Location of Lake Manyara National Park

Location of Lake Manyara National Park: Lake Manyara national park is among the famous wildlife viewing destinations that are located in the northern part of Tanzania. This national park is located in a close proximity to Arusha town.

The national park was named after a plant known as “emanyara” in the Maasai dialect. Lake Manyara national park was established with the intention of protecting elephants which can be seen in many numbers during a safari at the destination.

Apart from the many elephants in Lake Manyara national park, tourists can also see the rare tree climbing lions in the trees around the national park. These tree climbing lions are unique to certain destinations and can also be seen in Queen Elizabeth national park in south western Uganda.

To be allowed entry at this location, tourists make payment for entrance fees of about 53 USD for foreign tourists and the east African visitors pay entrance fees at Lake Manyara national park in Tanzania shillings (TSH).

Other wildlife viewing destinations that are located in the northern part of Tanzania include Serengeti national park, Tarangire national park and Ngorongoro conservation area that make up the northern tourist circuit.

The strategic location of Lake Manyara national park has also made it possible for a number of activities to take place at this destination which includes the following;

Game drives: Lake Manyara national park is a good location to see various wildlife species during the game drives that take place during the morning, in the afternoon or evening, in the night and also for a full day.

Morning game drives in Lake Manyara national park take place early in the morning at a time when the wildlife species are very active and can easily be seen. The wildlife species that can be seen at this location include zebras, giraffes, hippos, klipspringers, cheetahs, buffalos, warthogs, antelopes, baboons among others. Monkeys and different birds can be seen in the forested area of the national park.

Other game drives that tourists engage in during their visits to this destination include the afternoon or evening game drives that take place during the day. The chances of seeing wildlife species during the day are less compared to the morning game drive since the wildlife seek shade from the heat of the sun and are hidden.

Night game drives in Lake Manyara national park also take place and during this type of game drive at this location, tourists get an experience with the nocturnal wildlife species and this game drive takes place in the company of a ranger guide.

Tourists also engage in full day game drives during their safaris to Lake Manyara national park and they involve exploring the wilderness of the national park starting in the morning and continuing for the rest of the day while enjoying the beautiful scenery around.

Nature walks: There are also nature walks that tourists can engage in during their visit to this location in the northern part of Tanzania. The trails followed by tourists during their nature walks in Lake Manyara national park include the treetop walkway and the majimoto walkway.

Nature walks in Lake Manyara national park give the visitors a close interaction with nature in their surroundings and also an experience with wildlife species in the national park such as monkeys in the forest which can be seen as tourists follow the treetop walkway.

Canoe rides: At this location, another activity which takes place is a canoe ride along Lake Manyara. This activity takes place when the water levels are favorable for the experience during which tourists can see wildlife and bird species especially along the lake shores.

Tourists visiting Lake Manyara national park to engage in a canoe ride can also enjoy views of the rift valley escarpment as well as the forests and the woodlands that make up the scenery of the national park.

Birding: Lake Manyara national park is a good location for a birding excursion especially around the lake area, the floodplains, and also in the forested part of the national park. Flamingos can be seen around the shores of Lake Manyara and other bird species that can be seen in the national park include storks, cormorants, pelicans, grey crowned cranes, rufous tailed weavers, ashy starlings, black collared lovebirds, black faced sand grouse, silvery cheeked hornbills, turaco among others.

Birding in Lake Manyara national park is a very rewarding activity and both migrant and native bird species can be seen at the destination. The best time of the year to see the various bird species is during the months of November to July.

Community visits: Tourists on a safari to Lake Manyara national park also engage in community visits in Mto wa mbu town which is located on the way to the national park. During this activity, tourists interact with the Maasai people and get to know more about their way of life.

A number of activities also take place as tourists interact with the Maasai people and these include traditional dance performances by the Maasai warriors who can be seen jumping up and down following the rhythm of the traditional songs being chanted,

The local art and craftwork of the Maasai is also part of the community visit and they include the beaded necklaces, anklets and earrings made by the Maasai women in different colors and patterns.

Tourists also visit the traditional homesteads of the Maasai known as “manyattas” during their community visits at this location. These homesteads are built in a unique way and are enclosed in thorn fences to keep the locals safe and also to protect the livestock that the Maasai depend on such as cattle, sheep and goats.

Attractions that can be seen at this location as tourists explore Lake Manyara national park and engage in various activities include the following;

Lake Manyara: Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake that is located in Lake Manyara national park and it is known to cover a big part of the national park. The lake is also known for being a good location to see various bird species along its shores.

Wildlife and bird species: Different wildlife and bird species can also be seen during a safari in Lake Manyara national park and these include the rare tree climbing lions as well as the herds of elephants that can be seen around the national park.

Other wildlife species that can be seen at this location include buffalos, hippos, antelopes, zebras, klipspringers, gazelles, hyenas, hippos, baboons, monkeys, giraffes among others that roam and graze in the savannah plains and woodlands at the destination.

The Rift valley escarpment is another attraction that makes up the diverse scenery in the national park and can be seen during a safari in Lake Manyara national park.

How to get to Lake Manyara national park

An important question when planning a safari to any location is how to access the destination and in this case, Lake Manyara national park can be accessed by both road and air means.

By air, tourists can access Lake Manyara national park through flights to Lake Manyara airstrip. Alternatively, tourists can use road means to get to the national park by driving from Arusha to the destination.

There are also a variety of accommodation facilities at this location for tourists on safari to Lake Manyara national park and they range from luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations and budget accommodations.

Visit Lake Manyara national park for a wide range of wildlife viewing adventures both in the comfort of your car and on foot by booking your safari with Focus East Africa tours.