Description
Lake Manyara National Park provides a unique wilderness experience. Including diverse landscapes such as the Rift Valley soda lake, open grasslands, dense woodlands, and stunning mountainsides. In the north of Tanzania, Lake Manyara National Park centers on its eponymous alkaline lake, a key habitat for hundreds of bird species. Between November and April, thousands of greater and lesser pink flamingos gather on its shores, along with pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed storks, grey herons, and pods of hippos. Surrounding the lake are marshlands, grassy plains, and acacia woodlands, home to the tree-climbing lion and long-tusked elephant. Giraffes strut across the grasslands, where herds of buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest graze.
Getting There
The park is part of the popular northern safari circuit. Arusha is the gateway town and the best way to get there is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). There are flights from Arusha and the Serengeti to Manyara's airstrip, but the trip from Arusha on the tarred road only takes 1½ hours by car. Coming from the Ngorongoro Crater, the driving time is about two hours to cover 80km/50mi.
Things to do:
- Game Drive
- Day Game Drive
- Night Game Drive
- Bird Watching
- Canoeing
- Walking Safari
- Cultural Visit
