LAKE MANYARA IS FAMOUS AND VERY KNOWN FOR

• Tree Climbing Lions in Lake Manyara
• Birds in Lake Manyara
• The Vegetation in Lake Manyara
• The large numbers of elephants
• The Tree-top Canopy Walk

ACTIVITIES PEOPLE CAN DO AT LAKE MANYARA

• Day game drive

Game drive one of the popular activities in the park where visitors get an opportunity to explore the park in a 4 WD pop up safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. During the game drive you will follow different game tracks in the thick forests and tracks to the lake which offer you with spectacular views of animals like elephants, waterbucks, gazelle, bushbucks, buffaloes, zebras, leopards primates like blue monkeys, baboons, different bird species like flamingos, pelicans, view different plant and tree species, beautiful views of the sunrise or sunset across the horizon, take great photos among others. You will also be able to view the tree climbing lions if you are lucky because Lake Manyara national park is famously known for harboring the tree climbing lions which will be seen lying up in the acacia tree branches looking at their prey.

• Bird watching

Lake Manyara national park is one of the top birding destinations in Tanzania because it’s a home of more than 400 recorded bird species including migratory birds from Europe, water birds, endemic species and near endemic birds. Bird watching in the park can be done in different areas such as open grassland and acacia woodland areas, areas around the lake among others, during bird watching you will be able to view different bird species such as pink colored flamingos, black herons, common silvery checked hornbill, baglafecht weaver, abdims stork, martial eagle, African jacana, great white pelican, grey crowned crane, lesser flamingo, little stint, pied avocet, sacred ibis, handsome yellow billed stork, white backed pelican, African hawk eagle, African fish eagle, palmnut vulture, spur winged goose, sacred ibis, pied kingfisher, lesser flamingo, glossy ibis, little bee-eater, African spoonbill, hamerkop, little stint, pied kingfisher, saddle billed stork among others.

• Night game drives

Lake Manyara national park is one of the few national parks in Tanzania that offer the exciting night game drive and activity where visitors will be able to explore the park at night with an armed park ranger and spotlight torches for clear viewing of nocturnal animals. During the night game drive which starts at around 8:00pm after dinner you will start driving into the thick ground water forest of Lake Manyara where you will have an opportunity to view the less seen animals in the park which become active at night. The night game drive in Lake Manyara national park is carried out on visitor’s request and it takes about two to three hours drive, while driving you will be able to view nocturnal animals such as leopards, lions, porcupines, genets, civet cats, aardvarks, see hippos grazing, beautiful stars, have a great experience of the park and wildlife at night among others.

• Canoeing on Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara national park offers canoe ride where you will paddle quietly along the lake shores in a two man canoe with an experienced guide. Canoeing is done on Lake Manyara a shallow alkaline lake that covers two thirds of the total surface area of the park and during this amazing activity you will be able to view hippos wallowing in water, elephants, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes among others along the water banks and water birds such as fish eagles, bee-eaters, hornbills, cormorants, pink hued flamingos, have beautiful scenery among others. 

• Guided nature walks

The park offers nature walk an interesting activity where visitors get out of the comfort of the safari vehicle to explore the park on foot. Lake Manyara national park offers both long and short walking safaris which are carried out with the company of an experienced park guide who is well conversant with different walking trails and an armed park ranger to protect visitors from any danger. During the guided nature walk which takes about two to three hours walk you will be able to get up close and personal with animals like elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes grazing in their natural environment, view colorful butterflies, listen to birds singing in the trees, relax your mind, enjoy the quiet and peaceful environment, take beautiful pictures among others.

• Cultural tours

This is an exciting activity in Lake Manyara national park where visitors get an opportunity to visit the Mto Wa Mbu cultural village which is located at the entrance of the Lake Manyara national park. During the cultural tour where you will be accompanied by a local guide from the village, you will be able to interact with the local people which helps you to know more about their culture, tradition, dressing code, visit their small farmlands, banana plantations, health centers, primary schools, taste their local dishes, learn how local beer is made from bananas,  enjoy their traditional entertainment inform of music dance and drama, engage in tribal painting where you will also be painted, interact with the local artists and painters who make crafts among others.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT LAKE MANYARA

Watching wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park is good all year, but at its best from late June to October, during the Dry season. However, this very scenic park is at its most beautiful during the Wet season, from November to May, when the vegetation is lush and waterfalls cascade down the escarpment