The groundwater forest
Tall mahogany and fig trees fed by underground springs, home to baboons, blue monkeys and forest elephants.
The Soda Lake
Lake Manyara
A compact paradise known for its tree-climbing lions, pink flamingos, and groundwater forests nestled against the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment.
- Type
- National Park
- Region
- Northern Tanzania
- Best months
- Jul–Oct
- Known for
- Groundwater forest, Flamingos
Overview
About Lake Manyara
Perfect for diverse scenery in a small area. Manyara provides a lush contrast to the surrounding savanna with its dense mahogany forests, open floodplains, and the shimmering alkaline lake.
Lake Manyara is a compact park squeezed between the steep wall of the Great Rift Valley and a shallow soda lake. In a single drive you pass through groundwater forest fed by springs, acacia woodland, open floodplain and the lake shore.
It is famous for lions that are sometimes seen resting in the trees, large troops of olive baboons, elephants in the forest and, when water levels suit them, pink flocks of flamingos on the lake.
Because it is small and close to Arusha and Karatu, Manyara works beautifully as a half-day or full-day visit between Tarangire and the Ngorongoro highlands.
Known for
- Groundwater forest
- Flamingos
- Rift Valley escarpment
- Treetop walkway
At a glance
- Type
- National Park
- Region
- Northern Tanzania
- Size
- About 330 km², up to two-thirds of it lake
- Established
- 1960
- UNESCO
- Part of the Lake Manyara UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (1981)
- Best months
- Jul–Oct
- By road
- About 2 hours from Arusha (roughly 125 km), next to the village of Mto wa Mbu.
- By air
- The Lake Manyara airstrip sits on the escarpment above the park.
Inside the park
Areas of Lake Manyara
Where you stay and explore shapes what you see. These are the main areas we plan around.
Hippo pool & lake shore
Wide floodplain and shallows with hippos, waders and seasonal flamingos.
Rift Valley escarpment
The 600-metre wall that frames the park, with lodges and viewpoints along its edge.
Wildlife
What you can see in Lake Manyara
Baboon troops, forest elephants, hippos, flamingos and the occasional tree-climbing lion.
Mammals
- Elephant
- Lion
- Olive baboon
- Blue monkey
- Buffalo
- Giraffe
- Hippo
- Impala
- Wildebeest
- Zebra
Birds
- More than 400 species
- Flamingos
- Pelicans
- Yellow-billed stork
- Silvery-cheeked hornbill
- Crowned eagle
When to go
The best time to visit Lake Manyara
July to October for large mammals; November to June for bird watching and spectacular canoeing when water levels are high.
- JanGood
- FebGood
- MarGood
- AprQuieter / wet
- MayQuieter / wet
- JunGood
- JulPeak
- AugPeak
- SepPeak
- OctPeak
- NovGood
- DecGood
Dry season
Best for large mammals, which gather near water.
Wet season
Best for birdwatching and waterfalls on the escarpment; the forest is at its lushest.
Getting there
Travel and access
About 2 hours from Arusha (roughly 125 km), next to the village of Mto wa Mbu.
The Lake Manyara airstrip sits on the escarpment above the park.
Things to do
Activities
- Game drives through forest and floodplain
- Treetop canopy walkway
- Cycling or village walks in Mto wa Mbu
- Birdwatching
- Escarpment viewpoints
Where to stay
Camps and lodges
We match each stay to your budget and the season, from classic tented camps to luxury lodges.
Escarpment lodges
Lodges on the Rift Valley edge with sweeping views over the lake.
Karatu & Mto wa Mbu
Farm lodges and camps that also serve as a base for the Ngorongoro Crater.
A day here
Entering the park feels like stepping into a jungle before opening up to the vast lake. You'll switch between thick forest game drives looking for blue monkeys and open shoreline drives marveling at flocks of pelicans and flamingos.
Our travel tips
- Tree-climbing lions are seen only occasionally, so treat a sighting as a bonus rather than a promise.
- Combine a morning in Manyara with the drive up to Karatu for the crater the next day.
- Flamingo numbers depend on the lake’s water level and vary from year to year.
Itineraries
Safaris that visit Lake Manyara
Each one is a starting point we tailor to your dates, pace and budget.
Explorer Circuit6-Day Northern Circuit Safari
A deeper journey through Tanzania’s diverse northern ecosystems.
6 Days / 5 Nights · View itinerary →
Complete Safari7-Day Classic Northern Circuit
A complete safari journey through Tanzania’s most iconic northern parks.
7 Days / 6 Nights · View itinerary →
Extended Safari9-Day Grand Northern Safari
A deep and slow exploration of northern Tanzania ecosystems.
9 Days / 8 Nights · View itinerary →
Signature Experience10-Day Tanzania Highlights Safari
A premium safari with extended Serengeti immersion.
10 Days / 9 Nights · View itinerary →The Photographic Journal
The Spirit of Lake Manyara.
Photos: Tree-climbing lion, Lake Manyara National Park by Salix Oculus, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized.
Questions
Lake Manyara: frequently asked questions
Lake Manyara questions
Combine with
Pairs well with Lake Manyara
Plan your Lake Manyara safari
Tell us your dates and interests. A safari designer replies within 24 hours with ideas and prices.