Lake Manyara National Park

Attractions in Lake Manyara national park

Lake Manyara

The shallow Lake Manyara is an alkaline lake found in this park that swells up and reduces in size basing on the seasons found within a long silvery bowl of salt deposits. It covers an area of 220 sq km which is two thirds of the park’s total surface area. The Lake hosts a large number of pink flamingos in addition to other wildlife like hippos that dwell in the shallow part of the river.

The Tree-Top Canopy Walk

Besides the traditional way of viewing wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park, the tree-top canopy walk offers you an opportunity to see other wildlife in yet a unique way. Walking at tree-top height you will be able to see some primates and various birds within the forest.

Wildlife

These wildlife species can be seen in their natural habitat in the national park which consists of a forest made of mahogany trees and is a good location to spot giraffes, monkeys as well as buffalos. In the open savannah plains of the national park, wildlife species such as zebras, dik dik, klipspringers, lions, impalas, giraffes, cheetahs, hippos, gazelles, warthogs as well as baboons can be seen.  The game in Lake Manyara includes plenty of elephants, wildebeests along with so many giraffes, and buffaloes. In addition, the park is also very famous for its large number of zebras, impalas, warthogs and waterbucks. On the slopes of the escarpment, you may need to search a little hard for the tinny and renowned shy kirk’s dik dik and klipspringer.

Bird watching

The large number of birds found in Lake Manyara National Parks differs basing on one habitat to another. Often; you will be able to see huge flocks of pelicans and pink flamingoes on the lake, while close to the park borders and floodplains you will enjoys views of many egrets, stilts, herons, spoonbills, stalks and other waders. But the more interesting species will be viewed in the evergreen forests; for example, crowned eagles, crested guinea fowl and the silvery cheeked hornbills but birds are especially seen along the shores of Lake Manyara and they include storks, pelicans, hornbills, secretary birds, eagles, ostriches, hawks, babblers, flamingos among others.

The Large Numbers of Elephants

This national park is home to a very large number of elephants which can easily be seen within the evergreen forests as well as the acacia woodlands moving around gracefully in their herds especially in areas around Lake Manyara have thick vegetation.

Tree Climbing Lions

Another rare wildlife sighting in this national park is the tree climbing lions which can be seen clinging to the tree branches. The tree climbing lions can be seen in few other locations in the world such as in Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park  located in south western Uganda. Many tourists are often curious about the reason as to why these lions climb trees its because they want to avoid insects on the ground such as ants and to also enjoy the shade and breeze in the trees.

Activities in Lake Manyara National Park

Maasai experiences

These are a cultural interactions which take place in Mto wa Mbu town located along the way to lake Manyara national park. During these interactions, tourists engage in a variety of activities such as visiting the traditional homesteads of the Maasai known as “manyattas”, traditional dance performances of the Maasai, making beaded jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets and anklets, listening to folk songs and stories, visiting the kraals and getting to know more about the nomadic way of life of the Maasai people.

Nature walks

This is another unique way of experiencing the attractions around Lake Manyara national park. These nature walks take place in the company of a guide who takes tourists around the national park and to experience the nature and wilderness around them and these nature walks also include moving along the treetop walkway where monkeys and birds can be seen along the trees.

Game drives

These are the common wildlife viewing experiences in this national park and they take place at different times of day which include morning game drives, afternoon and evening game drives as well as full day game drives. During morning game drives, tourists can see a variety of wildlife species since the animals are very active and can easily be seen roaming around the national park compared to afternoon or evening game drives. Full day game drives involve a whole day of wildlife viewing and starts in the morning which means the chances of the tourists seeing the attractions like wildlife species such as elephants, tree climbing lions, gazelles, impalas, zebras, antelopes, buffalos, giraffes, warthogs, hippos among others are high.

Canoe rides

When the water levels are favorable on Lake Manyara, tourists can engage in a boat or canoe ride along the lake as they enjoy the scenery around them and see wildlife species grazing in the distance like the Hippos.