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  • Buffalo herd, Tanzania

Highlights and main attractions of Lake Manyara National Park

Highlights and main attractions of Lake Manyara National Park

This wonderfully scenic park, located on the road from Arusha to Ngorongoro, is set between the Great Rift Valley and the sodiforous lake, so hence is often visited en route to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. Although the concentration of wildlife is less impressive than some of Tanzania’s other parks, it is known for its famous tree-climbing lions, habituated baboons and large elephant populations. 

With a total area of just 330 square kilometres, the area of the park is compact, but a proportion of the land mass is occupied by the lake itself. The views from the top of the escarpment that extend for miles out toward the lake are undoubtedly stunning, and if visiting the park en route to other areas it is certainly a great place to begin your venture and sets a superb precedent for the rest of your trip.

 

lake manyara national park Quick Facts

1
Size: the lake itself covers an area of 230km squared.
2
Birdlife: home to over 400 species of bird including pink flamingos.
3
Wildlife spotting opportunities: tree climbing lions, elephant herds and huge numbers of baboons can be seen here.
4
Did you know: Maji Moto are hot springs locared within the park that has an average temperature of 60 degrees celcius.

WILDLIFE

The black-maned tree-climbing lions of Manyara can be an entertaining sight as you watch them navigate the branches of the trees before resting lazily on a quiet spot. The other wildlife within the park includes herds of buffalo, cheetah, Maasai giraffe, baboon, elephant, hippo and impala. The lake’s shores are inhabited by thousands of pink flamingos, and other birdlife is also prolific. Water birds are in abundance here, with pelicans, storks, stilts, egrets and herons all seen close to the source, whilst in the forested areas other species such as guinea fowl, crowned eagles and hornbills can be spotted.

Lake Manyara National Park Accommodation Options

By basing yourself in the traditional Maramboi Tented Camp on the shores of the Manyara you will enjoy easy access to the park as well as a strategic position between Tarangire and Manyara along the migratory corridor for the wildebeest migration. For the best accommodation within the park itself then it is hard not to consider the welcoming Oliver's Camp. 

BOOK YOUR TANZANIA SAFARI

Contact one of our Destination Specialists to start planning your journey to Tanzania. Please note we recommend a budget of from £7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to this destination.

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