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Lake Manyara National Park

The Serengeti: sanctuary of the Big Five, crowned Africa’s Leading National Park 2025, and the backdrop for the Great Wildebeest Migration as well as numerous films. Experience this natural wonder on your safari and carry unforgettable memories for a lifetime.

Home > National Parks Tanzania > Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park offers a remarkable safari experience, celebrated for its dramatic landscapes and the expansive soda lake that stretches across nearly three-quarters of its area. The park is alive with wildlife — from playful troops of baboons in the woodlands to majestic elephants and the renowned tree-climbing lions. Along the lakeshore, visitors may encounter buffalo, warthogs, giraffes, wildebeest, and zebras, alongside a rich variety of bird species. Its strikingly varied terrain — ranging from acacia woodlands and thick jungle to towering escarpments and open plains — makes it a true sanctuary for nature enthusiasts.

Great Rift Valley Cliffs

Lake Manyara is an ideal spot to marvel at the striking 400-meter-high Rift Valley Escarpment. Stretching along the eastern side of Africa, the Great Rift Valley was created around 20 to 25 million years ago when the earth’s crust split apart. This immense natural wonder is so vast that it can even be spotted from space, resembling two parallel lines cutting across Africa. Its diverse landscapes nurture distinct ecosystems that host an extraordinary range of plants and wildlife.

Explore our Tanzania Wild Life Voyages safaris to discover how Lake Manyara can be woven into your journey.

Journey Duration to Lake Manyara

  • Arusha → Lake Manyara National Park: Approx. 2.5 hours
  • Lake Manyara National Park → Tarangire National Park: About 1 hour
  • Lake Manyara National Park → Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Roughly 1 hour
  • Lake Manyara National Park → Serengeti: Around 3.5 hours

Ideal Time to Explore Lake Manyara

The ideal period to view large mammals in Lake Manyara is the dry season, between July and October. For bird enthusiasts, the park is most rewarding from November through June, when it hosts a remarkable variety of species – including pelicans, African fish eagles, hornbills, hamerkops, black herons, little bee-eaters, and many others.

Details and Insights

Breathtaking vistas of the Great Rift Valley, rich birdlife, playful baboon troops, zebras, elephants, and tree-climbing lions, along with the vast soda lake and remarkably varied landscapes, make Lake Manyara a destination truly worth experiencing.

Frequently Seen Wildlife
  • Zebras

  • Giraffes

  • Lions

  • Elephants

  • Impalas

  • Wildebeests

  • Buffalos

  • Baboons

  • Blue Monkeys

Key Information about Serengeti National Park
  • Vast soda lake spanning nearly 75% of the park

  • Home to the world’s largest concentration of baboons

  • Park extends across the Rift Valley Escarpment

  • Natural hot springs

  • Premier birdwatching site with over 400 recorded specie

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