What to do in Lake Manyara National Park
Between the Great Rift Valley escarpment and an alkaline lake is Lake Manyara National Park, one of the smallest parks in Tanzania. This park is largely covered by a soda lake, which takes about 75% of the total area (325 km²). But don’t underestimate it because it harbors diverse habitats—from open grasslands, acacia woodlands, and forests. On top of that, its proximity to Arusha makes it the best stopover point for visitors visiting the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. We will describe some of the best things to do in Lake Manyara National Park.
Game drives.
Hopping into a safari vehicle is among the top things to do in Lake Manyara. The park is small but jam-packed with wildlife, and as a result, game drives are full of wildlife scenes. During day game drives, you can spot animals including giraffes, elephants, buffalo, zebras, and wildebeests.
The tree-climbing lions are most sought after by many safari-goers. These unique canines exist only in a few locales like Lake Manyara and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Instead of fighting insects and predators like hyenas, they choose to nap on acacia branches. This adaptation also allows them to cool.
Lake Manyara is one of the few parks in the north that permit driving at night. You need a permit from the park authorities. This adventure enables you to see animals active at night, like spotted hyenas, lions, jackals, several cats, and owls.
Birdwatching.
Lake Manyara turns into a birder’s paradise during the dry season. You can see pink flamingos on the shoreline of this soda lake. These beautiful water birds prefer soda lakes for a good reason—they feed on the algae, which is highly concentrated in most soda lakes. They are constantly present on the lake but may migrate during the dry season when the lake shrinks.
Apart from flamingos, you can spot herons, storks, ostriches, pelicans, hornbills, and more. Over 400 bird species exist within this park—a good number worth bringing a good camera and binoculars. Some unique species like the yellow-collared lovebird, the secretary bird, and the ground hornbill are also present.
Walking safaris.
The wilderness offers some of the best walks. Guests can explore the pristine forests, lakeshore, and grasslands on foot with the company of an armed ranger. During a walking safari, you will see baboons and colobus in the groundwater forests, flamingos on the shore, and probably large game like elephants and giraffes in the woodlands. The guides are also botanical experts. They will teach you about different medicinal plants.
Canoeing.
Canoeing is possible when the sea level is high enough. During this activity, you explore the crystal-clear waters of this beautiful lake and watch wildlife and landscape from another angle. You will also discover some aquatic species, like fish and hippos, as you paddle around this lake. Shoreline birds like pelicans and flamingos also make a good picture for photographers.
Treetop canopy walk.
Lake Manyara sets itself apart from other parks in Tanzania with its treetop canopy walkway. This walkway is set at about 15 meters off the ground and is about 370 meters long. As you walk in the canopy, you experience the park from a bird’s eye view, and you will also spot monkeys, birds, and various tree species. The airwalk is perfect for unwinding after a busy day exploring Lake Manyara
Village visits.
Lake Manyara is very close to local villages. Most travelers conclude their tour with a drive to one of the Maasai villages. Here, you can learn new things like a new language (Maa), a new dressing style of a Maasai shuka, and, of course a new dance, the Adumu dance. You can also buy native-made jewelry and artifacts from these creative locals.
The Mto wa Mbu village is also close to Lake Manyara. This village is a melting pot with almost every tribe that’s present within the Tanzanian borders. You can visit markets to buy souvenirs or food, or just to mingle with locals.
Photo safaris.
If you’re on a photo adventure, then you’ve found a true gem. The shots featuring tree-climbing lions are truly worth a thousand words. You can also picture large elephant herds roaming the plains or large flocks of flamingos wading in the waters of Lake Manyara. You can also capture animals like leopards, hyenas, warthogs, and more.
The best time to visit Lake Manyara.
The best time to go to Lake Manyara National Park is during the dry months: June through October and January to February. The roads are dry for easy navigation, while the vegetation is thin for clear visibility.
The bottom line.
Some northern parks may get traffic, but not Lake Manyara. Yet, there’s so much to see in this wonderful park. We recommend this park to anyone seeking seclusion and the best wildlife moments.
