Parks · 7 min read
Lake Manyara Safari Guide: Flamingos, Tree-Climbing Lions and the Canopy Walk
A narrow strip of forest, floodplain and soda lake beneath the Rift Valley wall — and the easiest beautiful day out of Arusha.
The short answerLake Manyara National Park sits two hours from Arusha beneath the Rift Valley escarpment and packs groundwater forest, hippo pools, floodplain and a flamingo-filled soda lake into 330 km². Entry is about $59 per adult per day. It works as a day safari from Arusha from $240 per person, or as the opening park on our 3-day and 7-day circuits.
Manyara is small, which is exactly why it works. In a single day you drive through four completely different habitats, and the change from dark forest to open lake shore happens in a matter of minutes.
What you see at Lake Manyara
Flamingo numbers rise and fall with the water level. They are usually strongest from November to June, and in a good year the far shore turns solidly pink.
- ·Groundwater forest full of blue monkeys and large baboon troops
- ·Elephant browsing through the woodland, often very close to the track
- ·Hippo pools and the shallow soda lake with flamingos and pelicans
- ·The famous tree-climbing lions resting in acacias
- ·Over 400 bird species, from fish eagles to hornbills
Do the lions really climb trees?
Yes, though not on demand. Manyara's lions genuinely rest in the acacias along the woodland edge, most often in the middle of the day and in the drier months. Our guides know the trees they favour and radio each other when a pride settles, but nobody can promise them — treat a sighting as a bonus on top of the elephants, hippos and birds.
The treetop canopy walkway
Manyara has a suspended walkway running through the forest canopy at up to 18 metres, ending on a platform above the trees. It takes about an hour and costs roughly $60 per person, paid at the park. It is an optional extra rather than part of a standard game drive, so tell us in advance if you want it and your guide will build it into the day.
Fees, timing and how to visit
Entry is around $59 per adult per day, plus vehicle fees. Our full-day Lake Manyara safari from Arusha starts at $240 per person including park fees, a private 4x4, your driver-guide, picnic lunch and hotel pick-up, leaving at 07:00 and returning around 18:00.
As part of a longer trip, Manyara almost always comes first: it is on the road to the Ngorongoro Crater, and a half or full day there is the perfect gentle start before the crater and the Serengeti.
Best time to visit Lake Manyara
The park is genuinely year-round. July to October gives the best big-game viewing as animals concentrate; November to June is greener with far more birds and stronger flamingo numbers. The forest section is shaded and pleasant even in the hottest months.
About the author
Isaac Sumary
Isaac is a Tanzanian safari guide from Arusha and the founder of both the Fruitful Orphanage & Day Care Center and Fruits & Love Safaris. He has been driving the northern circuit for over a decade, and 10% of every safari payment goes back to the children in his care. Reach him on +255 762 353 576 or isaacsumary@yahoo.com.
Planning a trip?
We run private safaris from Arusha and give 10% of every payment to the Fruitful Orphanage. Send us your dates and we will reply within 24 hours with a quote in USD.
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