Lake Manyara National Park is a shallow, alkaline lake which attracts masses of pink flamingoes. A narrow strip of forest runs between the lake and the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley wall which forms the border to the park. Within this forest there is permanent fresh spring water trickling from the rift wall and this supports a great deal of wildlife, including massive troops of baboons which you can be entertained by for hours and many elephants - the elephants here are very used to vehicles and go about their business not worried by people, enabling you to get up close to these magnificent animals.
Lake Manyara National Park is most well known for its herds of elephants, and for its unusual tree-climbing lions. This was the location for the comprehensive research and subsequent book “Among the Elephants” by Iain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton. The park is also home to hippos, baboons, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, and is particularly good for bird watching with over 380 species having been recorded.
It is a good destination all year, being permanently fed by freshwater on the rift valley floor and with easy access on good roads from Arusha. In the dry season Manyara offers a welcome respite from the dusty plains with it's forest area and lush swamps.
Click here to buy a hand-drawn map of Lake Manyara.