Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park offers a wilderness experience in diverse habitats, from its Rift Valley soda lake to dense woodlands and steep mountainsides. Apart from a spectacular setting, the park is famous for its unusual tree-climbing lions and the vast elephant herds it was established to protect.

Ernest Hemingway remarked that this park had the loveliest lake in Africa, and he may have been right. Manyara Lake is stunning. It covers one-third of the park's size, and despite its high salt content, it is safe for animals to drink so it remains an essential life source for many animals in the area. It is also the main hangout spot for wild flocks of flamingos, and other bird life. However, truly unique to Lake Manyara National Park is its resident tree-climbing lions. Researchers have still not concluded as to why these lions habitually laze among the treetops, but it is an extraordinary sight to see.

Wildlife at Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara has a large number of elephants, so many giraffes; zebras, wildebeests, impalas, waterbucks, and warthogs, the less-known shy Kik’s dik dik as well as the Klipspringer that dwell along the ramps of the escarpment. Leopards are hosted within the scattered forests and escarpments, while the healthy population of lions is widely known for its unique tree-climbing capability. In addition, you will not fail to notice the very large number of baboons in this park which can live in sizeable troops of up to 200 members.

Lesser flamingos and pelicans thrive at Lake Manyara, but its alkaline waters are undrinkable for most other animals. However, many animals are forced to drink Lake Manyara’s alkaline waters to survive the dry season since most other water sources dry up completely.

Lake Manyara National Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions. The park’s lions tend to climb trees far more often than lions in the Serengeti National Park or Tarangire National Park. This phenomenon has baffled scientists and seeing tree-climbing lions on a game drive is an unforgettable experience.

Best Time to Visit Lake Manyara

Like all of Tanzania’s national parks, Lake Manyara’s peak season is during the dry months from July to September.

The short dry season from mid-December to early March is also a good time to visit, but the temperatures can get very hot during this period.

Although you will see wildlife during the wet season, it will be more difficult to spot animals amongst the luscious vegetation. In the dry season, animals are drawn to the few remaining water sources and wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent.

For this reason, we have an article on the best times to visit Tanzania

Bird enthusiasts may choose to visit during the short rainy season from the end of October to December. Migratory birds visit the park during these months, but muddy roads may be impassable, and some lodges close during the low season.

Things to do at Lake Manyara

Marvel at the large elephant herds

Lake Manyara National Park is home to a large number of elephants just like the neighbouring Tarangire National Park and during your visit, you will get a chance to see the foliage around

Game Drives

The most commonly used means of exploring this small but impressive northern Tanzania Game Park is through game drives. During the peak Tanzania safari season, the park is normally crowded with several safari vehicles, especially during the afternoon game drives

Track the tree-climbing lions

A large number of tourists that visit the Lake Manyara National Park do so to set eyes on these exceptional lions that have a unique character. These can be seen while in the comfort of your safari vehicles during the game drives as they rest on the large branches of the fig trees. See the large troops of baboons.

On your Safari to Lake Manyara, you will be impressed by the large troops of social baboons as they cater for their young ones, feed and play about.

Visit the ‘pink’ lake with flamingoes

The Alkaline Lake Manyara attracts a large number of pink-coloured flamingoes that form some sort of pin ‘blanket’ covering the lake's surface. It is a breathtaking view to marvel at thousands of flamingoes all in one area. In addition, you won’t fail to notice several other wildlife within the shallows of the lake such as hippos.

Explore the Lake Manyara tree-top Walkway

This amazing canopy walk that gradually rises in height extends for over 360 meters offering you an opportunity to walk through the verdant tree top of the forest and see some of the unique wildlife including birds and monkeys.