Canoe Safari Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania

Our Canoe Safari in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania, is roughly a 5-hour activity (a 1.5 to 2-hour easy canoeing adventure) where you get to see “Wildlife from Water” inside Lake Manyara National Park, located in Mto wa Mbu, in Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit. This Arusha day tour departs from the Lake Manyara canoeing Endala picnic site.

The canoe rides take place on Lake Manyara when the water levels are high enough to favor the activity. This is because water levels fluctuate over time due to the lake’s alkaline nature and other factors. The 2-hour canoe trip is available in the morning or afternoon, and each canoe seats two people.

The canoe ride also includes a well-trained guide who provides information about the lake, wildlife, and bird species visible during the game-viewing experience, as well as the natural history of Manyara and its surroundings.

Lake Manyara National Park is home to an incredible array of bird life, including thousands of pink-hued flamingos, grey-crowned cranes, crowned eagles, yellow-billed stork, turaco, rufous-tailed weavers, ashy starlings, crowned plovers, fisher’s sparrow lark, and black-faced sand grouse, among others. You can get very close to giraffes, elephants, buffalo, and other animals grazing on the shoreline.

All from the comfort of your canoe. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and the beauty that surrounds you on this canoe safari.  Children aged 8 years and above can enjoy the canoe ride.

What to expect during the Canoe Safari

A guide will lead you to the launching site, which is only a gentle stroll from the hotel. Here you will go aboard a stable two-man canoe. The guide will escort you along the shores of the lake, all the way around, and back to the launching site.

During this leisurely paddle, you will encounter interesting bird life, experience the awesome beauty of this secluded portion of serene nature, and breathe fresh African air. Our Canoe Safari includes transfers to and from the launching site.

This includes a game drive along the way. A total of one and a half to two hours will be spent on the water, with one qualified, experienced guide per group; qualified two-man canoes, dry bags, backrests, paddles, and foot wash are provided. Transfer to and from Lake Manyara National Park.

Canoe Safari Itinerary 

0800 Hours – 0900 Hours: Arrival & Briefing: Meet your guide at the park entrance, drive to the Endala Picnic Site, and receive a safety briefing.

0900 Hours – 0930 Hours: Gear Up & Launch: Put on life jackets and enter the canoes.

0930 Hours – 1130 Hours: Guided Canoe Safari: Paddle along the lake shores to observe flamingo flocks, hippos, and water-associated birds.

1130 Hours – 1200 Hours: Return to Shore: Exit the canoes and return gear.

1200 Hours – 1300 Hours: Refreshments: Optional break at the picnic site or nearby for light refreshments.

1300 Hours onwards: Combine with a game drive in the surrounding groundwater forest or depart for your next destination

Canoe Safari Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania offers guests an opportunity to see an incredible array of birdlife, including thousands of pink-hued flamingos.

You can get very close to giraffes, elephants, buffalo, and other animals grazing on the shoreline. All from the comfort of your canoe. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and the beauty that surrounds you on this 2.5-hour canoe safari.

The tour is available either in the morning or the afternoon and begins with a transfer from your hotel to Lake Manyara National Park. Once in the park, we drive to our launch site, the Endala picnic site. Here you will go aboard a stable two-man canoe.

The equipment used is a stable 2-person fiberglass canoe. This canoe safari perfectly combines the excitement of a game drive with the relaxation of being out on the water.

Accompanied by a qualified guide, the canoe glides over the smooth lake water (20m offshore) as you look for interesting birdlife, including flamingos and many other species.

You’ll also be able to spot a number of other animals grazing on the shoreline and quenching their thirst. You should be able to see zebras, giraffes, elephants, hippos, and even buffalo as you cruise up the water at a leisurely pace.

Canoe safaris in Lake Manyara are available depending on water levels.

Canoe Safari Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania Rates Include:

✓ Drybags + Backrests
✓ TANAPA canoeing fee
✓ Paddles and foot wash
✓ Quality two-man canoes
✓ Game drive along the way to Lake Manyara Park Entrance Fees
✓ Transfer to and from the launching site
✓ Return transfer to and from Lake Manyara National Park & 2.5 hours on the water with one qualified, experienced guide

Notes

* Age Limit: 8yrs+
* This activity is rated as low to medium
* Guests will need to pay the TANAPA Conservation Park Fee – 50 US Dollars per person. Adults & children 8 to 15 years pay 15 US Dollars
* A guide will lead you to the launching site and will escort you along the shores of the lake, all the way around, and back to the launching site

Canoe Safari Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania Rates Exclude:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Accommodation in Arusha
* Minimum of one person required
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)