TANZANIAN SAFARIS INFORMATION

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Lake Manyara National Park:
Located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park was proclaimed a game reserve in 1957 and later registered as a National Park. Lake Manyara National Park encompasses an area of 330sq km, of which 200sq km is Lake.

Lake Manyara is located on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti and the park is well worth a stop in its own right. There is also the park’s striking setting, bordered to the west by the dramatic western escarpment of the rift Valley. The entrance gate lies 1.5 hours (126km/80 miles) west of Arusha along a newly surfaced road, close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto Wa Mbu.

Tanzania - Lake Manyara National Park Wildlife Safaris Attractions:

Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the Park is recognized for it incredible beauty. Lake Manyara National park offers varied ecosystems, incredible birdlife and breathtaking views. Its ground water forests, bush plains, baobob strewn cliffs, and algae-streaked hot springs offer incredible ecological variety.

The park’s habitat diversity is mirrored by its varied fauna, with some of the more common and visible large mammal species being the elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe and lion. The alkaline soda of Lake Manyara is home to an incredible array of bird life that thrives on its brackish waters. Pink flamingo stoop and graze by the thousands, colourful specks against the grey minerals of the lake shore.

Lake Manyara is renown for its tree-climbing lions, which sped most of the day spread out along the branches of acacia trees. The park is home to troops of baboons and blue monkeys. Buffalo and hippo lurch in the adjacent hippo pool. Along with the amazing tree climbing lions there are the usual browsers and grazers as well as the curios-looking banded mongoose.

The park has got superb birdlife. More than 400 species of birds including flamingo, pelican, red billed quelea, cormorants, sacred ibis and Egyptian geese, African spoonbill, lesser flamingo, white pelican and white faced duck can be in this area. 
Getting there:
By road, charter or scheduled flight from Arusha, en route to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Attractions and Activities:
Game drives: The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience. Lake Manyara and its well-defined game viewing circuit kick off a high proportion of safaris through northern Tanzania.
Birding: Worth noting is that Manyara, despite its small size, is a great birding reserve. Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks.
Cultural tours:
Cultural tours are conducted in the ethnically diverse market town of Mto Wa Mbu. This village, which lies close to Lake Manyara entrance gate, sees a large volume of tourist traffic and is said locally to be the place in Tanzania where representatives of 120 Tanzanian tribes are resident.
Forest walks:
The forest is relatively a big game territory. The most notable resident of the forest is the Olive baboon and the shy bushbuck might also be encountered. You can also take a forest walk if your main point of faunal interest is the diversity of birds and butterflies.
Other activities include:

• Canoe safaris in the park are also organized.
• Mountain Biking
• Village walks

When to go:
The dry season of July to October is the best time to visit to sport large mammals, whilst the wet season of November to June is the best time for bird watching, water falls and canoeing.
Accommodation:
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge:
This is a small and luxurious tented camp set deep in a mahogany forest about 20 minutes’ drive south of the hot springs at Maji Moto. The lodge offers ultimate in exclusive bush luxury, consisting of stilted en-suite treehouses built with wood and Makuti, with private decks offering great views of escarpment.
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge:
This is a large complex with good setting on the escarpment overlooking the Rift Valley. The grounds offer a panoramic view over the forest and lake, with the Rift valley hills fading to the horizon.
Lake Manyara Tented Camp:
Lake Manyara tented camp is well established with comfortable accommodations and secluded en- suite tents, each of which has a private verandah.
Other Lodges and Campsites: Kirurumu Tented Lodge, National Park Bandas and Campsite, Migunga Campsite, Panorama Safari Camp, Kiboko Bush Camp, amp Vision Lodge, Wild Fig Camp and Jambo Campsite.

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