of 1045 meters above sea level and is an ideal place for birdwatching because of the millions of flamingos that live there and make the lakeshores look pink. Lake Manyara is a picturesque location to have a bird watching and canoeing safari.

Animal species.

Lake Manyara National Park has various animal species that inhabit in the park’s marshes, acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands, and forest galleries. Apart from its massive elephant population and baboon troops of more than 100 members, which is considered the largest in Africa, the park is also famous for its tree-climbing lions. Besides that, there are also hippos, antelopes, zebras, Thomson gazelles and Grant’s gazelles, wildebeests, waterbuck, impalas, warthogs, giraffes, Cape buffalo, and many more animals living in Lake Manyara National Park. Hunters might also spot lions, leopards, African wild cats, spotted hyenas, bat-eared foxes, genets, honey badgers, and cheetahs and African golden cats in Lake Manyara National Park.

Bird species.

Lake Manyara National Park is one of the best birdwatching places in the world. It hosts an array of birds that thrive on different parts of the park like the lake’s shore birds and the ones living in the middle of the lake and birds in the savannah forests. Besides the resident birds, the park is also visited by seasonal migratory birds from Eurasia. Birds of prey can frequently be spotted in the park. Some of the rare and threatened bird species that can be seen in this park include Rufous-tailed weaver, Ashy starlings, and black-collared lovebird. Some of the bird species that can be found in this park are flamingoes, pelicans, crowned eagles, crested guinea fowl, slivery checked hornbills, egrets, stilts, herons, spoonbills, stalks, wanders, Narina trogon, pangani long claw, crowned hornbills, Schalow’s turaco, emerald cuckoo, crowned plover, two-banded courser, black-faced sun grouse and many ​‍​‌‍​‍‌more.

Maji Moto springs.

Maji Moto Springs are a lovely natural place in the southern part of the park. The name of the springs derives from the Swahili language word which means “hot water”. Maji Moto Springs is a small paradise in the park, surrounded by palm and fig trees. The spring’s heat up to about 60 degrees Celsius, and the water forms a pool where people can swim which is a wonderful safari attraction.

Tourist activities to do in Lake Manyara national park.

Game viewing.

Lake Manyara National Park is an incredible safari destination where you can spot fascinating wild animals. In this journey, you will be given the opportunity to venture the park, a tour guide will take you on a game drive to unveil different parts of the park. On this tour, you will also visit magnificent lake Manyara where you can spot thousands of animals coming to drink water and birds as well. Then you will be taken through marshlands, woodlands and an acacia dominated terrain where you will be seen animals like tree climbing lions, elephants, hippos, antelopes, zebras, Thomson gazelle and Grant ‘s gazelle, wildebeests, waterbuck, impalas, warthogs, giraffe’s cape buffalo and many more.
Lake Manyara National Park lets you enjoy the life of animals during day time as well as night time. Seeing animals at night is a very thrilling safari experience that will reveal to you another side of the park. This is an opportunity to spot nocturnal animals as well as predators in Lake Manyara National Park. Using a torch, you can see lions, leopards, African wild cats, spotted hyenas, bat-eared foxes, genets, honey badgers, servals and sometimes even a cheetah.

Bird watching.

Lake Manyara National Park is an excellent place for a bird watching safari in Tanzania. The park is full of more than 400 bird species that can be found living around Lake Manyara, in the savannah fields, and also in the scattered forest galleries. Bird watching in Lake Manyara national park can be very impressive as you will come across lots of beautiful and colorful birds like thousands of pink flamingos in the lake and along its shores, flocks of pelicans, the rare pangani long claw, silvery-checked hornbill, crowned eagles, and among many others. Lake Manyara, which is always full of pelicans and pink flamingos, is the greatest place to watch birds in Lake Manyara National Park.

Canoeing.

Among protected areas in Tanzania, Lake Manyara national park is one of the few places where you can enjoy a canoe safari. This activity gives a chance to appreciate the stunning Lake Manyara. By canoe tourists get a closer encounter with water life of Lake Manyara. They can admire flamingos, pelicans, and plenty of other animals that come for water at the lake.

Visiting Maasai community.

The Maasai community is located near the border of Lake Manyara National Park. The Maasai people were the first inhabitants of the area that is now the park, and thus taking a cultural and traditional tour of the area through a visit to the Maasai community while in Lake Manyara National Park is an experience. A visit to a Maasai community will expose you to round huts/bomas made of mud and straw, involve you in traditional dances and songs, let you wear traditional clothes such as stripped shukas, taste food made in the traditional way, and get to know other aspects of the native culture.

Where to stay in Lake Manyara National Park.

Lake Manyara national park has many lodges and camps that are open all year round to accommodate the visitors, and these are divided into budget, mid-range, and luxury options. They include Lake Manyara hotel, Lake Manyara bush camp, Beyond Lake Manyara tree lodge, Africa safari glamping, Lake Manyara wildlife lodge, Migunga tented camp, Lake Manyara serene safari lodge, and many more.

How to get to Lake Manyara National Park.

Lake Manyara National Park lies approximately 126 kilometers south-west of Arusha. This is where the majority of safari trips to the park start. The park can be reached from Arusha by either road or air. By car, you can reach the park in about one to two hours on well-maintained roads. Should you opt to fly, you can take a domestic flight from Arusha airport to Lake Manyara airport that serves Lake Manyara National Park and the surrounding area.