Is Lake Manyara worth a whole day?

Half a day covers the park comfortably — it is small and narrow. But the forest section in the late afternoon light is lovely, so we usually route it as an afternoon on the way back from the Crater rather than a rushed hour on the way in.

Will we see the tree-climbing lions?

Probably not, and we will not pretend otherwise. Lion do climb here and it is one of the few places they habitually do, but sightings are irregular. Come for the forest, the escarpment and the birds, and treat a lion in a tree as a bonus.

Often, sometimes in very large numbers, and sometimes almost none — it depends entirely on the water level and the algae. They are also usually distant. Bring binoculars.

Lake Manyara National Park — safaris, wildlife and when to go

Lake Manyara National Park

National park

A narrow strip of groundwater forest, escarpment and soda lake — small, green, and unlike anything else nearby.

Manyara is compact — a thin ribbon between the Rift Valley escarpment and a shallow alkaline lake — and it is often treated as a half-day filler on the way to the Crater. That undersells it.

The park opens in genuine groundwater forest, fed by springs at the base of the escarpment: fig trees, mahogany, blue monkeys and one of Tanzania’s densest baboon populations. It then opens out into acacia woodland where the tree-climbing lions are occasionally found, and finally onto the flats beside the lake, where elephant and buffalo graze against a backdrop of flamingo.

Because it is small and green it also works well in the rains, when the big open parks are hard going. And it has the northern circuit’s best canopy walkway and one of its few night-drive concessions.

From our guides

Do Manyara on the way back from the Crater rather than on the way in. You arrive in the late afternoon when the light in the forest is at its best and the day-trippers have gone.

Why come here

Groundwater forest you will not see elsewhere on the circuit
Tree-climbing lions, when luck is on your side
Flamingo and over four hundred bird species
Canopy walkway, night drives and canoeing when water levels allow

The wildlife

Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, impala, hippo and very large troops of olive baboon. Blue monkey and vervet in the forest. Lion are present but not always visible. Birding is the real strength: pelican, flamingo, storks, and a forest bird list that includes silvery-cheeked hornbill and crowned eagle.

When to visit

Good year-round. The dry months from July to October concentrate mammals; the wet months from November to May bring migrant birds and huge flamingo numbers when lake levels suit. The forest section is pleasant even in rain.

Lake Manyara National Park through the year

January

Weather

Warm, short afternoon storms

Wildlife

Good in the forest; migrant birds arriving

The migration

—

How busy

Moderate

Price season

High season

Our rating

Safaris visiting Lake Manyara

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Family-friendly

8 Days Tanzania Safari

Arusha › Tarangire › 2 nights Central Serengeti › Ngorongoro › Lake Eyasi › Arusha

From US$2,031 per person

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Family-friendly

6 Days Tanzania Safari

Arusha › Tarangire › 2 nights Central Serengeti › Ngorongoro

From US$1,578 per person

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Great Migration

7 Days Serengeti Migration Safari

Arusha › Lake Manyara › 2 nights Ndutu › Central Serengeti › Ngorongoro

From US$2,436 per person

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Family-friendly

7 Days Tanzania Safari

Arusha › Tarangire › 2 nights Central Serengeti › Ngorongoro › Karatu

From US$1,876 per person

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Family-friendly

8 Days Tanzania Family Safari

2 nights Arusha › Tarangire › 2 nights Central Serengeti › Ngorongoro › Karatu

From US$2,031 per person

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Family-friendly

3 Days Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro

Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro Crater

From US$866 per person

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Where to stay

Camps and lodges we use here

Manyara Secret Lodge

Lake Manyara National ParkLodgeLuxury

A small lodge above Lake Manyara on the escarpment, looking out over the Rift Valley floor.

RatesOn request View lodge

Things to do

Experiences here

Night game drive

A spotlight, a different cast of animals, and the parks where it is actually permitted.

Boat safari

Game viewing at water level on the Rufiji — hippo, crocodile and elephant crossing in front…

Lake Manyara National Park in pictures

Lake Manyara National Park Safari Guide Flamingos, Tree Climbing Lions & More

A zebra on the plains — the animal the Oloitiko mark is drawn from.

An elephant photographed on safari in Tanzania.

A lion photographed on safari in Tanzania.

Lake Manyara National Park, answered

Build Lake Manyara National Park into a route that works.

One park is rarely a trip. Tell us how long you have and what else you want to see, and we will put Lake Manyara in the right place in the right week.

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Lake Manyara National Park

From our guides

Why come here

The wildlife

When to visit