Lake Manyara National Park

lake manyara national park

Best Time to Visit Tanzania

Tanzania is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on your activities.

For wildlife safaris, the dry seasons from June to October offer excellent game viewing, including the Great Migration in the Serengeti.

January to February is ideal for witnessing the calving season. For Mount Kilimanjaro treks, the best conditions are from January to March and June to October.

Beach lovers visiting Zanzibar will enjoy the dry months of December to February and June to October.

 

Lake Manyara National Park Overview

Stretching for 50 kilometers along the base of the striking 600-meter high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic treasure in Tanzania. Ernest Hemingway once described it as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa.” The park offers a compact yet diverse safari experience, showcasing various ecosystems in a small area.

The game-viewing circuit begins at the entrance gate and meanders through lush groundwater forests, where visitors can spot baboon troops lounging by the roadside, blue monkeys darting between ancient mahogany trees, and bushbucks moving cautiously in the shadows. The air is filled with the noisy calls of forest hornbills high in the canopy.

In contrast to the dense forest, the expansive floodplains offer sweeping views of the alkaline lake, stretching eastward toward the jagged volcanic peaks rising from the Maasai Steppe. Large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, and zebras gather here, along with giraffes, some of which appear almost black due to their dark coloration.

A belt of acacia woodland, located inland from the floodplains, is known for its population of tree-climbing lions and large tusked elephants. The area also hosts banded mongoose, Kirk’s dik-diks, and klipspringers, often seen on rocky outcrops near the hot springs that bubble and steam along the southern shore.

Lake Manyara is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 400 species recorded. Visitors can expect to see large flocks of flamingos on their annual migration, as well as pelicans, cormorants, and storks.

About Lake Manyara National Park

  • Size: 330 square kilometers (127 square miles), with up to 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) of lake when water levels are high.
  • Location: Northern Tanzania, 1.5 hours (126 km/80 miles) west of Arusha, near the vibrant town of Mto wa Mbu.

Getting There

Lake Manyara is easily accessible by road from Arusha, and you can also reach it via charter or scheduled flights en route to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.

What to Do

  • Game Drives: Explore the park’s wildlife on guided safari drives.
  • Night Game Drives: Experience the park’s nocturnal wildlife.
  • Canoeing: Available when water levels are high enough.
  • Cultural Tours: Learn about the local communities and their traditions.
  • Other Activities: Picnics, bush lunch/dinner, mountain biking, abseiling, and forest walks on the escarpment just outside the park.

When to Visit

  • Dry Season (July-October): Ideal for spotting large mammals as they gather near water sources.
  • Wet Season (November-June): Best for bird watching, experiencing the waterfalls, and canoeing.

How to Get a Tanzania Visa

Obtaining a Tanzania visa is simple and convenient. You can apply online via the Tanzania eVisa Portal, at a Tanzanian embassy, or on arrival at major entry points such as airports and border crossings.

Requirements typically include a valid passport with at least six months’ validity, a completed application form, and payment of the visa fee.

A single-entry tourist visa costs $50 for most nationalities, while US citizens pay $100 for a multiple-entry visa.

The eVisa process usually takes about 10 business days for approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

The dry season (July-October) is great for seeing large mammals, while the wet season (November-June) is perfect for birdwatching, canoeing, and visiting the waterfalls.

t’s about a 1.5-hour drive (126 km/80 miles) along a newly surfaced road. You can also reach the park via charter or scheduled flights.

? You can spot tree-climbing lions, large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, and a wide variety of birds, including flamingos, pelicans, and storks.

, visitors can enjoy night game drives, canoeing (when water levels are sufficient), cultural tours, mountain biking, and forest walks

0 square kilometers (127 square miles), with the lake covering up to 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) when water levels are high.

Yes, Lake Manyara is conveniently located along the route to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, making it an excellent stop during a safari tour.

bsolutely! The wet season (November-June) is a great time for birdwatching, as the park attracts a variety of migratory birds, and the waterfalls are at their most spectacular.

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