Lake Manyara National Park

General Information
Located at the Rift Valley escarpment, the Park's close proximity to Arusha town makes it perfect for undertaking day excursions. The park has a mix of diverse ecosystems, bird life and beholding views.

The park is small (covers an area of 130 km square) and is mostly covered by lake Manyara. The remaining area is host to wildlife and vegetation. The park is close to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tarangire National Park. The name 'Manyara' is a Maasai name, which is a plant name known as Euphorbia tiracull. The Maasai use this to make hedges as way of protecting their cattle. The park has been described as the most scenic park in Tanzania and is graced by a hippo pool at the entrance that many visitors would find captivating.

How To Get There
Lake Manyara national park can be accessed easily by road from Arusha town that is 130km away, and a two-hour drive. Flights can be taken from Arusha town in an hour.

Major Attractions
Highlights of the park include a wide variety of wild animals. The lion can be seen climbing trees (which is a rarity) when seeking shade, evading the persistent flies or looking out for prey. Other animals in the park include elephants, baboons which are said to be concentrated in this park, giraffes which have a darker color compared to giraffes in other parts of Tanzania, zebras, wildebeest, waterbuck and warthog. Within the forests are leopards.

The park is renowned in Tanzania for its diverse and large bird species. Over 380 bird species have been observed, amongst them; bee- eater, waterfowl, heron, eagles, snipes. A huge majority of these birds are found on the shores of lake Manyara. Flamingoes color the waters of the lake pink.

One of the main features of the park is the spectacular view. Whilst approaching the village of Mto wa Mbu Swahili for 'mosquito creek' the rift wall in all its magnificence can be observed from a distance. The lake and its shimmering waters punctuated by its diverse animal life forms the backdrop as you proceed towards the rift wall. The park's entrance features a hippo pool that is bound to catch your attention.

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