Lake Manyara National Park

Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park covers an area of 330 square kilometers or 127 square miles), of which up to 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) is lake when water levels are high. In northern Tanzania. Lake Manyara National Park entrance gate lies 1.5 hours (126 kilometers /80 miles) west of Arusha along a newly surfaced road, close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto wa Mbu. By road, charter or scheduled flight from Arusha, en route to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.)

 

Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

Lake Manyara Tree Climbing Lion, Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park Hippo, Tanzania

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Lake Manyara National Park - Tanzania

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Lake Manyara National Park lies in the shadow of the Great Rift Valley whose reddish brown escarpment wall looms 1,950 feet high (600 metres) on the eastern horizon. Waterfalls spill over the cliff and hot springs bubble to the surface in the south. Much of the park often appears to be in a heat haze created by the soda lake - Lake Manyara.

 

Lake Manyara National Park attracts considerable bird life, and its surrounding terrain contains such a rich mosaic of different habitats that it supports a large number of animals. The park is accessed by road via the village of Mto wa Mbu, an eclectic market town where several tribes have converged to form a linguistic mix like nowhere else in Africa.

 

Lake Manyara National Park Animals and Birds

Such diverse surroundings attract equally diverse species such as monkeys, antelopes, zebras, hippos and crocodiles, buffalo, giraffe and a high density of elephants. Lake Manyara National Park is particularly known for its tree-climbing lions, who may be seen sleeping off the heat of the day on a branch instead of a shady spot on the ground like most other lions.

 

Fish-eating birds inhabiting the lake include pelicans, storks, cormorants and Egyptian geese. Flamingoes co lour the lake pink as they arrive to feed at the lake during their migration. One unforgettable sight is a giant flock of red billed queleas who gather in their thousands and waft over the water like a giant swarm of insects.

 

Lake Manyara National Park Seasons

Rainy Season: Short rains are November and December when it gets hot and humid, and the long rains are from March to June. These are the best times for bird watching, waterfalls and canoeing.

Dry Season: typically it is dry in the cooler winter months of July to October, which is the best time to view game.

 

Canoe Trip on Lake Manyara Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park Wildlife

Lake Manyara National Park Hippo Yawn

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Lake Manyara National Park Highlights

• Lake Manyara Serena Active Forest Hike

• Canoe Trip on Lake Manyara

• Diverse scenery and animals
• An abundance of elephants
• Water birds in abundance

• Tree-climbing lions

• Night game drives

 

Lake Manyara National Park Facts

• It attained National Park status in 1960

• The park is 127 miles² (330 km²) of which 89 miles² (230 km²) is Lake Manyara
• The park is 78 miles (125 km) west of Arusha town, from where it is a half an hour flight or a two-hour drive

 

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