Lake Manyara
Why safari at Lake Manyara?
Though Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania’s smaller national parks, its mix of scenic beauty, unusual wildlife, and diverse landscapes earn it a special place on the country’s safari circuit.
Protected by the tall, wooded cliffs of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the lake itself covers a significant area of the park and is an absolute haven for bird watchers. During the wet season (November to May) thousands of flamingos flock to its shores, along with pelicans, storks and kingfishers.
As for wildlife, the lake attracts a wide variety of animals, including hippos and tree-climbing lions, however Lake Manyara is perhaps best known for its large troops of olive baboons that inhabit the forest close to the park’s entrance. Watching their intricate social interactions is a highlight of any visit here.
Many lodges in the area enjoy scenic locations on the escarpment with incredible views across the lake.
Wondering what to expect on safari? Read ourguide.
Discover Lake Manyara
Tree climbing lion
Canoeing on the lake
Sundowners on the Lake at Chem Chem Lodge
Walking safari
Cycling - Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Where to stay in Lake Manyara
" We had the most wonderful magical experience, the children loved it and the hotel was dreamy! We managed to see everything we went to see. The guide was great and the balloon ride was an exceptional experience. It will be a holiday we will remember for a lifetime, thank you so much for helping organise it! "
The S Family, via Global Independent Travel
" What an absolutely fantastic holiday that was! Everything about it was amazing, we had the best time. We had no issues at all, it all ran so smoothly. I can’t praise it all enough, both for the safari and then we did a trip swimming with dolphins in Zanzibar. The hot air balloon exceeded all expectations. THANK YOU "
Mr & Mrs H via Free Spirit Holiday
"We had a wonderful safari, found all the accommodation/lodges really good, the guide was brilliant and we saw a lot of good game including the migration."
Mr & Mrs C
We had a wonderful holiday. Accommodation all very good. Although tented in some places, they were definitely glamping. We could watch elephants from our decking and it was obvious at night they come right up to tent! (There were always Masaai security guards keeping watch). We saw the Wildebeest migration which was a big plus and unexpected as early this year. Until the next time...
Mr & Mrs F via Personal Travel Agent
"Great holiday! Our safari guide was really good, knowledgeable, polite and sensible. The Lodge was really good, which offset Janes worries about a tent... but plush tent with ceramic loo! We saw the big 5 and scenery was amazing. Video of hippos still makes us laugh and warthogs really do hop like the cartoon Lion King. "
Mr & Mrs F via Hays Travel
"We had an amazing holiday – more than we could have ever hoped for! We absolutely loved Tanzania. Our guide was fantastic. This was a first-time safari, so were very nervous but now want to go to Africa again!"
Mr & Mrs F via Travel Counsellors
"We were delighted with our holiday and the meticulous organisation."
Family N
Travel Lake Manyara Your Way
Guided Journeys
Lake Manyara is often a stopping point for many small group tours around what is known as the Northern Circuit, which also includes the Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater. Combining these contrasting areas is a great way to experience the best of Tanzania. For a more private experience, this route can also be done with a private guide, tailoring the route to suit your needs.
Flying
The option to fly into Lake Manyara is made possible by several companies that operate a daily ‘circuit’ of light aircraft transfers between the parks, making it easy to incorporate the different areas into one time-efficient itinerary and to see Tanzania from a different perspective whilst flying over the beautiful landscape. Speak to the team at African Pride for details of the services available.
Lodge Activities
Each lodge around Lake Manyara will offer daily game viewing activities, however aside of the main event, many will also have access to a variety of activities. Some of these include visits to cultural villages, night game drives or at some lodges there is also the opportunity to enjoy mountain biking and well-earned sundowners with stunning views over the lake.
When to travel to Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is a year-round destination, but wildlife viewing is at its best from June to October, during the dry season. Lush vegetation and cascading waterfalls make the park ever more beautiful during the wet season from November to May. March and April can be very wet.
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Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is in north-eastern Tanzania at the base of the Rift Valley Escarpment.
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