Lake Manyara
Forest, flamingos and lions in trees. A small park between the Rift Valley wall and a soda lake: groundwater forest, elephant, baboon troops and the lions that climb trees.
Forest, flamingos and lions in trees
Lake Manyara is the small park on the road between Arusha and the crater, and it packs a lot into a narrow strip. Springs at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment feed a groundwater forest of fig and mahogany, home to big baboon troops, blue monkeys and elephant. The forest opens onto grassland and then the lake itself, which in a wet year draws flamingos and pelicans in their thousands and in a dry year shrinks to a white shore.
The park is famous for lions that rest in the trees, most often in the acacia woodland at the southern end. They are seen often, not always. A morning here breaks the drive to Ngorongoro well, and the town of Karatu beside it is where most crater trips sleep, so Manyara appears on nearly every northern circuit we plan.
- Best months
- Jun to Oct for game, Nov to May for birds
- Getting there
- Two hours by road from Arusha, on the way to the crater
- How long
- Half a day to one night
- What it costs
- From $897 per person, group of 5 or more, green season in our 4 day Quick safari: Tarangire & Lake Manyara trip.
Manyara is the shortest and least expensive park stop on the circuit: a standard per person park fee, no vehicle fee and no flight. Most of our trips visit it on the way to the crater rather than staying, so it rarely changes the price of a trip.
The reasons people come
- Lions resting in the acacia trees, when luck is with you
- Elephant and baboon in the groundwater forest
- Flamingos and pelicans on the lake in good water years
- The treetop walkway through the forest canopy
- Hippo at the pool where the river meets the lake
- The Rift Valley escarpment view from the road above the park
Experiences here: Family holidays, Photography safaris.
- 1Lake Manyara
Ready-made, adjustable
Every one of these visits Lake Manyara. Each bends to your dates, group and budget.
Quick safari: Tarangire & Lake Manyara
Best of Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro
Drive in, fly out: Serengeti short safari
Compact five days: Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro
Zanzibar & the Northern Circuit
Classic safari: Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
Where we sleep in Lake Manyara
The places our itineraries here book, by standard. Every one can be swapped.
Africa Safari Lake Manyara
A lodge with a pool below the Rift wall at Mto wa Mbu, the base for Tarangire, the crater and the lake.
2 of our trips sleep here
Sound of Silence Lake Manyara
A tented lodge near Mto wa Mbu, the standard base for the crater on our green-season prices.
24 of our trips sleep here
Manyara's Secret
A few villas on the Rift escarpment above the lake, each with its own pool.
One of our trips sleeps hereWhat people ask about Lake Manyara
Are the tree climbing lions guaranteed?
No. Lions here do rest in trees more than elsewhere, but they are lions, and some days they are on the ground or out of sight. We plan Manyara as a rich forest morning; a lion in a tree is the bonus.
Manyara or Tarangire?
Both sit on the road from Arusha and most week long trips do both. If you must choose: Tarangire for elephant and dry season game, Manyara for forest, birds and the short stop on the way to the crater.
Is there anything to do outside the vehicle?
Yes. The treetop walkway, a guided village walk in Mto wa Mbu just outside the gate, and canoeing on the lake when water levels allow. Ask and we will fit one in.
Tell us your month and how many days you have, and we will say what Lake Manyara can be.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.