Lake Manyara National Park lies at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, with the alkaline Lake Manyara occupying two-thirds of the park's 330 km² area. The park is famous for its extraordinary tree-climbing lions — a behaviour seen almost nowhere else in Africa — and its remarkable diversity packed into a small area. The groundwater forest at the park's entrance shelters large troops of olive baboons and blue monkeys, while open grasslands give way to acacia woodland and the lake's alkaline shores where flamingos, pelicans, and storks congregate in their thousands. The park forms the gateway to Tanzania's northern circuit and pairs perfectly with Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. The view from the Rift Valley escarpment, looking down over the forest canopy to the shimmering lake below, is one of the most dramatic in Tanzania.
Highlights
Wildlife You May Encounter
Climate & Weather
Varied. The escarpment top is cooler (18–24°C); the lakeshore is warmer and humid (25–30°C). Long rains Mar–May, short rains Nov–Dec. Best game viewing Jun–Oct and Jan–Feb.
