Lake Manyara National Park: Tree-climbing lions’ destination
Lake Manyara National Park: Tree-climbing lions’ destination
Between the Great Rift Valley and the alkaline waters of Lake Manyara sits Lake Manyara National Park situated North of Tanzania in the Arusha and Manyara Regions.
Famously known for its tree-climbing lions and the amazingly beautiful pink flamingos, this incredible National Park spans a total land mass of 325 square kilometers with nearly two-thirds of its area taken up by the lake itself.
Home to over 350 species of birds and a plethora of wildlife alike, this diverse ecosystem is managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority.
Lake Manyara National Park that is famously known for a thriving number of tree-climbing lions is a key destination for safari enthusiasts looking to experience both dramatic landscapes and abundant animal life.
Lake Manyara National Park
History of Lake Manyara National Park
Originally considered a sports hunting area in 1920s, lake Manyara gained its status as a game reserve in 1957 before becoming a National Park in 1960.
Efforts to make the area larger attracted an additional 550 hectares that were added to the southern region of the National Park in 1974 afterwards forming part of the larger lake Manyara Biosphere reserve highly recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1981.
Location of Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is located in the northern part of Tanzania, a country in East Africa just about 126 km (78 miles) southwest of Arusha the tourism city of East Africa.
Its strategic location makes it responsible for its easy accessibility, by either car or air
Lake Manyara National Park is connected to Tarangire National Park by the Kwa Kuchinja wildlife corridor with the Marang forest reserve sitting on the south of the escarpment enabling wildlife to seasonally migrate from one area to another.
The Manyara Ranch, a conservation area managed by the Tanzania Land Conservation Trust also plays a role in maintaining these migration routes.
Lake Manyara National Park: Tree-climbing lions’ destination Top Safari Tours
Landscape and Ecosystem of Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park has about 2/3 of its total land area occupied by the alkaline lake from which it obtains its name, Lake Manyara.
At an elevation of 960meters (3,150 ft) , Lake Manyara itself is a shallow lake occasionally fed by seasonal streams from the Ngorongoro highland and underground streams with its water levels significantly fluctuating throughout the year with dramatic shrinkages that result to exposure of the vast salt flats.
Beyond the lake is a mix of dense forest, open woodlands, swamps and grassy floodplains. It has acacia woodlands and baobab trees that cover the western escarpment with the ground water located right next to the entrance dominating the towering fig and mahogany trees.
With a total number of two geothermal hot springs (Maji Moto) with temperatures reaching 60 0C ( 140 0 F), Lake Manyara also features a hippo pool harboring a vast number of hippos and a variety of water bird species.
Landscape of lake Manyara National Park
Weather and Climate of Lake Manyara National Park
This UNESCO site, Lake Manyara National Park generally experiences two main seasons in a year that is, the dry and wet seasons each coming with its unique experience and challenges as descried below;
The wet season
Experienced from the months of November to May, the wet season in Lake Manyara National Park brings life to the park’s terrain. This is the season where the dried vegetation thrives again revealing a beautiful green scenery throughout the park.
However, it is important to note that Lake Manyara National Park doesn’t offer the best game viewing during this season.
Just like many other Tanzanian travel destinations like Serengeti, Tarangire, Mikumi National Park among others, the wet season is the best season for bird enthusiast simply because it is the time when migratory birds grace the national parks with their presence.
Lake Manyara National Park receives the heaviest amount of rain from the month of March all through the month of May making game drives among other activities pretty hard to do given the bad and hard to navigate roads.
The overall number of tourists in Lake Manyara National Park during this season is generally lower than in other months.
The dry season
Also referred to as the peak season, the dry season in Lake Manyara National Park starts from the month of June all the way to October. With larger number of tourists flooding the National Park in January and February as well.
During this season, the green scenery and lush vegetation in lake Manyara weathers and thins out while the seasonal rivers and streams dry out leaving animals no option than to gather around the available water sources.
It is the best season for a safari because there are higher chances of wildlife viewing in big numbers other than the fact that there are no mosquitoes. Although it is the dry season, it tends to get really cold in the morning therefore you are advised to carry a sweater for your morning game drives.
