Lake Manyara National park
Lake Manyara National park
Lake Manyara National Park is one of the best national parks to visit on your Tanzania safari tour, located in the famous Tanzanian northern safari circuit. It covers an area of about 330 square kilometers, of which 230 square kilometers, or approximately a quarter of the park, are covered by the shallow alkaline lake that inhabits hundreds of bird species, including flamingoes. The name Manyara was derived from the Maasai word Emanyara, a tree scientifically known as Euphorbia tirucalli, planted by Maasai people so as to protect their livestock from thieves and carnivores like lions.
This small national park located at the base of the Great Rift Valley region was established in 1960 as a protected area, while it was previously used as a hunting site for wild animals and the home land of the Maasai tribe. It’s located in the Arusha and Manyara regions and situated along the way leading to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park, and by 1981, it had been established by UNESCO as part of its Man and the Biosphere Programme.
The weather is not too hot at Lake Manyara National Park, and the temperature can reach around 29 Celsius during the wet season, which usually starts from November up to May. At this time, the season is changing from short rains to a dry spell followed by a heavy rain season from March up to May. From June up to October, the park area becomes cool, and during the night, the park’s climate becomes cool. Winter conditions are very rare but can still happen.
Best Time to visit lake Manyara
Like other famous parks in East Africa, such as Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park is a year-round safari destination. Wildlife viewing is good throughout the year, but the best time is from June up to October during the dry season when the vegetation is dry, making it easy for animal viewing.
The dry season From June to October, it is easy for tourists to observe wild animals, including lions, leopards, and all other carnivores, in action, hunting, or teaching their cubs to hunt. It is also the best time to see herbivores like male impalas occupying more than 15 females and mating with them all so as to perpetuate their strong genes.
The weather is brighter in the long dry season of June to October when there is no rain; however, keep in mind that this is also the high season, so expect the park to be crowded with tourist vehicles, and if you like more privacy, this might not be the best time for you. For birding safaris, the best time to visit the park is during the rainy season from March up to May, when the migratory birds have already arrived in the park.
The national park is well known for tree-climbing lions, even though you’re not guaranteed to see them. If you’re lucky enough, you will be able to observe this scenic behavior of Manyara’s lions. Not only that, but Lake Manyara National Park has many other beautiful attractions that are worth exploring on your Tanzania safari tour.
What to see in lake Manyara National park
Within Lake Manyara National Park, there are a variety of fascinating tourist attractions to discover on your Tanzania safari tour. Here is the list of top sights to see on your Lake Manyara safari:
Lake Manyara
The Rift Valley Lake Manyara, which dominates a quarter of the park, is one of the must-see attractions on your Lake Manyara safari tour. This shallow alkaline lake covers about 230 square kilometers of the park and holds a number of thousands of bird species, including all types of flamingos and other waterbird species, who gather together to feed along the edge of the lake, making it a beautiful birding hotspot for bird lovers. It’s the seventh-largest lake in Tanzania, at about 1045m above sea level, and its maximum length, width, and depth are 40km, 15km, and 3.7 m, respectively. It also offers a canoe safari experience to tourists.
Wildlife
The National Park holds a number of wild animals that adopt themselves to different habitats inside the park, including forest galleries occupied by leopards and others, savanna grassland, Acacia woodlands, and marshland, which is occupied by buffalos and some waterbird species. The park is home to tree-climbing lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, bat-eyed foxes, a large elephant population, baboons with about 100 troops, which is considered to be the largest troop in Africa, Cape buffalo, zebras, Thomson gazelles, antelopes, hippos, impalas, and many more.
Visiting Manyara National Park will make you proud to visit Tanzania. Baboons, elephants, and impala can be observed around the forest near the gate of the park. This forest is geographically known as a “groundwater forest and is populated with different kinds of tree species, including giant fig trees and mahoganies, which are usually fed by underground water springs in this dense forest.
Maji Moto spring
Maji moto is a Swahili word that means “hot water spring”. Travelers get to visit this attraction while on the park because it’s such a pleasure to see the underground natural hot water that has a beautiful view, which always gives you the impression of taking photos and videos for remarkable memories. You can visit it at any time of the year as long as you have time to marvel at the wonder of nature.
Bird species
Birds are habitat-specific, and some can occupy more than one habitat type. The availability of food, suitable cover and nesting sites, adaptation, and tolerance level of the species are the factors influencing bird species to choose Lake Manyara National Park, which has more than one type of habitat, including a lake that holds a number of beautiful bird species like Greater and Lesser Flamingos. Birds are good indicators of the ecological status of any given ecosystem; this shows that the ecological standard of the park is well arranged by the scenic nature of the park.
You will be able to observe different kinds of bird species in Manyara National Park, including ostriches, hornbills, pelicans, herons, gray-crowned cranes, storks, weavers, sunbirds, secretary birds, flycatchers, starlings, barbets, and many more attractive bird species. Bird watching spots in the park are the lake, which is occupied by water birds; the underground water forest, occupied by turacos and others; and all other habitats that birds utilize depending on their requirements.
