Lake Manyara National park

Lake Manyara National Park is among the astonishing parks located in northern Tanzania. The park offers beautiful landscapes and is home to amazing African wildlife.

The soda & alkaline lake is shallow and reaches a maximum depth of 3.7 m while the vegetation changes from groundwater forests to flood plains and lastly to vachellia woodlands.

Lake Manyara National park covers an area of 325 km2 which about 230 km2 is of the lake surface.

Lake Manyara is located 124 km from Arusha town between the Ngorongoro conservation area and Tarangire National Park.
It is a 2h 30mins drive from Tanzania’s main tourist hub, Arusha city.
The park is famous for the tree-climbing lions, the concentration of elephants, and large groups of migratory birds.
HISTORY OF LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK.

The area was used as a hunting ground for many years. In the year of 1957, the area was upgraded to a game reserve status before being declared as a national park in the year of 1960.

It was the second protected area in Tanzania to be declared as a National park, (Serengeti is the 1st).

WHY VISIT LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK.

Lake Manyara is among Tanzania’s national parks with an abundance of wild resources. This makes it to be a perfect spot for experiencing an African wildlife safari. Here follows are some of the attractions and activities which can be conducted and found within the area.

The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions.
A great number of faunas, avifauna, and flora species (wildlife).
Rift valley escarpment gives a stunning view of the area.
Lake Manyara (home to the thousands of aquatic bird species).
Culture and history of the place.
The vegetation of Lake Manyara.
Home to the largest concentration of baboons than anywhere else in the world.
WHAT TO DO IN LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK.

Night game drive.
This type of activity will give you a chance to experience African bushes by night. Some of the African wild animals are impossible ones to spot on normal day game drives.

Night drives at Lake Manyara National Park are particularly spectacular, with the moon reflecting off the lake.
Day game drives.
This is another way of exploring and experiencing the African wilderness. It is a very famous and well-known way of seeing animals in the wild. Normally the activity is conducted from early morning to late evening.

The reason behind this is most of the animals tend to be more active during the cooler time of the day. Lake Manyara national park offers both night game drives as well as day game drives.

Canoeing
Tourist canoeing at Lake Manyara National park.

In Lake Manyara, you can now enjoy the extraordinary experience of waterside game viewing. From the safe shallow waters of this beautiful soda lake, guests paddle silently along the shoreline in two-man canoes.

Wandering past different wild animals such as buffalo, giraffes, and elephants on the banks and walloping hippo and fabulous aquatic bird life in the water. This is the most scarce and memorable safari seeing wildlife from a whole new perspective. “Wildlife from the Water-side”

Become a Bird-lover.
The presence of different habitats in Lake Manyara makes it an ideal home for birdlife and bird watchers. Manyara has different forms of habitats. from the underground water forest, the lake is safe up to the woodlands.

There are over 400 species of birds in Lake Manyara National Park, making it a wonderful destination for the birder. An example of birds that are found in Lake Manyara such as African spoonbills, flamingos, storks, pelicans, and most aquatic birds.

Treetop walkway.
Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway lets you have an exciting sky-high adventure straight through the forest.

This 370 m airwalk, lets you walk right among the treetops, giving you a bird’s eye view of the forest.

The treetop walkway starts right from the short boardwalk and eventually rises in altitude leading to a series of hold-up bridges with protective nets on either side.

Walking safaris.
A safari is not complete without a walking experience. Lake Manyara offers this different form of safari experience. This will let you even more closely with the African bushes meanwhile experiencing a safari world in a different eye.

Expect unexpected and see the unseen, Yes! While on a walking safari you may encounter things you have never seen before while on a normal game drive.

BEST TIME TO VISIT LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK.

Watching wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park can be done throughout the year, but it is the best from late June to October, during the Dry season.

However, trips to the area can be customized regarding the visitor’s interests. For example, June to October is the ideal time for the big game viewing as most of the bushes are thinner and grasses are shorter giving a good animal view.

But for the bird lovers, (especially flamingos) the ideal time for flamingo flocks enjoyment in lake Manyara is from November in which thousands of flamingos arrive from their breeding site Lake Natron and gather in Lake Manyara up to late April before migrating to the other.

HOW TO GET TO LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK.

Lake Manyara is among the famous parks in the northern circuit safari in Tanzania. The park is located 124 km (2hrs 30 min) drive from the main tourist hub, Arusha.

There are two means of getting to this astonishing Tanzanian safari park. The first one is by land and the other one is air. The presence of the tarmac road from Arusha to the main entrance gate of Lake Manyara, make it even easier to access the park by road.

Also, another quick way of getting to the area is by air. There are airstrips in the park facilitating the landing and taking off for the visitors.

WHERE TO STAY!

Hakuna Matata.

Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania’s most adored northern parks. The park is a popular stop-off on the way to or from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas.

The park offers options of accommodations starting from the budget, medium up to luxury ones. You can do camping or sleep in lodges.

Budget Type of Accommodation in Lake Manyara National Park.

Many of the Lake Manyara visitors have plenty of accommodation options in Karatu and Mto wa mbu. But also, Lake Manyara has a number of campsites and lodges inside the park.

TWIGA CAMP.
Located a few km away from Hippo Pool, Twiga Lodge and Campsite feature an outdoor swimming pool, barbecue facilities, and free WiFi.

If you would like to discover the area, cycling and fishing are possible in the surroundings and the accommodation can arrange a bicycle rental service.

Hippo Pool Viewing Platform is 5 km from Twiga Lodge and Campsite.

This is highly recommended for the budget traveller who looking in serving more money.

MEDIUM LODGE IN LAKE MANYARA.

ESCARPMENT LODGE.
The escarpment lodge is located on the great rift valley escarpment. The place invites the incredible beauty of the African bush in expanses of windows and doors meaning that you have nature right around you as you sit in the comfort and luxury of the superbly appointed bar lounge.

LAKE MANYARA HOTEL.
The hotel is located on the edge of the high western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, in the tiny stunning vast natural wilderness.

KIRURUMU TENTED LODGE.
The lodge has an excellent view of the Great Rift Valley from many of the rooms and the bar area. We safari soles think that this is a good option for those who love great views and a slightly bigger lodge style.

LAKE MANYARA RANCH.
Located in a private conservancy, Manyara Ranch occupies much of the space between Tarangire and Manyara National Parks. Tarangire’s Northern boundary lies less than 5 kilometres away, while Manyara Park is across the lake to the West and is accessed via Mto wa Mbu.

LUXURY LODGES IN LAKE MANYARA.

SERENA LAKE MANYARA.

The popular Serena hotels have a strong presence in Lake Manyara. For those travelling with their family or a large group, the reliable Serena brand is often a good choice.

Lake Manyara Serena has a large pool, large dining facilities, and comfortable lodge accommodation.

LAKE MANYARA TREE LODGE.
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is one of the most expensive lodges on the northern circuit, owned by &Beyond. Despite the luxury of the lodge it is perhaps one of the least visited, partly due to its location in the noiseless area of Lake Manyara and also since Manyara as a destination is overshadowed by the other larger game areas in the north.

The lodge is great but would recommend at least two nights to make the long drive worthwhile.

As you can see, there are many options for accommodations in Lake Manyara. One can choose to either sleep inside or outside Lake Manyara national park.