Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park comprises forest, woodland, grasslands, and swamps. Two-thirds of the park is covered by water and Lake Manyara is host to thousands of flamingos, at certain times of year, as well as other diverse bird life. The highlight of Lake Manyara Park is the large population of elephants, tree-climbing lions, and hippos, which can be observed at a much closer range than in other parks. This park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons in the world.
Some activities to do in the park
Wildlife drives, canoeing (when water levels are high enough), mountain bike tours and bird watching are the most popular activities in Lake Manyara National Park.
Enjoy Night Game Drives
Sure, every park has day game drives, but what about a nocturnal experience? A Lake Manyara safari shows its diverse ecosystems at its shining best through night game drives which make you feel like you’ve entered a whole new world! The Park is one of the few national parks with night game drives
Lake Manyara is also known for its population of big cats, with lions being seen both during the day as they sleep, and at night when they are on the prowl.
Go Canoeing
Lake Manyara National Park also has the distinction of being one of the few national parks in Tanzania that allows canoeing! By canoeing at Lake Manyara, you will be able to get up close and personal with dozens of aquatic species and species of birds such as the pink flamingos that gather near the water to relax and relieve their thirst.
Lake Manyara is also home to a number of giraffes and elephants all of which can be seen with a closer look as you canoe past them into the serene waters.
Bird watching
Lake Manyara National Park may be one of the best parks in Tanzania to engage in birding: with close to 400 bird species including migrating birds from Eurasian locations, and 3 species that are unique and endangered to Tanzania.
A majority of the birds that can be seen often migrate from Lake Natron where they breed, to Lake Manyara which acts as their feeding ground. This means that the floodplains of Lake Manyara are populated with spectacular species such as the Grey crowned crane, Fischer’s sparrow lark, pink lesser flamingos and the Crowned Plover.
Treetop Walkway; Get a sweeping view of the world from above.
Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway allows you to have a thrilling sky-high adventure straight through the forest. This 370 m airwalk lets you walk right among the treetops, giving you a bird’s eye view of the forest. The treetop walkway starts right from the short board-walk and eventually rises in altitude leading to a series of suspension bridges with secure netting on either side.
These bridges rise to a total altitude of 18 m off the ground, and allow you to enjoy the fauna and flora of the forest facilitated by tour guides who can point out each of the varying species, and give you interesting tidbits about each kind.
Get a taste of Masai Culture
Surrounding Lake Manyara Tanzania are villages of the Maasai people who live in their quaint circular huts made of mud and straw which they refer to as Bombas. The Maasai are very friendly and often break into song and dance as they welcome you to their village.
If you are looking for a taste of the indigenous cultural heritage you must visit some of the neighboring villages where you can also taste the local cuisine and mingle with the locals, to understand the rich culture of Tanzania better.
