Lake Manyara National Park is a diverse and scenic national park located in northern Tanzania, at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment.

Location:

• Lake Manyara National Park is situated in the Arusha and Manyara regions of northern Tanzania, approximately 126 kilometers (78 miles) southwest of Arusha town.
• The park spans an area of about 330 square kilometers (127 square miles), with the majority of the park’s surface covered by the alkaline Lake Manyara.

Landscape and Habitats:

• The park is characterized by a varied landscape that includes the lake itself, dense groundwater forests, open grassy plains, acacia woodlands, and rocky cliffs.
• Lake Manyara is a shallow, alkaline lake that stretches along the park’s western boundary, providing a habitat for flamingos, pelicans, and other water birds.
• The groundwater forests are home to a variety of tree species and support a rich diversity of wildlife, including elephants, monkeys, and bird species.

Wildlife:

• Lake Manyara National Park is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, which are often spotted lounging in the branches of acacia trees.
• The park is also home to large populations of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests.
• Other wildlife species found in the park include hippos, impalas, warthogs, dik-diks, and a variety of bird species such as flamingos, pelicans, herons, and storks.

Activities:

• Game Drives: Visitors can explore the park on game drives, which offer excellent opportunities to spot wildlife along the lake shore and in the forested areas.
• Bird Watching: Lake Manyara is a paradise for bird watchers, with over 400 bird species recorded in the park, including water birds, raptors, and forest-dwelling species.
• Canoeing: Guided canoeing trips are available on Lake Manyara, allowing visitors to get up close to the lake’s birdlife and hippos while enjoying the tranquility of the water.
• Cultural Tours: Nearby Maasai villages offer cultural tours where visitors can learn about the traditional way of life of the Maasai people and participate in cultural activities such as dancing and handicraft demonstrations.

Accommodations:

• Lake Manyara National Park offers a range of accommodation options, including tented camps, lodges, and luxury safari resorts located both inside and outside the park.
• Some of the popular accommodation choices within the park include Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, and Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp.