Park Overview
Lake Manyara National Park covers 330 km², of which two-thirds is the alkaline Lake Manyara itself. The terrestrial park occupies a narrow strip of land between the lake and the dramatic escarpment of the Great Rift Valley — a 600m cliff that dominates the western edge of the park. The varied habitat within the park's compact area — groundwater forest, open woodland, acacia scrub, and the lake's edge — supports unusual biodiversity for its size.
Manyara is most frequently visited as a day trip or overnight add-on to a Tarangire or Ngorongoro safari. Its location (2 hours from Arusha, 1 hour from Ngorongoro Highlands) makes it a natural inclusion in a 4–5 day northern circuit.
Wildlife
| Species | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant | Common | Large herds in groundwater forest zone. Close-range viewing. |
| Buffalo | Common | Large herds in open areas. |
| Hippo | Common | Hippo pool near the lake shore — reliable viewing. |
| Lion | Present | Small population. Tree-climbing behaviour here and in Serengeti. |
| Giraffe | Common | Masai giraffe throughout the acacia woodland. |
| Zebra, Wildebeest | Common | Open areas near the lake. |
| Black and White Colobus Monkey | Common | Groundwater forest. Usually visible near the park entrance. |
Bird Watching
Lake Manyara is one of the finest bird watching destinations in Tanzania, with over 400 recorded species. The alkaline lake attracts up to 75,000 lesser flamingos when conditions are right — vast pink congregations visible from the lake shore. Other notable species: African fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, yellow-billed stork, and the full suite of East African raptors.
Tree-Climbing Lions
Lake Manyara is one of two locations in Tanzania where lions habitually climb trees — the other being the northern Serengeti. The behaviour is not universal (not all lions in Manyara climb) and sightings are not guaranteed, but the park is the best place to look for this unusual behaviour. The theory is that tree climbing provides relief from ground-level insects and heat.
Visiting Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is usually combined with Tarangire National Park (1 hour east) or Ngorongoro Crater (1.5 hours west) as part of a multi-park northern circuit safari. A half-day game drive (arriving early morning, leaving by noon) covers the park's main highlights. A full day allows exploration of all zones and better probability for the tree-climbing lion sighting.
FAQ
Lake Manyara can be added to any of our northern circuit safari packages. Free quote from our Moshi team.
