Lake Manyara National Park

National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Tanzania 648 km² (250 mi²) Est. 1960

About Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a compact gem nestled between the dramatic western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley and the soda waters of Lake Manyara. Despite its relatively small size of 648 square kilometers, two-thirds of which is the lake itself, the park packs an incredible diversity of habitats and wildlife into its narrow strip of land. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, vast flocks of flamingos that paint the lakeshore pink, and its dense groundwater forest teeming with primates. Ernest Hemingway once described it as 'the loveliest [lake] I had seen in Africa.' It serves as an excellent introduction to Tanzania's northern safari circuit and is easily combined with visits to the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti.

24

Safari Tours

4.1

Avg Rating

3/5

Big Five

66

Years Protected

Highlights

Famous tree-climbing lions offer unique viewing experiences
Stunning Great Rift Valley escarpment scenery
Excellent bird watching including vast flocks of flamingos
Compact size allows a thorough visit in half a day

Considerations

Small land area means limited game drive routes
Often treated as a quick stop rather than a destination in its own right
Lake levels fluctuate significantly, affecting flamingo presence
Dense vegetation can make wildlife spotting difficult

Wildlife

Big Five Status

🦁

Lion

occasional

🐆

Leopard

Not present

🐘

Elephant

common

🦬

Buffalo

common

🦏

Rhino

Not present

Notable Species

Lion

Occasional

Elephant

Common

Cape Buffalo

Common

Baboon

Common

Giraffe

Common

Zebra

Common

Wildebeest

Common

Hippo

Common

Impala

Common

Fish Eagle

Common

Common Occasional Rare

Best Time to Visit

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Peak Season Good Time Less Ideal

Climate Overview

Getting There

Lake Manyara is approximately 130 kilometers west of Arusha, about a 2-hour drive on paved roads. It is often the first or last stop on northern circuit safaris. A small airstrip is located near the park entrance.

Nearest Airport

Lake Manyara Airstrip (LKY)

Nearest City

Arusha

Drive Time

2 hours

Safari Tours (24)

8-Day Northern Tanzania Wildlife Camping Safari

8-Day Northern Tanzania Wildlife Camping Safari

Signature Safari

8 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Budget•Camping

Visits: Serengeti National Park • Tarangire National Park • Lake Manyara National Park +1

From

$1,592 /person

Customizable

Signature Safari

4-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara Camping Safari

4-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara Camping Safari

Signature Safari

4 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Budget•Camping

Visits: Tarangire National Park • Lake Manyara National Park • Ngorongoro Crater

From

$920 /person

Customizable

Signature Safari

5-Day Mid-Range Northern Tanzania Safari

5-Day Mid-Range Northern Tanzania Safari

Signature Safari

5 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Lodge

Visits: Serengeti National Park • Tarangire National Park • Ngorongoro Crater +1

From

$1,307 /person

Customizable

Signature Safari

7-Day Midrange Northern Circuit Safari

7-Day Midrange Northern Circuit Safari

Signature Safari

7 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Lodge

Visits: Serengeti National Park • Tarangire National Park • Lake Manyara National Park +1

From

$2,145 /person

Customizable

Signature Safari

8-Day Mid-Range Serengeti Migration Safari

8-Day Mid-Range Serengeti Migration Safari

Signature Safari

8 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Lodge

Visits: Tarangire National Park • Ngorongoro Crater • Serengeti National Park +1

From

$2,445 /person

Customizable

Signature Safari

4-Day High-End Tanzania Safari

4-Day High-End Tanzania Safari

Signature Safari

4 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Visits: Tarangire National Park • Ngorongoro Crater • Lake Manyara National Park

From

$2,000 /person

Customizable

Signature Safari

7-Day Tanzania Big Five Safari

7-Day Tanzania Big Five Safari

Natalia Safari Tours

7 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Mixed

Visits: Tarangire National Park • Serengeti National Park • Lake Manyara National Park +1

From

$2,130 /person

Customizable

Natalia Safari Tours

10-Day Northern Tanzania Safari & Cultural Experience

10-Day Northern Tanzania Safari & Cultural Experience

5.0(2)·Africa's Wild Wonders

10 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Mixed

Visits: Tarangire National Park • Lake Manyara National Park • Ngorongoro Crater +2

From

$2,650 /person

Customizable

Africa's Wild Wonders

5-Day Midrange Northern Circuit Safari Adventure

5-Day Midrange Northern Circuit Safari Adventure

5.0(2)·Africa's Wild Wonders

5 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Mixed

Visits: Tarangire National Park • Ngorongoro Crater • Serengeti National Park +1

From

$1,200 /person

Customizable

Africa's Wild Wonders

6-Day Midrange Northern Circuit Safari Adventure

6-Day Midrange Northern Circuit Safari Adventure

5.0(2)·Africa's Wild Wonders

6 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Lodge

Visits: Tarangire National Park • Ngorongoro Crater • Lake Manyara National Park +1

From

$1,600 /person

Customizable

Africa's Wild Wonders

9-Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari

9-Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari

Burigi Tours and Safaris

9 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Mid-Range•Tented Camp

Visits: Lake Manyara National Park • Tarangire National Park • Ngorongoro Crater +1

From

$7,755 /person

Burigi Tours and Safaris

6-Day Budget Camping Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara

6-Day Budget Camping Safari: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara

Blue Mist Safaris

6 days•Tanzania•Private tour

Budget•Camping

Visits: Serengeti National Park • Ngorongoro Crater • Tarangire National Park +1

From

$1,065 /person

Blue Mist Safaris

Showing 13 to 24of 25 results

Lake Manyara National Park

24 tours available