Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania, Manyara Safaris & Facts

Lake Manyara National Park is located in the regions of Arusha and Manyara in Tanzania. Lake Manyara National Park is located in the great rift valley. The area was utilized for sports hunting before a Game Reserve was established in 1957. In 1960 it was designated as a national park and it covers 325 kilometers. The biggest part of the park is occupied by Lake Manyara.

Lake Manyara National Park can be visited all year round but the best recommended time is June to October in the dry season and November to May in wet season when the vegetation has flourished presenting a beautiful scenery for the tourists.

Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park has a wide range of attractions including the occasional tree climbing lions, large herds of elephants, giraffes, leopards, impalas, bushbuck, hippos, warthogs, spotted hyenas, zebras, wildebeests. Primates include; vervet monkeys, blue monkeys. 

Lake Manyara is known for thousands of Flamingos but also Lake Manyara National Park has a variety of bird species and these include; Great White Pelican, Yellow- billed stock, Marabou stork, Ayer’s hawk eagle, egrets, Sacred ibis, Saddle-billed stork, stilts herons, spoonbills.

The Great Rift Valley escarpments. They provide a great view for tourists visiting the park.

 

 

Lake Manyara National Park offers unforgettable experiences from the following safari activities

Bird watching, Game drives, Cultural visit, Nature walks, Canoeing, Biking, 

• Bird Watching

Lake Manyara Park is a bird sanctuary with a big number of bird species and this makes it an ideal stop for birders. Besides the large flocks of flamingos, there are several other bird species that can be observed at Lake Manyara. During the dry season migratory bird species are spotted around Lake Manyara

• Game drives

Game drives in Manyara National Park are offered in two sessions. Tourists can opt for a Day game drive or a Night game drive. 

• Day Game Drive

The day game drive can take place very early in the morning or in the afternoon. These present a possibility for tourists to observe a good number of animals and these include; elephants, wildebeest, impala, gazelles, warthog, hyenas, waterbuck, monkeys. Baboons can be sighted in the forests while driving through the park. Countless bird species are also seen on the shores of lake Manyara, mostly flamingos, storks, pelicans and many others.

• Night Game Drive

Manyara National Park is one of few parks that perform night game drives. Nocturnal animals are the most spotted during night game drives as they come out to look for prey. Animals such as leopards, civet cats, porcupines and genets may be seen.

There are trails in Manyara National Park that can be used for game drives and these run across the green vegetation and woodlands.

• Canoeing/Boat rides

Manyara National Park provides canoeing safaris and these happen on Lake Manyara. This fascinating activity allows tourists to enjoy beautiful sceneries as you paddle along the lake, sights of hippos in water, elephants, giraffes, and buffalos grazing, and several species of birds including pelicans, flamingos and storks.

• Cultural Visit

The early inhabitants of Lake Manyara Park were the local Masaai people with unique culture. The cultural visit takes place in a small town known as ‘Mto wa Mto’ named after the “river of mosquitoes”. Tourists experience the nomadic way of life of the Masaai people but also take part in some of the activities like the village walk and appreciating the Masaai traditional homes “Manyattas” made out of local materials, traditional dance and traditional song performances. The mesmerizing traditional dress code with colours (red, white, yellow, blue, black and green) of symbolism in the culture. Tourists can also purchase local products sold in the Masaai market.

• A tree walkway on Lake Manyara

The walkway is raised in the sky as a suspension bridge with secure netting on both sides. It offers a great view for bird watching.

• Cycling in Lake Manyara National Park

The cycling path goes through the rift valley floors in the local villages offering tourists a chance to interact with the local people; bird species can also be spotted on this exploration.

Accommodation facilities in Lake Manyara National Park

Facility offers a range from budget, mid-range and luxury.

• Lake Manyara Serena safari Lodge
• Escarpment Luxury Lodge Manyara
• Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
• AndBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
•  Manyara Wildlife safari camp
• Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
• Burudika Manyara Lodge
• Twiga Camp

How to get to Manyara National Park

Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport. It is located about 46km from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dares Salaam and then fly to Arusha Airport. From here a tourist may use a domestic from Arusha to Manyara airstrip or move by road from Arusha, a drive that takes about 1 and a half hours.