Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake along the Rift Valley of Eastern Africa. During the wet season, roughly 2 million flamingoes call Lake Manyara home as they feed along its edges. The park itself is relatively small at 125 sq miles including the 89 sq mile lake. The 36 sq miles of land are mostly made up of woodland and populated with a large number of elephants. Another claim to fame is the presence of “tree climbing lions”, though they are not commonly seen.
Lake Manyara National Park is very different visually from the other parks of Tanzania and a nice change of pace for those who have spent most of their safari exploring Ngorongoro, Serengeti, or Tarangire. It is also possible to participate in several activities that are not typically permitted elsewhere such as night game drives, canoeing, and a treetop walkway.
This guide seeks to give a quick breakdown of need-to-know information about Lake Manyara National Park.
Where is Lake Manyara National Park?
Lake Manyara is located on the way from Arusha towards Serengeti National Park and very close to Ngorongoro Crater. Its northern shores are only around 30 minutes from the tourism hub town of Karatu and an hour from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The northern tip of Tarangire National Park is also only around 20 minutes from Lake Manyara’s Southeast edge.
How Far is Lake Manyara National Park From Other Destinations in Tanzania?
- JRO Airport: 3 hours
- Arusha City: 2 hours
- Mt. Kilimanjaro basecamp (Moshi): 3.5 hours
- Arusha National Park: 2.5 hours
- Tarangire National Park: 0.5-1 hours
- Ngorongoro Crater: 1 hour
- Seronera (Central Serengeti): 3.5-4 hours
What Kind of Wildlife Can Be Found In Lake Manyara National Park?
Lake Manyara is a birdwatchers paradise. Over 400 species have been found here including Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Crowned Eagle, and of course millions of Flamingo. Hippos also find comfort in the shallow waters of the lake and surrounding swampland. The woodlands are a favorite hangout of the several monkey species that live in the park as well as the large number of elephants. Several big cat species live here including Leopard, African Wild Cat, and the aforementioned tree-climbing Lions.
Common Highlights: Elephant, Hippo, Flamingo, Hornbill, Zebra, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Cape Buffalo, Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Blue Monkey, etc.
Lake Manyara National Park Lodges and Accommodation
A small amount of lodging is available within the park boundaries but because of its small size, we recommend visitors opt for one of the many options in nearby Karatu.
Is Lake Manyara National Park Good For a Day Trip?
If you’re located in Karatu, then yes Lake Manyara is a perfect option for a day trip. Most of the park can be explored in less than a day and its scenery is vastly different than the other parks of Tanzania. If coming from Arusha, we would recommend Arusha National Park or possibly Tarangire National Park.
What is the Best Time Of Year to Visit Lake Manyara National Park?
What constitutes the best time to visit is always subjective depending on what you prioritize. In general, the things to consider with seasonality are:
How busy will it be?
Since bird watching is a major draw here, visitors will “flock” to Lake Manyara in the wet season and dry season alike. Regardless of the time of year, the park is usually empty in the mornings with more visitors opting to come in the afternoon.
What is the weather like? Will the weather limit the accessibility of the park?
During the dry season (June – October) typical temperatures during the day are in the mid-70s and the high 50s in the early mornings and evenings. Rain is extremely rare. All areas of the park will be accessible.
During the wet season temperatures are generally slightly hotter than the dry season (high in low-mid 80s). Regarding precipitation, the wet season is further split into two sub-seasons known as the “long rains” and “short rains.”
The “short rains” are generally in November-December and consist of sporadic afternoon showers that will seldom affect your trip.
The “long rains” are usually between March and mid-May and are characterized by more consistent rains. It usually won’t rain all day, but many days will be overcast and wet. The water level of the lake will rise, making it difficult to navigate to certain areas.
Between the short & long rains (January-February) is an unpredictable dry period. It is not possible to predict when exactly it will arrive in advance.
How easily can you spot the animals?
In general, wildlife is always more difficult to find during the wet season for two reasons. First, the wet season produces more vegetation. The greenery, while beautiful, gives the animals many more places to hide. Second, the animals have more access to water sources so they do not need to concentrate around fewer areas as they do during the dry season.
The above factors are in play for Manyara’s mammal population, but it is the opposite for bird watchers. The rains of the wet season bring migratory birds to the lake by the hundreds of thousands.
If you are coming with hopes of spotting the tree-climbing lions, you should visit in the dry season. If birdwatching is your primary reason for visiting, the wet season is the season to visit.
What are the cost differences?
Because Lake Manyara National Park is already quite inexpensive, the cost savings for going during the wet season are not significant. Cost savings will vary by accommodation choice.
An overview:
Dry Season (June – October)
- The weather is more pleasant. Daytime temperatures are typically in the mid-70s and evenings/mornings will be cool.
- Animals are easier to find. Less vegetation means they have fewer places to hide and lower lake water levels mean they will be more concentrated.
- Less rain means fewer mosquitoes
- Slightly more people and slightly more expensive
- Migratory birds are not present in the park
Wet Season (November – May)
- The weather is a bit hotter and more humid. Temperatures are in the 80s during the day.
- Animals may be more difficult to spot due to heavy vegetation and higher water levels
- More mosquitoes
- Fewer people and slightly less expensive
- There may be slight issues accessing certain parts of the park due to the rains.
- World-class bird watching
What Is The Bottom Line?
Lake Manyara is visually very different than the rest of the parks in the Northern Tanzania safari circuit, making it a nice change of pace on any itinerary.
The small size of navigable land within the park means that it can typically be explored in a day or even half a day.
Entry fees and nearby accommodation costs are reasonable and lower than those of Serengeti or Ngorongoro.
Because one of the primary reasons to visit Manyara is for birdwatching, seasonality can play a factor in the reverse of most of Tanzania’s parks. The wet season would be considered the best time to see the massive flocks of Flamingo, while the dry season will make it easier to spot the famous, but well-hidden tree climbing lions.
Its proximity to Karatu, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park makes it very convenient to pair with any or all of those destinations for your safari trip