330 km²
Size
16-30°C
Temperature
960 m at the lake
Altitude
Rift Valley, groundwater forest along the escarpment, soda lake beyond
Climate
Lake Manyara is a thin park: groundwater forest against the Rift escarpment, then floodplain, then soda water. You can cover the public roads in a morning, which is why we rarely sell it as a standalone two-night stay.
Baboon troops own the entrance road. The forest holds elephant, hornbills and that wet, green smell you do not get on the Serengeti. Out on the floodplain you look for the famous tree-climbing lions. They do climb; they also spend plenty of days on the ground. Flamingos depend on the lake level, which has risen and fallen hard in recent years and changed where vehicles can go.
When the water allows, canoeing or a boat outing on the lake is the more interesting half of the visit. The road circuit alone can feel brief after Tarangire. We often use Manyara as the first or last park on a northern loop, sleeping on the escarpment so the next morning is a short run to Ngorongoro.
Treetop walkways and village visits around Mto wa Mbu sit outside the gate and soak up an afternoon if you land in Arusha too late for a full park day. The 3-day northern short safari is built around that geography. If you are continuing to Eyasi, Manyara is the sensible overnight in between.
Things to See & Do
Getting There
Road
Arusha to the gate is about 130 km, just over two hours on tarmac. Escarpment lodges sit above the park with views west...
Flight
Lake Manyara airstrip serves the area and is also the hop-off for Ngorongoro rim lodges.
Wildlife you can see here
All 30 speciesBovids
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
A heavy, dangerous grazer that lives in herds of hundreds.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +7 more
Ungulates
Masai Giraffe
Giraffa tippelskirchi
The tallest animal on Earth, and Tanzania's national animal.
Serengeti, Tarangire +7 more
Ungulates
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
A huge, semi-aquatic grazer that spends the day in water and feeds at night.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +6 more
Antelopes
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
A graceful antelope, common in herds, known for high jumps.
Serengeti, Tarangire +5 more
Antelopes
Kirk's Dik-dik
Madoqua kirkii
A tiny antelope, no bigger than a hare, that lives in pairs.
Tarangire, Lake Manyara +3 more
Primates
Olive Baboon
Papio anubis
A big, bold monkey that lives in large troops and eats almost anything.
Lake Manyara, Mikumi +5 more
Primates
Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
A small grey monkey with a black face and sky-blue skin.
Tarangire, Lake Manyara +4 more
Waterbirds
Lesser Flamingo
Phoeniconaias minor
Pink flocks that turn East African soda lakes into a moving carpet.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara +2 more
Best Time to Visit
FAQs
Will we see lions in trees?
Sometimes. It is a local habit, not a circus trick on demand. We look in the usual groves and we do not wait all afternoon if they are not there.
How long do we need?
A morning, or a morning plus a boat if the water is workable. Overnight on the escarpment if the next day is the crater.
Is the lake always full of flamingos?
No. Numbers swing with soda concentration and water level. We tell you what the lake is doing that month rather than recycling a photograph from 2017.
Safaris Visiting Lake Manyara National Park
Add Arusha National Park to Your Safari
The route is ours to design — you just pick the places that call you.
Prefer to talk? Call +255 754 123 456