10 Top Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park

10 Top Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park looks at the ten different factors within the national park which attract tourists to this destination located south west from Arusha and in the northern part of Tanzania.

Tourists visiting Lake Manyara national park are interested in the ten top things which include the following;

Tree climbing lions: Tree climbing lions are among the unique attractions which can be seen by tourists and other visitors as they drive in Lake Manyara national park. These lions with the unique behavior of tree climbing can only be seen in a few other destinations around the world which makes them a must see attraction during a safari to this national park.

These lions are said to climb trees for reasons such as avoiding insects as well as taking refuge from wildlife species such as elephants and buffalos which charge at them. The lions can be seen up in the trees such as acacia trees, desert date trees, and sausage trees, especially during the day time.

From up in the trees, the tree-climbing lions are also able to observe their prey in the savannah plains of the national park. They can also be seen in Queen Elizabeth national park in the south western part of Uganda in ishasha sector.

Lake Manyara: It is a known fact that a big part of the total area covered by Lake Manyara national park consists of a lake. Lake Manyara covers about two-thirds of the national park and is also described as a major attraction at the destination.

The lake can also be described as a shallow alkaline or salt lake which tourists can see during their safaris in the national park. Lake Manyara is known for its fluctuations in water levels due to different factors such as change in seasons whereby in the dry season, the water level is low compared to the wet season.

Different bird species can also be seen along the shores of this lake and these include flocks of flamingos. Apart from being a good bird watching location, wildlife species such as hippos can also be seen at this lake.

Elephants: Lake Manyara national park which was initially established to protect elephants is known for having many of these creatures which can be seen in the savannah plains as well as in the forested part of the national park.

Other wildlife species: Lake Manyara national park is among the popular wildlife viewing destinations in the northern part of Tanzania. This means that a variety of wildlife species can be seen by tourists on safari in the national park.

Apart from elephants and tree climbing lions, other wildlife species in Lake Manyara national park include gazelles, impalas, klipspringers, antelopes, baboons, giraffes, buffalos, monkeys, hippos, zebras, waterbucks, warthogs, leopards and many others.

These wildlife species can be seen during the many wildlife viewing activities which tourists engage in during their safaris to Lake Manyara national park such as game drives, nature walks, as well as canoeing.

The best time of the year to see the different wildlife species in Lake Manyara national park is during the dry season in the months of June to October when the wildlife species gather to drink around the water points in the national park. The road conditions are also favorable and the grass is shorter during the dry season making it easy to see the different wildlife species in the savannah plains.

Diverse scenery: Lake Manyara national park is also known for its diverse scenery which acts as habitat to the various wildlife species which can be seen during safaris in the national park. The national park consists of acacia woodlands, swampy marshes as well as open savannah plains.

Tourists can also enjoy views of the rift valley escarpment during their wildlife viewing experiences in Lake Manyara national park. The forests in the northern part of the national park near one of the park entrance also offer amazing views to tourists during their safaris at the destination.

The amazing scenery in Lake Manyara national park also offers amazing photography opportunities for visitors at the destination.

Treetop walkway: The treetop walkway is another attraction in Lake Manyara national park which tourists can experience during their safaris. This walkway is followed by tourists during their nature walking adventures at the destination.

Tourists follow a suspended bridge into the forest during their nature walk along the treetop walkway. There are also view points along this walkway where tourists can stop and enjoy seeing the amazing views of the national park and also have a short rest before continuing for their nature walks.

It also provides a close encounter with nature as tourists move on foot in the company of a ranger guide while adventuring along the treetop walkway.

Flamingos: A flock of flamingos can also be seen by tourists as they explore the shores of Lake Manyara during their wildlife viewing experiences or as they engage in the different activities around the national park.

Many tourists are interested in seeing these flamingos which gather along the shores in big numbers as they feed. Other bird species can also be seen along the shores of Lake Manyara and they include both migrant and local or native bird species such as ashy starlings, black faced sand grouse, crowned plovers, Fischer’s sparrow lark, grey crowned cranes, rufous tailed weavers and many others.

A good time of the year to see the different bird species in Lake Manyara national park is during the wet season during the months of November to march.

Night game drives: Being a wildlife viewing destination in the northern part of Tanzania, Lake Manyara national park offers tourists a variety of wildlife viewing activities which include game drives that take place at different times of day such as in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, in the night as well as for a full day.

In the morning, different wildlife species are active and easy to see as the tourists drive around the savannah plains of the national park as compared to the afternoon game drive when the wildlife species are a little difficult to see in the savannah plains.

Full day game drives involve driving around in search of different wildlife species and observing their behavior the whole day which makes it a very satisfactory wildlife viewing activity which is also recommended.

Night game drives are a unique wildlife viewing experience which tourists viewing lake Manyara can engage in. This activity involves driving around in the darkness in search of nocturnal wildlife species which include predators such as lions and leopards as well as civets, caracals among others. This activity takes place in the company of a ranger guide.

Forests: Lake Manyara national park is also known for its forests which make up the diverse scenery of the national park. Various activities take place in these forests and they include nature walks and bird watching experiences. The forest can be seen near one of the entrances to Lake Manyara national park and bird species as well as wildlife such as monkeys and baboons can be seen in the forest.

Maasai experience in Mto wa mbu town: On the way to Lake Manyara national park, tourists can have a stop in Mto wa mbu town which offers a cultural experience with the Maasai people who are known for their unique culture and way of life.

Tourists engage in different activities during their interaction with the Maasai in Mto wa mbu town and these include visiting the “manyattas” which are traditional homesteads of the Maasai. They also participate in traditional dance performances with the Maasai warriors and also visit the local market and craft and art shops where local artwork such as beaded necklaces, earrings, bangles, anklets, sandals and belts are displayed.

Experience the 10 top attractions in Lake Manyara national park by booking a trip to Lake Manyara national park with Focus East Africa tours.