Lake Manyara National Park – A Scenic Wildlife Haven

Lake Manyara National Park may be one of Tanzania’s smaller national parks, but it offers an exceptional diversity of landscapes and wildlife within a compact area. Set at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park is centred around Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline (soda) lake that reaches a maximum depth of approximately 3.7 metres.The scenery within the park changes dramatically over short distances, shifting from lush groundwater forests to open floodplains and finally into acacia woodlands. This variety of habitats supports a rich ecosystem and makes Lake Manyara a rewarding safari destination.

 

Highlights of Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is especially famous for its birdlife, with over 400 recorded bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. The lake often attracts large flocks of flamingos and other water birds, adding colour and movement to the landscape.The park is also home to a wide range of mammals, including elephants, buffaloes, hippos, baboons, waterbucks, impalas, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests. Leopards are present in healthy numbers, although sightings can be challenging due to the dense vegetation. With a bit of luck, visitors may also spot the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, a rare and fascinating behaviour unique to a few areas in Africa.

 

Exploring the Landscapes of Lake Manyara

Upon entering Lake Manyara National Park, visitors are welcomed by a lush groundwater forest filled with ancient mahogany trees, giant fig trees, and towering kapok trees. Crystal-clear water can often be seen bubbling directly from the ground, keeping this forest green throughout the year. This area is also home to large troops of olive baboons, sometimes numbering over 150 individuals, commonly seen playing, foraging, and moving through the forest.Quietly grazing bushbucks can often be spotted among the trees, while the tranquillity of the forest is occasionally broken by the loud calls of silvery-cheeked hornbills, frequently seen perched high in the canopy.As the route continues, the dense forest gradually opens into acacia woodlands, marked by changing shades of green and yellow. Vervet monkeys and red-billed hornbills are common here, and a popular stop is the hippo viewing deck, where visitors can observe hippos resting and interacting in the water below. The surrounding wetlands attract numerous water birds, including blacksmith plovers, little egrets, and herons.Beyond the wetlands lie the open floodplains, where large herds of wildebeest, zebras, and buffaloes gather to graze while remaining alert for predators. Deeper within the acacia woodlands, the park’s famous tree-climbing lions can sometimes be seen resting on branches a behaviour believed to have developed over generations.

 

Lake Manyara & Its Water System

Lake Manyara receives most of its water from the Simba River to the north and the Makuyuni River to the east. In addition, seasonal rainfall from the Rift Valley escarpment contributes significant water during the rainy season. The groundwater forest also feeds surrounding swamps, which eventually drain into the lake, sustaining the park’s delicate ecosystem.