Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park occupies a narrow strip of land between the Rift Valley escarpment and the alkaline waters of Lake Manyara in northern Tanzania. At just 325 km², it is one of Tanzania's smaller parks, but in terms of ecological diversity and visual drama, it punches well above its weight. Dense groundwater forest gives way to acacia woodland, grassland, swampy hippo pools and finally the pale blue expanse of the lake itself — all squeezed into a park you can cover in a single day.
Why Lake Manyara is Famous
Lake Manyara is most famous for its tree-climbing lions. While lions throughout Africa occasionally venture into trees, Manyara's populations do so with unusual regularity — a behaviour that has been observed consistently for decades and remains unexplained by science. Spotting a pride of lions draped across the branches of a fever tree is one of the most extraordinary sights in East African wildlife.
Wildlife
- Tree-climbing lions — Manyara's signature species. Most reliably seen in the early morning near the park entrance area.
- Flamingos — When conditions are right, Lake Manyara turns pink with tens of thousands of lesser and greater flamingos feeding on the alkaline shallows.
- Hippos — The hippo pools near the southern end of the park hold sizeable pods year-round.
- Elephants — A significant elephant population in the forest zones.
- Buffalo — Large herds in the woodland and grassland sections.
- Birds — 400+ species, including pelicans, storks, kingfishers and the yellow-collared lovebird endemic to the region.
Best Time to Visit
Lake Manyara can be visited year-round. The dry season (June–October) offers good wildlife viewing. The wet season (November–May) brings spectacular birdlife and the possibility of flamingo flocks, which require specific water conditions. The park is most commonly visited as part of a Northern Circuit itinerary alongside Tarangire and Ngorongoro.