Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is perfectly placed for a short visit enroute to or from the Ngorongoro Crater and Highlands or the Serengeti National Park.

A narrow belt of acacia woodland is the preferred residence of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and the great tusker elephants, while a significant birdlife of more than 400 species flock from the trees to the skies and lakes.

Activities include game drives, night drives, canoeing when the water levels is sufficiently high, mountain bike tours, abseiling and forest walks on the escarpment outside the park.

There are a number of recommended lodges in the area that will be more than willing to show you Lake Manyara to its full potential; however, other lodges are perfect for guests just passing through and need a quick stop enroute to Lake Manyara's big-game neighbours.

Kirurumu Tented Lodge offers a superb location on the rim of the Great Rift Valley offering spectacular views eastward over Lake Manyara, the Rift floor and Mt. Losimingori.

The area surrounding Lemala Manyara is often surrounded by elephants, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and even lions which are attracted by the seasonal waterhole in front of the campfire.

Maramboi Tented Camp is situated at the location of many famous archaeological sites, where an area of 25 000 ha has been set aside for conservation by the local Maasai Community. The camp offers stunning views of the national park, Rift Valley, and Ngorongoro highlands.

Escarpment Luxury Lodge nestles along a rift wall at high altitude, offering a magnificent view of the lake. Dine in the outdoor Boma adjacent to the main lodge and be entertained by cultural Maasai dancing and singing.

How to Get There

Safaris in Tanzania begin at Arusha, which is situated close to the northern safari locations.

Sun Safaris will fly guests to Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is the primary receiving airport in Tanzania. This airport is only a few kilometres away from Arusha airport, which is the safari node of the country and where most light air transfers take off from.

Once guests have landed at Kilimanjaro, they will connect with a road transfer that will take them to Arusha airport. Depending on timing of guests' itinerary, they might spend a night in Arusha before heading off on a scheduled flight to an airstrip or airport nearer their safari destination.

Lake Manyara is located enroute to a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari and is well worth a visit. Guests will fly to the Lake Manyara airstrip and connect with a road transfer to the lodge.

Lake Manyara National Park Game Viewing and Activities

From soaring groundwater forests and a tranquil lake, to the mountain escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park boasts an incredible wealth of habitats and diverse African wildlife. Guests are offered an exciting, interpretive safari experience in game-rich surrounds which include large herds of elephant and buffalo.

An incredible array of bird life thrives on the alkaline soda of Lake Manyara. Pink flamingo stoop and graze by the thousands, colourful specks against the grey minerals of the lake shore. Also seen here are Yellow-billed storks and herons, all merging together to provide a spectacular show to the onlooker. Even reluctant bird-watchers will find something to watch and marvel at within the national park.

Lake Manyara National Park is said to have the largest population of baboons in all of Africa. One of the real highlights is the flamboyance of flamingos that stain the soda lakes pink.