Lake Manyara National Park is known for its tree-climbing lions, Soda Ash Lake which attracts thousands of pink flamingos, one of Tanzania’s largest elephant populations and stunning scenery! In this guide you will find the most up-to-date information on sightseeing, accommodation at Lake Manyara, getting there and much more. Enjoy your safari in Tanzania!

Location of Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is located in the northern part of Tanzania, 126 kilometres west of the city of Arusha. The park covers an area of 330 square kilometres, including a lake area of 230 square kilometres (89 square miles).

Wildlife at Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is home to large numbers of elephants, many giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, waterbucks and warthogs, the lesser known, shy Kik’s Dik Dik, as well as klipspringers that live on the ramps of the escarpment. Leopards can be found in the scattered forests and on the escarpments, while the healthy lion population is widely known for its unique ability to climb trees. You will also notice the large number of baboons in the park, which can live in large troops of up to 200 members.

The tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara NP.

You may be wondering if there are tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park? Well, there is a thriving population of unique lions in the park that can climb trees. Being nocturnal, they spend most of the day in the large fig trees, and at sunset, when temperatures are cooler, they descend. This is one of only two populations of these unique lions, the other being in the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

 Birdwatching in Lake Manyara National Park

With a bird list of more than 350 species and an alkali range within the park boundaries, Lake Manyara National Park is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit on a Tanzania birding safari. Large flocks of pelicans and pink flamingos are usually spotted in the middle of the lake. Spoonbills, herons, black-winged stilts and other wading birds congregate along the edges and in the water meadows. Other habitats such as the evergreen forests and other woodlands serve as safe havens for many other species such as crowned eagles, guinea fowl and noisy silver-cheeked hornbills.

 Lake Manyara ecosystem

There are different areas within the park. Behind the magnificent backdrop of the Great Rift Valley to the west is the narrow area that protects the area between the escarpment and Lake Manyara. The silvery shells of the salt deposits allow the alkaline Lake Manyara to expand and contract with the seasons. Grassy floodplains green

 Activities in Lake Manyara National Park

• Marvel at the large herds of elephants

Lake Manyara National Park is home to large numbers of elephants, just like the neighbouring Tarangire National Park, and during your visit you will have the opportunity to see the foliage in the area.

• Game drives

The most common way to explore this small but impressive game park in northern Tanzania is on game drives. During the peak Tanzania safari season, the park is usually crowded with several safari vehicles, especially during the afternoon game drives.

• On the trail of the tree-climbing lions

Many tourists who visit Lake Manyara National Park do so to see these extraordinary lions, which have a unique character. You can watch them from the comfort of your safari vehicle during game drives as they rest on the large branches of the fig trees. Watch the large troops of baboons.

On your safari to Lake Manyara, you will be impressed by the large troops of sociable baboons as they care for their young, feed and frolic.

• Visit the “pink” lake with flamingos

The alkaline Lake Manyara attracts large numbers of pink flamingos, which form a kind of “needle blanket” on the lake surface. It is a breathtaking sight to admire thousands of flamingos in one spot. You can also spot a range of other animals in the shallows of the lake, such as hippos.

• Explore the Lake Manyara treetop trail.

This amazing, gradually ascending trail stretches for 360 metres and offers you the opportunity to walk through the green treetops of the forest and spot some of the unique wildlife such as birds and monkeys.