Lake Manyara National Park; Activities, Photos, Hotels, Map
Lake Manyara National Park in the Arusha region, Northeastern Tanzania is a protected area that covers 325 square kilometers of the Manyara region. It was established in 1960 and initially used as a spot for sports hunting. Lake Manyara is renowned mainly for the diverse ecology it havens. This wildlife conservation area is stationed on the escarpments of the rift valley at the base. Among the notable features present at this park is the superficial Lake Manyara.
The park’s access is feasible and on road it is about 126 kilometers in the southwest of Arusha town. This ease to access makes it a popular station for safaris. This national park is highly significant for its biodiversity, ecosystem diversity, conservation and sustainable tourism, safari destinations, scientific research and cultural recreational values. It crucially plays an immersive role on setting unique atmospheres for cultural experiences plus scientific researches.
Lake Manyara National Park is distinctively characterized by its alkaline nature and its shallow lake. The depth of the lake varies according to change in seasons. The park hosts quite a number of flamingoes that are lured by these alkaline waters. It is a wildlife habitat for numerous wild animals such as buffaloes, hippos and elephants. The park is excitingly a camp for tree climbing lions and an array of bird species.
Attractions at Lake Manyara National Park;
Travelers touring this national Park should get set to watch quite a number of breathtaking landscapes and wildlife. The key attractions include;
- The Great rift valley escarpments
- The alkaline lake Manyara
- Tree climbing lions
- An array of bird species
- Hot springs
- Hippopotamus pools
- Iconic Mto wa Mbu village.
The park brings an array of adventures to its disposal to tourists all over the world. With over 7 exciting activities feasible for tourists to explore the assorted blend of autopsy at this park, Lake Manyara is really a memorable tourism experience.
Activities in Lake Manyara National Park;
Game drives.
These day and night move arounds are among the primary activities at this park. They grant tourists the chance to encounter wildlife inside the park in pop up roof vehicles with clear windows and screens. On these drives, tourists are guaranteed on viewing zebras, giraffes, buffaloes and many other animals in the park.
The highlight reel for these drives is mostly the tree climbing lions which get spotted often in tree branches. Also these game drives present scenic views of the groundwater forests plus the rift valley escarpment. Book this 31 Days Self-drive East Africa Safari to Lake Manyara.
Bird watching.
This national park is rich in bird life. These captivating creatures are renowned interests to birdwatchers. Lake Manyara national park has diverse ecosystems, the likes of grassy plains and groundwater forests that harbor these beautiful birds. Flamingos meanwhile are the most famous birds attracted on Lake Manyara. The amazing pink cues created by these flamingos along the shores are exhilarating.
Birdwatchers and enthusiasts should await observing numerous raptors like hawks and eagles in the treetops and skies. Highlight your bird watching experience with the rare Abyssinian Scimitar bill. This distinctive bird happens to inhabit Lake Manyara and it’s among the handful sites it can be spotted.
Community visits.
Touring local communities around Lake Manyara national park equips travelers with chances of encountering natives. Travelers get to understand the cultures of these people putting a contribution towards the sustainability of tourism practices. On these visits, tourists get to engage in traditional dances that these natives portray, craft demonstrations such as beadworks and pottery plus educational experiences.
Most of these community tours mainly concentrate on equipping visitors with knowledge and education on the local strategies, development projects and community achievements. Engaging in community walks usually costs 59 USD for an adult foreign nonresident, 30 USD for foreign residents and 11800 TSH for East Africans
It is crucial to seek for permission from the community or the contracted guides before recording and snapping any pictures of natives in their communities. Other top interesting activities to engage in at Lake Manyara national park include hiking and nature walks, boat canoe rides, picnics, scenic topography and photography.
Accommodation in Lake Manyara National Park
There are quite a number of accommodation options around Lake Manyara National Park for tourists to choose amongst. These accommodation options include lodges, tented camps and luxury resorts.
The best luxury accommodation options around Lake Manyara National Park is Serena safari Lodge. This high end luxury lodge is at the top of Mto wa Mbu, approximately one kilometer in northern Tanzania.
Serena Safari lodge is at a 2 hour drive distance from Arusha town. It provides the best luxury rooms modeled in a wildlife theme. Its innumerable facilities and amenities are astounding, outclassing its counter parts in the luxury accommodation class. Its facilities and amenities include private Expensive balconies, multi cuisine restaurant, bar and lounge, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi, an accomplished health club, plus many other world-class accommodations.
Full package accommodation for a visitor to this lodge costs 1000 USD each night. Bookings and reservations are eased online via the Serena Safari lodge website or through your travel operator for your wildlife experience at Lake Manyara National Park.
The other available options to choose within the luxury accommodation suites include Escarpment luxury lodge and Kilimamoja lodge.
The best midrange accommodation options around Lake Manyara National Park is Manyara wildlife Safari camp. It is notably the most acquainted in the class of mid-range accommodation.
At Manyara wildlife safari camp, await an exquisite accommodation packed with a delightful lounge, bar and dining area. Manyara wildlife Safari camp offers a cozy cheerful atmosphere in its mid lavish setting.
This lodge costs 120 USD for the full accommodation packages. You can access its website for bookings and any other inquiries on reservations, or reach out to your travel plans operators for your Bwindi Impenetrable adventure for more detailed information about this lodge.
Other midrange accommodation options for lodging while exploring Lake Manyara National Park include Ango tree hotel and Kirurumu Tented lodge.
There are also budget friendly stays around Lake Manyara national Park. Among the wide array of options available for tourists to choose amongst, Foresight Eco lodge and safari emerges the best.
A full economic package at Foresight Eco lodge and safari costs 48 USD. The highlights of this accommodation include a legit sumptuous meal, exquisite night scenes and comfortable rooms.
Other top options you could consider under budget friendly lodges are Mwi village House and the Heart and soul lodge.
Best times to visit Lake Manyara National Park;
When visiting this park, travelers ought to understand the best times to travel. It is essential to note that in Tanzania, there is a wet season and a dry season. These seasons greatly impact park activities.
The dry seasons in Tanzania run from June to October. In these seasons, weather conditions are dry and clear. Vegetation is quite easy to trail through and the paths through the park are dry and easily navigable. This makes observing the congregations of wildlife and bird species slick and exciting.
In the wet season, i.e. from November to May, park activities are usually inconvenienced by morning and evening rains plus muddy terrains. This makes exploration of the rich biodiversity of this park quite challenging. Meanwhile in the wet seasons, the landscapes are lush green and less congestion in the parks. Many herbivores the likes of wildebeests and zebras reproduce in the wet season. This gives tourists an adventure on the calving process.
To experience the best tour at this park, the dry season is recommended. It is the better time to explore throughout this park plus it’s so ideal for starring at birds.
How to get to Lake Manyara National Park?
Lake Manyara National Park can be reached by tourists conveniently by either road or air transport. International travelers to use air transport modes like planes and helicopters, you can take this domestic flight straight at either the Arusha airport or the Manyara strip. The Manyara airstrip is the nearer to the park proximity ranging to just 20 kilometers.
On road, the 126 kilometer journey from Arusha town lasts for about 2-3 hours. Be it self-drive, be it chauffeur driven, the journey is an enthralling one. The road network to this park is very amusing, smooth and comfortable.
Getting to the park without a tour guide is not easy as most travelers are not conversant with the roads of Tanzania. The navigation systems are not so favorable to users without adequate usage skills. Piece of advice is to get an experienced tour guide or more favorably rent a car with a driver from your trusted tour operator to minimize costs.