Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is a protected area in the Arusha and Manyara districts of Tanzania, located between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. It is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority and covers an area of 325 km², of which the lake covers about 230 km². More than 350 bird species have been recorded in the lake.
About Manyara National Park
Manyara National Park is one of the protected areas located in Arusha, in the Manyara region of Tanzania. The park is located between the Great East African Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. It is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority and covers an area of 325 square kilometres and 230 square kilometres of lake. Lake Manyara National Park offers wildlife experiences in a variety of environments: the salt lake in the rift valley, dense forests and steep mountainsides.
In addition to the breathtaking scenery, the park is famous for its tree-climbing lions and the large herds of elephants it was established to protect. The lake’s beaches, full of flamingos, attract more than 400 species of birds, including many waterfowl and migratory birds. Buffalo, cheetahs, giraffes and impalas roam the shores of the lake and the wooded valley slopes. A safari around Lake Manyara is a thrilling experience, as the park is also home to an underground forest, the Tortillo Acacia Forest and the Maji-Moto hot springs. Sykes and troops of Galago monkeys with short hair can be found here, as well as several hundred lilac baboons. Other inhabitants of the park include hippos, klipstrikes, Egyptian mongoose and bottle otters.
The park takes its name from the soda lake in which it is located and the spotted tree often found there. Manyara National Park was established in 1960, making it Tanzania’s second oldest national park after Serengeti National Park. Euphorbia Turucalli, also known as Emanyara by the Maasai, is a tree species. The Maasai rely heavily on this tree to protect their livestock from predators and thieves.
What to see in Lake Manyara National Park?
There are many spectacular sights to see in Lake Manyara National Park. This national park in the north of Tanzania lies 126 km west of Arusha. The park covers an area of 330 square kilometres, 220 square kilometres of which are covered by the lake during the rainy season when the water level is high. The park exchanges animals along the Kwakuchinya corridor with the neighbouring Tarangire National Park. They can be seen on the roads leading to Serengeti and Lake Manyara National Parks.
Little Lake Manyara In a long silver bowl of salty sediment is Lake Manyara, the park’s alluvial lake, which changes in size with the seasons. It covers 220 square kilometres, or about two thirds of the park’s total area. The lake is home to a large population of flamingos and other animals, such as hippos, that live in shallow waters.
Lake Manyara is home to elephants, antelopes, giraffes and buffalo. The park is also famous for its large population of zebra, impala, warthog and water buffalo. To find the small and legendary dikdiks and klippingers that live on the slopes of the escarpment, you need to look a little further afield. On a small stretch of road dedicated to wildlife walks, you can observe the animals in constant motion for about 3-4 hours. If you are travelling by car, a safari in Tanzania usually costs around USD 200 per day. For a luxury safari by flight, this price was prohibitive. That is why it is worth going back. Most safari companies plan trips in the afternoon, but it’s much better to go in the morning as there are fewer cars and more wildlife.
Among the lions of Lake Manyara is a thriving population of tree-climbing lions, a rare species of which there are only two populations in the world, the other being in Uganda, in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Many tourists and photographers come here to observe these unusual animals.
Lake Manyara National Park is home to a wide range of bird species, depending on the location. Large flocks of pelicans and flamingos can often be seen in the lake, while fish eagles, ospreys, spoonbills, terns and other water birds can be seen near the park boundaries and in the floodplains. The surrounding water-rich forests also offer fantastic birdwatching opportunities.
