Northern Circuit · National Park · Biosphere Reserve

Lake Manyara National Park

Rift Valley scenery, remarkable birdlife and tree-climbing lions.

June–October for game viewing; November–June for birdlife
approx. 650 km²

Lake Manyara National Park

Type: National Park · Biosphere Reserve
Region: Northern Circuit
Area: approx. 650 km²
Established: 1960
Best time: June–October for game viewing; November–June for birdlife
Access: 1.5–2 h by road from Arusha

Overview

A compact, beautiful park beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment, famous for flamingos, pelicans and — with excellent luck — its tree-climbing lions.

Lake Manyara packs remarkable variety into a small area: groundwater forest busy with baboons and blue monkeys, open floodplains with buffalo, giraffe and zebra, and an alkaline lake that draws flamingos and pelicans in great numbers. The Rift Valley wall rises dramatically behind it all.

The park is famous for lions that rest in the branches of trees, although spotting them takes excellent luck. Nearby Mto wa Mbu, known as Tanzania’s melting pot, offers walking and bike tours among farms, craft markets and woodcarvers.