Lake Manyara National Park is a wildlife viewing destination in northern Tanzania which is located at the base of the rift valet escarpment. The national park consists of Lake Manyara which is a shallow alkaline lake that covers a big area and it is also made up of woodlands, savannah plains where various wildlife species and birds can be seen during safaris.
Tree climbing lions are among the unique attractions that are found in Lake Manyara National Park which is also home to many other animals including elephants, zebras, buffalos, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, giraffes, klipspringers and many others.
Activities to do in Lake Manyara National Park
The different activities that can be done during safaris around Lake Manyara National Park include the following;
- Game drives
During safaris in Lake Manyara National Park, tourists can engage in game drives in the daytime and also in the night and enjoy seeing different wildlife species.
Game drives around Lake Manyara National Park can be done around the open savannah plains and woodlands where tourists can look out for animals like zebras, buffalos, lions, giraffes, hippos, antelopes, and many others.
- Nature walks
Nature walks also take place around Lake Manyara National Park as tourists explore the woodlands and savannah plains on foot and get closer to the natural surroundings of the park.
Wildlife species such as zebras, impalas, waterbucks, and buffalos among others can also be seen during the guided nature walks around Lake Manyara National Park.
- Canoeing
Canoeing is another exciting activity to engage in during tours in Lake Manyara National Park and tourists can enjoy boat rides and see wildlife species by the water shore during this experience.
Various bird species can also be spotted during the canoe ride on Lake Mburo.
- Bird watching
Over 400 bird species are found in Lake Manyara National Park, and they can be seen during bird-watching experiences around the destination.
Some of the bird species that can be seen around Lake Manyara National Park include flamingos, cormorants as well as different water birds.
- Cultural tours
Interact with different tribes during visits to the local villages around Lake Manyara National Park and in Mto wa Mbu town to experience their local way of living.
Best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park
Wildlife tours in Lake Manyara National Park are best done during the dry season in June to October when numerous wildlife species can be encountered around the destination. Tourists can also visit the national park during other months in the year.
How to get to Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is located Southwest of Aruha town and it takes approximately two hours’ drive from Arusha. Lake Manyara National Park is usually visited alongside the world’s famous Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.