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Lake Manyara National Park landscape

Destination

Lake Manyara National Park

A narrow strip of park squeezed between the Rift Valley escarpment and a shallow soda lake — dense, green and completely different from the open plains.

You enter Manyara through cool groundwater forest fed by springs at the base of the escarpment, where blue monkeys and enormous baboon troops live in the fig trees. The forest opens onto floodplain, then the lake itself, often edged pink with flamingo.

Manyara's lions are famous for resting in the branches of acacia trees, a behaviour seen in only a handful of places in Africa. Elephant move through the forest, and hippo pools sit at the northern end.

Because it is small and only 90 minutes from Arusha, Manyara works perfectly as the first stop of a longer northern circuit or as a full day trip on its own.

Highlights

  • Rift Valley escarpment views
  • Flamingo flocks on the soda lake
  • Groundwater forest walk
  • Optional treetop canopy walkway

Wildlife you can expect

  • · Tree-climbing lions
  • · Greater and lesser flamingo
  • · Large baboon troops and blue monkeys
  • · Elephant in the groundwater forest
  • · Hippo pools
  • · 400+ bird species

Best time to visit Lake Manyara

July to October for mammals; November to June for birdlife and flamingos when water levels are high.

Check your own travel month →

Safaris that visit Lake Manyara

Guides about Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara safari FAQ

When is the best time to visit Lake Manyara?
July to October for mammals; November to June for birdlife and flamingos when water levels are high.
How far is Lake Manyara from Arusha?
1 hour 30 min by road We collect you from your hotel in Arusha or from Kilimanjaro Airport, and the drive is part of the trip — the road out of town crosses Maasai country and the Rift Valley escarpment.
What animals will I see in Lake Manyara?
Tree-climbing lions, Greater and lesser flamingo, Large baboon troops and blue monkeys, Elephant in the groundwater forest, Hippo pools, 400+ bird species. Sightings are never guaranteed, but your guide radios with other drivers and knows where the resident animals have been feeding that week.
Which safaris include Lake Manyara?
3-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari, 7-Day Northern Circuit Safari, 8-Day Northern Circuit & Serengeti Safari, 1-Day Lake Manyara National Park Safari. Prices start at $250 per person in USD, including park fees.
Are park fees included in your Lake Manyara prices?
Yes. Every quote we send includes national park and conservation area entry fees, the vehicle, your driver-guide, accommodation and meals. Park fees are set by the Tanzanian authorities and are the same for every operator, which is why unusually cheap quotes normally cut corners on vehicles or food.