Lake Manyara National Park: Tree-climbing lions’ destination Most Common Attractions
The Rüppells Vulture
African Fish Eagle
Grey crown cranes
Banded mongoose
Waterbucks
Warthogs
Topi
Nile Crocodile
African wild dogs
Baboon
Wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park.
Besides Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, Lake Manyara National Park is famously known as the National Park with the greatest number of tree-climbing lions in Tanzania. It is home to a wide diversity of wildlife and birds alike.
Among the mammals, be ready to see large herds of elephants, buffalos, zebra’s various antelope species and a lot of hippos in the hippo pools. The Park is also home to a significant baboon population among other primates, often seen foraging along the roadside.
Predators that proudly call Lake Manyara National Park home include lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and smaller carnivores such as jackals and servals.
Though they disappeared due to human activities like poaching in this National Park now, black rhinos also once thrived here.
Giraffes in Lake Manyara National Park
Birds in Lake Manyara National Park.
Home to over 350 species of birds, Lake Manyara National Park harbors a large number of birds based on their habitats. As famously known, often times you get to see a huge flock of pelicans and pink flamingos among other water birds around the lake that most definitely add a colorful touch to the National Park.
Other species like egrets, stilts ergons, spoonbills, stalks and other waders are seen thriving close to the park border and floodplains
Although the woodlands equally will reward you with great bird viewing, the most interesting species, that is, crowned eagles, crested guinea fowl and the silvery cheeked hornbills will be viewed in the evergreen forests hence a great place for a successful bird watching safari
Birds in Lake Manyara
Activities in Lake Manyara National Park.
Lake Manyara National Park among other incredible safari destinations in Tanzania is a park full of excitement due to the various number of activities it offers. Let’s delve into some of the activities you can engage in during your visit to Lake Manyara National Park.
Game Drives.
Game drives in Lake Manyara National Park just like in many other national parks in Tanzania are the most commonly and convenient used means to explore this small yet incredible park.
Receiving lots of tourists throughout the year, the park is normally crowded during the afternoon game drives in the peak season. You get to witness the wildness roaming in large numbers running their daily lives in their natural habitats.
An outstanding event that every tourist craves for while visiting Lake Manyara National Park is the tree climbing lions in big numbers on the large branches of the fig trees.
Just like in its neighboring park, Tarangire National Park, you get to see large herds of elephants among other animals. Another highlight of wildlife experience in Lake Manyara are the large troops of baboons.
Elephants in Lake Manyara National Park
Destination Gallery
Visit the Pink Lake Flamingoes.
The alkaline waters of lake Manyara attract a vast number of pink colored flamingoes that beautify the lake surface with a pink blanket like covering.
The Alkaline Lake Manyara attracts a large number of pink colored flamingoes that form some sort of pink ‘blanket’ covering the lake surface. It is a breathtaking view to marvel at thousands of flamingoes all in one area.
Cultural Visits
This is one of the most exciting activity to indulge in during your visit at Lake Manyara National Park. The Park being located in the Maasai land gives you the perfect opportunity to have an experience at the Maasai boma, sing and dance to some local songs and possibly try out some local cuisines.
Tree top walking.
The canopy walk is an amazing activity offering the rare opportunity to walk through the verdant tree tops of the forest. With the canopy gradually rising at a height of over 360 meters, you get to see the abundant wildlife and birds in the canopy forest.
Canopy walk
How to get to Lake Manyara National Park.
Located about 1-2 hours from Arusha in Northern Tanzania, there are two ways to get to Lake Manyara National Park as described below;
By air
This is the most expensive yet convenient way to get to this small but incredible park. Several domestic flights are operated on daily basis from airports like Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha Airport connecting to the park’s airstrip. There after you connect by road to the parks gate
By Road
Located southwest of Arusha town, the distance between Arusha and Lake Manyara is 126 km (78 miles) and can easily be reached by car. At Serengeti Mara Experts we have experienced professional guides who will pick you up from your accommodation or airport, brief you and take you down the bumpy yet exciting roads to Lake Manyara National Park.
Best time to get to Lake Manyara National Park.
Even though the park can be visited all year round, the best time for massive game viewing is in the dry season between July and October and in January and February.
However for bird enthusiasts, the wet season characterized with bad and hard to navigate roads is the best time for bird watching in Lake Manyara National Park.
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Low season
Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, may
Peak season
Jun, July, Aug, Sept, Dec