Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a compact gem nestled along the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Renowned for its tree-climbing lions and pink-hued flamingos, the park also offers diverse ecosystems, including groundwater forests, open plains, and hot springs. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching, guided walks, and canoeing on the lake. Its small size makes it ideal for a day visit or as part of a larger northern circuit itinerary.

When to visit

The dry season from June to October is best for mammals, when animals concentrate in the narrow strip of park between the escarpment and the lake. The wet season from November to June brings large numbers of migratory birds and, in good years, big flocks of flamingos on the soda lake. Water levels vary a lot from year to year and strongly affect how much of the lakeshore is accessible.

Getting there

The gate is roughly a two-hour drive from Arusha, at the foot of the Rift Valley wall near Mto wa Mbu. It sits directly on the route to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, so it is easily added as a half-day stop on the way through.

What you'll see

A lush groundwater forest near the entrance shelters large troops of baboons and blue monkeys, opening onto floodplain grassland with elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and hippo. Lions here are sometimes seen resting in the acacia trees. The lake itself is about two-thirds of the park's area and draws pelicans, storks, herons and flamingos.

Good to know

• Half a day to a full day is plenty; many itineraries pair it with a cultural walk at Mto wa Mbu.
• Manyara is one of the few northern parks that permit night game drives and guided walking, in designated areas.
• A treetop canopy walkway near the entrance gives a forest-level view.
• Canoeing is possible only when the lake is high enough.