Things to do in lake Manyara Natioal park
Experience nature like no other: the park’s diverse vegetation is said to support up to 11 ecosystems at the same time, so it’s no surprise that a Lake Manyara safari draws a large number of visitors year after year. However, despite its small size, navigating through the national park can be difficult. So think ahead! Find out what activities you can do while visiting Lake Manyara to make the most of your Tanzania safari tour. The following are the activities performed in Lake Manyara National Park
Game drive
One of the most popular and common activities in Lake Manyara National Park is, without doubt, the game drive. Tourists are driven by their guide to their preferred attractions within the park so as to fulfill their safari travel dreams. The Lake Manyara National Park game drive mostly takes place in the morning, evening, afternoon, and night.
Wild animals are active in the morning and evening, so planning a morning and evening game drive is best for your lake Manyara safari to observe many species of wildlife. Herbivores will be observed grazing and browsing, while carnivores will also be hunting during the coolest times of the day, which are the morning and evening. In the afternoon, animals relax in their shelters so as to avoid the hot African sun. It is easy to observe lions, zebra, wildebeest, and others lying down in trees like acacias.
In order to observe nocturnal animals like leopards, bush babies, and others, a night game drive must be considered, and Manyara National Park offers this activity so as to increase the experience for their guests.
Bird watching
Lake Manyara is without doubt one of the best East African safari destinations for birding safaris. The best place for bird watching in the park is by the lake. This alkaline lake is occupied by different kinds of bird species at the shore, ranging from migrant to native species. Some of the bird species in the park include Flamingoes, Herons, Hammerkop, Stocks, Egrets, Pelicans, and many more. Birds are also found in other habitats like underground water forests and others; for instance, ashy starlings, ostriches, babblers, hornbills, sunbirds, and many others.
Walking safari
Explore the diverse Lake Manyara ecosystem by engaging in a nature walk, also known as the Walking Safari.” Tourists walk on foot to observe nature and increase their experience by walking through selected areas that will not endanger their lives and are escorted by ranger guides so as to increase their safety. This gives you the chance to see the animals up close. Different trails were selected by the park, including the Treetop Walkway, which passes through a bridge directly into the forest. On a Lake Manyara National Park walking safari, tourists will be able to observe birds of many kinds, monkeys, and other animals.
Canoeing
Lake Manyara National Park, together with Arusha National Park and the Selous Game Reserve, are a few of the places in Tanzania where one can take a canoe safari to observe wildlife while on a boat ride. The pink flamingos and other bird species that congregate near the water to unwind and quench their thirst can be seen up close and personal while you are canoeing at Lake Manyara. Lake Manyara is also home to giraffes and elephants, which can be seen up close as you canoe past them into the tranquil waters.
Community visits
Lake Manyara National Park is not only known for wildlife viewing safaris but also for cultural tours. A community visit is one of the many activities on Lake Manyara that usually takes place in a small town known as Mto wa Mbu, which is located near the National Park. The people who live in this town include Maasai and many others. Tourists will be able to see the people’s lifestyle, including the wearing style of the Maasai tribe and other unique aspects of Maasai culture. The visit of traditional Maasai homesteads known as “manyattas” is essential, and traditional dancing with the jumping and singing of traditional songs is usually performed by Maasai and is very crucial to see, while it’s very wonderful and unique.
What to see in lake Manyara National park
ACCOMMODATION: WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Different accommodation facilities are located inside and outside the Lake Manyara National Park, which range from higher standards like Lake Manyara Sopa Lodge, Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, and many others, to middle standards like Twiga Lodge and other tented lodges, depending on the budget of the tourist.
ACCESSIBILITY: HOW TO REACH LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Reaching Lake Manyara National Park depends on the means of transport the tourist decides to use, either by car on the road or by flight.
By Road: Lake Manyara is located 126 kilometers southwest of a tourist city that is well known as Arusha, and tourists can easily get there from Babati, the capital of the Manyara region. From Arusha, it takes approximately one and a half to two hours to reach the gate of the park.
By Air: Flying direct to Kilimanjaro International Airport, then through a domestic flight, you will reach Arusha Airport. There are chatter flights to Lake Manyara Airport that connect from the Serengeti or Arusha.
CONCLUSION: PLANNING YOUR LAKE MANYARA SAFARI IN TANZANIA
Tanzania is the best country in Africa to go on safari because of its incredible variety of wildlife, numerous stunning national parks, and conservation areas. There are many options to choose from, whether you want to go on a safari from the back of a truck or want to try something more daring like canoeing or guided hiking.
Visitors have the chance to see the legendary Big Five as well as countless other animals, birds, and insects that are unique to Tanzania’s national parks, including Manyara Lake, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and the renowned Serengeti.
Tanzania is also the traditional home of the Maasai people, and no trip to Tanzania is complete without meeting them and visiting the Cradle of Mankind at Olduvai Gorge. Climbing the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro or the smaller but no less beautiful Mount Meru is also an option for the more daring. Those seeking sun, sand, and relaxation can visit Zanzibar, a magnificent island retreat with a rich cultural history as fascinating as its jungles and beaches.
Contact Select Adventure Safari for a low-cost but once-in-a-lifetime safari experience in Lake Manyara National Park. Our knowledgeable travel advisors are pros at creating specialized safaris that are catered to your particular requirements and price range. Get in touch with us today, and one of our helpful travel consultants will help you choose the best Lake Manyara safari for you (at no additional cost).
