Best things to do in Lake Manyara National Park

Best things to do in Lake Manyara national park are the various activities that tourists can engage in during their safaris in the national park which is located south west from Arusha in the northern part of Tanzania.

Lake Manyara park is known for its tree-climbing lions as well as large herds of elephants which can be seen during safaris at the destination as tourists drive around the park and explore its attractions

Tourists from different parts of the world visit Lake Manyara to engage in different activities of their interest in the savannah plains and the diverse habitat which is home to various wildlife and bird species.

Certain fees are required to be paid by the tourists before they engage in activities at the destination. Entrance fees are paid by the visitors going to Lake Manyara national park and these fees are valid for a period of 24 hours after payment has been made.

Nonresidents pay 53 USD for park entrance fees during their visit to Lake Manyara national park while East Africans pay entrance fees in Tanzania shillings (TSH). Adults and children also pay different fees to be allowed to access the destination.

There are a number of activities which tourists can engage in as they explore Lake Manyara park and these include the following;

Game drives

Game drives in Lake Manyara take place at different times of day and include morning game drives, afternoon game drives, evening game drives, night game drives as well as full day game drives.

Wildlife species which can be seen during game drives in lake Manyara national park include elephants, klipspringers, zebras, impalas, gazelles, antelopes, warthogs, hyenas, baboons, monkeys, giraffes, waterbucks among others. These wildlife species can be seen in big numbers in the morning during which they are very active making them easy to see.

Afternoon or evening game drives also take place in Lake Manyara park and they involve tourists exploring the wilderness in the national park during day time. Tourists can enjoy the beautifully diverse scenery at the destination as they are driven around while looking out for wildlife and bird species.

Night game drives are another unique form of wildlife viewing which takes place in Lake Manyara national park and involves searching for the nocturnal wildlife species in the company of a ranger guide. Photography and filming are among the activities which tourists can enjoy during the night game drive in the national park.

There is also the option of having a full day game drive in Lake Manyara national park during wildlife viewing experiences at the destination. Tourists get a chance to see wildlife species at different times of day and to enjoy the beautiful scenery as they explore the attractions around the national park.

Game viewing in Lake Manyara park is best done during the dry season in the months of June to October when the grass is shorter and wildlife species can easily be seen especially around the different water points in the national park as they drink.

Bird watching

Tourists also engage in bird watching activities during their safaris in Lake Manyara national park. Both native and migrant bird species can be seen at the destination especially around the lake shores, in the forests as well as in the floodplains.

Lake Manyara which covers about two thirds of the national park is a good bird watching location. Some of the bird species which are known for being seen at this destination are flamingos. Other bird species which can be seen along the lakeshore include cormorants, rufous tailed weavers, ashy starlings, black collared lovebird, crowned plovers, grey crowned crane, Fischer’s sparrow lark, and black-faced sand grouse among others.

While carrying out bird watching in the forests in the northern part of lake Manyara national park, tourists not only see various bird species but also wildlife species such as monkeys in the trees.

This activity of birding is best done during the wet season around the months of November to March. During these months is also the time of the year when the native bird species are breeding.

Nature walks

Nature walks in Lake Manyara national park offer a close encounter with nature as tourists explore the different attractions in the national park on foot. This activity also involves following different tracks at the destination such as the famous treetop walkway and another trail leads to Majimoto springs.

The treetop walkway is a trail which goes into the forest located near the park entrance of Lake Manyara park. Tourists walk along a suspended bridge through the forest while enjoying views of the canopy.

There are also raised platforms around the national park where tourists can enjoy seeing the savannah plains, acacia woodlands as well as other attractions at the destination. Some of the points where tourists can enjoy seeing the scenery include the hippo view point. This activity can be done at any time of the year since the national park is an all year round wildlife viewing destination making it a must visit destination in the northern part of Tanzania.

Canoe rides

A relaxing canoe ride is also available for tourists visiting Lake Manyara to engage in a variety of activities and too see the different attractions at the destination. This activity is carried out along the shallow alkaline lake which covers about two thirds of the national park.

Due to the fluctuations in the water levels of Lake Manyara, this activity takes place when the water levels are favorable and is done in the company of a guide as tourists enjoy the scenery around the national park and see the different wildlife species grazing in the nearby savannah plains.

Community visits

Community visits for tourists going to Lake Manyara park take place in Mto wa mbu town which is located on the way to the national park. This activity involves interactions between the Maasai people and the tourists as they get to know more about their way of life.

Some of the activities which tourists engage in during their community visits in Mto wa mbu town include visiting the traditional homesteads of the Maasai known as “manyattas”. These houses are built in enclosures for protection of both the livestock and the people.

Tourists also engage in traditional dance performances with the Maasai warriors during their community visits in Mto wa mbu town. The Maasai are known for their traditional dance which involves jumping around while chanting their traditional songs.

Local arts and craft shops as well as local markets are visited by the tourists as they interact with the Maasai people. The art and crafts made by the Maasai women include beaded necklaces, earrings, anklets as well as sandals and belts.

The above activities which tourists can engage in during their visits to Lake Manyara park are among the reasons why they visit the destination.

Plan a trip to Lake Manyara national park and engage in a variety of activities while exploring the different attractions at the destination.