Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara Safari Holiday Guide - Scenic National Park With Diverse Habitats

Located 125 km west of Arusha town, under the wall of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park is one of the oldest and most popular sanctuaries in East Africa. The park has a large variety of habitats, making it possible to support a wealth of wildlife in its small area.

The main habitats include the shallow soda lake itself which occupies 70% of the National Park total area of 320 sq. km, the ground water forest, open grassland, acacia woodland and the rift wall. The most famous spectacle in the park is the tree-climbing lions, which are occasionally seen along branches of acacia trees.

Wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park

Besides the famous tree-climbing lions, other animals found in the park include buffalo, elephants, leopards, baboons, impala, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich and hippos.

Popularly referred to as an ornithologist’s paradise, Lake Manyara National Park contains over 400 bird species found in most savanna and river habitats in East Africa. Common water birds to be seen here are pelicans, spoonbills, Egyptian geese, hammer kops and the migratory flamingoes, which arrive in hundreds of thousands to create one of Africa’s great natural sights over the soda lake.

Safaris in Lake Manyara National Park

Early morning or late afternoon game drives in search of wildlife provide the main activity in the National Park. Birdwatching is naturally very popular. Cultural visits, guided walks, bicycle hire and horse riding are available in either the nearby settlement of Mto wa Mbu or from many of the lodges in the area.

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Highlights of Lake Manyara National Park