A large lake that is home to exceptional wildlife, thousands of birds, and a primary forest. The Lake Manyara National Park encompasses the northern half of the lake and its western shore, which ends a few miles from the escarpment. The distant sight of flocks of birds on the hazy horizon is unforgettable. Herons, egrets, ospreys, ibis, pelicans, jacanas, and plovers are just some of the 380 species recorded.
Lush vegetation greets visitors as they enter the park, where towering trees take advantage of the rich volcanic soil and porous rocks that help underground streams reach the roots. Those lucky enough might even see baboons gathered in troops of between 30 and 100. The park is also home to impalas, giraffes, buffalo, and zebras. It is the smallest of the four parks that make up the Northern Circuit. With a vast proportion of the park consisting of the lake itself, its famous tree-climbing lions have almost gained mythical status.
All the essential paths, lookout places, and landmarks in Lake Manyara National Park are shown on this map. There are clear signs everywhere, from the famous tree-climbing lion areas to the hippos' pools and the bird-filled lake shores. This map will help you navigate the park and enjoy its unique blend of scenery and wildlife.
As a general rule of thumb, the best time to visit Tanzania on safari is during the dry season, from June to October, when the weather is generally dry and sunny. As the parks dry out, the bushes become less dense, and the animals are easier to spot. This is partly because they are forced to congregate at the remaining water holes. There are short rains in November (which sometimes extend into December, January, and March) before the long rains, which arrive in April and May. However, this is not to say December, January, and February are not still excellent times to be in Tanzania.
June to October
The dry season in Lake Manyara is characterized by abundant sunlight and minimal rainfall. Wild animals can be easily located amidst the thinner vegetation.
November to May
The scenery is lush and green during the rains. The crowds are lower and so are the rates. Birdwatching is at its best.
The prominent animal for Lake Manyara is the tree-climbing lion. Another plentiful animal is the elephant. These are almost synonymous with the park, and there are numerous large herds to spot. Apart from that, there are large buffaloes, wildebeests, and zebras that gather on the grass plains. The Rift Valley escarpment houses leopards. When you enter the forest, you see the large concentrations of olive baboons and blue monkeys. Their single troop can have more than a hundred individuals. Other cute animals that can be must-seen on a Lake Manyara Safari are the dik-diks and the klipspringer pairs. In addition to animals, there are approximately 400 species of birds that inhabit forests, woodlands, grasslands, marshes, and lakes. Fifty of these species are birds of prey.
There are various options available, including early morning, afternoon, and nighttime game drives.
Either visit the Maasai boma or go to the village of Mto wa Mbu, which is adjacent to the park.
Grab the chance to see pelicans, flamingos, egrets, yellow-billed storks, and marabou stalks on the floodplains.
Embark on a guided evening walking safari along the Lake Shore Trail to gain a fantastic perspective.
On a Lake Manyara Safari, you’re going to watch different types of wildlife, especially if you go on game drives. Other activities can be performed within the park, bringing you closer to nature. Guests can embark on night drives, which provide an opportunity to spot nocturnal creatures that are only active at night. You might go on a canoe safari to see large flocks of pink-hued flamingos. There are other activities, such as walking safaris and treetop walkways, that guests can enjoy when visiting Lake Manyara on a Tanzania Safari.
This part gives extensive answers to the most common queries people have concerning Tanzania's national parks. Our FAQs offer all you need to know about organizing your safari, getting in, activities, and animal highlights. This makes your trip easy, well-informed, and stress-free.
You can spend one day in Lake Manyara. As the park is relatively compact in size, we believe it can be explored in a single day. However, if you want to include cultural tours to nearby places, you can add one more day.
A wide variety of habitats, including the Rift Valley escarpments, underground water forests, and acacia woodlands, are among the best features of Lake Manyara. The park is home to unique wildlife like tree-climbing lions, blue monkeys, and large baboons.
There are about 25% chances of watching tree-climbing lions at the national park. Mostly, we can say the percentage is less than 50%.
Since Lake Manyara is relatively small, it does become overcrowded. Especially, the northern parts of the park are crowded during the peak season from June to October. A few ways you can avoid the crowds are by starting early or going to the southern part of the park, which doesn’t receive as many visitors as the northern part.
Our travel guide is made to save you time. It points you to the right parks, climbs, and activities, while sharing tips only locals know. Your dream Tanzania trip starts with good information, and we’ve put it all together for you.
Guests Remember UsWhen someone says a trip changed them, we listen. Many guests have written about moments that stayed long after they left, wildlife, culture, and friendships. Their voices give you a glimpse of the Tanzania we’re proud to show.
We made an extraordinary safari from Arusha of 4 days 3 nights with bestdaysafaris in August 2025 (Serenghetti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire) Our contact Xenia was exceptional and always available
Bestday Safaris designed this fantastic safari to meet our needs. There were eight of us, two families of friends, split between two jeeps with the fantastic guides Tuma and Emanuel.
These were days we will never forget. The organization by Bestdays Safari was flawless in every way.Yuna is a truly special person – she fulfilled every single request of mine.
We believe travel should never feel like a template. That’s why we design each safari or climb with you in mind. Whether you dream of quiet mornings by the crater rim or standing on Africa’s highest peak, we make it happen. Every route, lodge, and experience is chosen to fit your idea of perfect travel.
