Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

A compact but strikingly beautiful park (330 km²) at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Two-thirds of the park is the alkaline lake itself, framed by groundwater forest, acacia woodland, and a dramatic 600 m Rift wall.

“The loveliest lake I had seen in Africa.” — Ernest Hemingway

Alkaline Lake

Two-thirds of the park is the shimmering lake

Groundwater Forest

Lush forest fed by underground springs

Acacia Woodland

Classic savanna dotted with acacias

Rift Escarpment

Dramatic 600 m wall of the Great Rift Valley

Wildlife

Tree-climbing Lions
Elephants
Baboons
Buffalo
Giraffe
Hippo
Wildebeest
Blue Monkeys
Flamingos
Pelicans
Storks
400+ Birds

Famous for its rare tree-climbing lions — a behaviour seen in only a handful of places in Africa — plus large elephant herds and some of the biggest baboon troops on the continent.

Activities

Game Drives

Explore the groundwater forest and acacia woodland in search of tree-climbing lions and elephant herds.

Canopy Walkway

A unique 370 m elevated treetop walkway through the forest — the only one of its kind in East Africa.

Canoeing

Seasonal canoeing on the lake (when water levels allow) among hippos and flocks of flamingos.

Night Game Drives

Spotlight drives after dark reveal nocturnal species rarely seen during daytime game drives.