LakeNationalManyara Park

Imagine the sight of seven mature female lions, each and every one resting in the same three after the long night hunting for food. This is one of the marvelous memories you can take back home after visiting this small, but wildlife rich park at the edge of the Great Rift Valley.

Alovely unspoiled paradise and a scenic gem located 125 km west of Arusha town on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti in the northern tourism circuit of Tanzania, nestling by the wall of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park is one of the oldest and most popular sanctuaries in East Africa. The park has a large variety of habitats, making it possible to support a wealth of wildlife in its small area. The main habitats include the shallow soda lake itself which occupies 77% of the National Park total area of 330 sq. km, the ground water forest, open grassland, acacia woodland and the rift wall.

Manyara’s dramatic setting was once extolled by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest that I had seen in Africa” and by documentary maker Colin

Willock as “the most luxuriant place in the whole East African Rift”, after visiting the scenic gem Lake Manyara, which is stretching for 50km along the base of the rustygold 600 metre high Rift Valley escarpment. Maybe the short, but full of animals and birdlife, game viewing circuits of Lake Manyara could be described as an introduction of what to expect from your wildlife adventure in Tanzania.

The Wildlife

Upon entering the Lake Manyara National Park visitors are greeted by ground water forest which boasts with ancient mahogany trees, giant fig trees as well as kapok trees. It is a common site to see the crystalclear water seeping directly out of the ground. This area is always lush green and is also home to the olive baboons who proudly call Manyara their home. Troops of up to 150 individuals joyfully playing and foraging around in the forest can be seen.

Your game viewing here will take you through nature at altitudes between 900 and 1800 meters above sea level. Contrasting with the intimacy of the forest is the grassy floodplain and its expansive views eastward, across the alkaline lake, to the jagged blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes.

Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds congregate on these grassy plains, as do giraffes – some so dark in coloration that they appear to be black from a distance. Inland

Fact File

LOCATION: Approximately ninety minutes’ drive from Arusha

DISTANCE FROM ARUSHA: 126 km (78 miles

SIZE: 330 sq km (130 sq miles) of which 200 sq km (77 sq miles) are lake when water levels are high

ESTABLISHED: 1960

TO DO: Game drives, canoe safaris, cultural tours, mountain biking, abseiling, and forest walks

KNOWN FOR: Africa’s largest concentration of elephants, treeclimbing lions, and flamingoes of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland hidden in the park are famous for the renowned “tree climbing lions”. These large cats have evolved over generations to add tree climbing to their daily activity. Acacia woodland is also the favoured habitat of Manyara’s elephants, which are unusually relaxed and often carry impressive tusks

Squadrons of banded mongoose dart between the acacias, while the small cute Kirk’s dik-dik hiding in their shades. Pairs of klipspringers are often seen silhouetted on the rocks above a field of searing hot springs that steams and bubbles next to the lakeshore in the far south of the park.

“This national park is exceptional because of its incredible Rift Valley, the tree climbing lions, baboons, blue monkey, the dark coloured giraffes, bush plains, baobab strewn cliffs and algae-streaked hot springs offer incredible ecological variety in a small area, rich in wildlife and incredible numbers of birds.

A must stop is the new hippo viewing deck from which visitors can gaze upon these large mammals going about their business. Water birds like blacksmith plovers, little egrets and herons are just a few of the many birds to be seen here.

ATTRACTION & ACTIVITIES

● Bird watching: There are more than 500 species of birds that flying here and there. The most attractive are pink flamingo that several times migrate from Lake Natron to Lake Manyara and vice versa. Some other species include the yellow-billed storks, marabou storks, goose, turkey, weavers, pelicans, and other hundreds of species

● Treetop Walkway: Allows you to have a thrilling sky-high adventure straight through the forest. This 370 m airwalk, lets you to walk right among the treetops, giving you a bird’s eye view of the forest.

● Tree-Climbing Lions: The lions of Lake Manyara National Park are a rarity among their own kind, being some of the only lions in the world to regularly climb trees and use them as places as rest.

● Flamingos: Lake Manyara is home to thousands of flamingos drawn by the microscopic algae that they feed on. The flamingos’ specialized diet means they are confined to the alkaline lakes of the Rift Valley, and Lake Manayra is arguably the best place in Tanzania to see these huge flocks of brightly coloured birds.

● Maji Moto Springs: A natural spring surrounded by palm and fig trees - an isolated paradise of crystal-clear waters, sun-dappled shady picnic spots, and unmatched beauty. Not so much a hot spring as it is a warm spring, Maji Moto is a perfect place for a swim and a picnic lunch.

● Cultural Tours: Located not far from the entrance to Lake Manyara National Park, Mto We Mbu is a local farming and market village that is perfectly situated for souvenir shopping or for a glimpse into the day to day life of the Tanzanian people.

● Camping: Camping at Lake Manyara can be done at various camping sites, the park has got a total of five campsites and of which three are private while the two are public, visitors who would like to engage in this activity are advised to carry their camping gears.

● Hippo pool view point: The Hippo

Pool located in the Simba River, not only attracts these 3000kg animals, but many of the parks nearly 400 species of birds, including the predatory fish eagle, which lives in and around the Hippo Pool.

● Game viewing: Day game drives: Apart from the glorious scenic views, the park is endowed with animals such as; the famous tree climbing lions only found in this park in Tanzania, giraffes, elephants, zebras, wildebeests, impalas, Kiplinger’s, baboons and many more. Night game drives can also be carried out with an armed tourist ranger, those who would love to engage in the night game drives should always book in advance.

● Walking safaris: Walking tours in the park encompasses with visiting some oldest trees that have more than 200 years which is a baobab tree near rift valley escarpment or sometimes it is called Mto wa mbu viewpoint where there is a beautiful view of the village.

● Canoeing: A coning safari will let you witness some of the outstanding views of Lake Manyara shore seamlessly floating over the alkaline water of the lake. The incredible array of birdlife, few roaming elephants and other grazers on the shore line and the absolute stunning pink flamingos are waiting on for you that you can enjoy in the canoeing safari.

● Picnics: The Park has got three well established picnic sites with well kempt bathrooms and toilets, you can enjoy your day tour from one of the picnic sites accompanied with a packed lunch box, this site have sitting arrangements in form of dinings and also provide excellent views of nature and wildlife.

Getting To

Connected by road, rental or scheduled flight (Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, Safari Airlink in Arusha, route to Lake Manayara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. It is actually in northern Tanzania’s Arusha area 130km from Arusha town. The Park gate lays one and a half hours, 126km to the west of Arusha, on a new tarmac road, close to Mto wa Mbu.

When To Go

Lake Manyara national park can be visited throughout the year however, the best time for viewing wildlife is from June to October and for bird enthusiasts the best period is from November to July.

Where To Stay

Accommodation at Lake Manyara national park varies from camping to luxurious lodges which are exclusive comfortable and provide mouthwatering meals, where to stay will depend on tourist’s choice and budget. Our recommendation is as follow;

Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge: Nestled on the rim of the Great African Rift Valley with stunning views over Lake Manyara, Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day. The lodge is set on pristine lush green gardens and local vegetation with over 130 species of birds.

You, as many others who really explore this small, but intimate park, will be surprised by how really wonderful experience it gives you. You can experience the Safaris, wildlife and the beauty of Lake Manyara National Park through contacting;

Wellworth Collection -

M: +255 688 058 365, E: info@wellworthcollection.co.tz