Explore Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park is located in northern Tanzania, between Arusha and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  The lake accounts for two-thirds of its 330 sq. km (127 sq. mi) area.

The best time to visit Lake Manyara depends on your viewing priorities.  For game viewing, it is best to visit in the dry seasons – July – October and January – February.  During the wet season (March – June and November – December) it is lush, green and best for birdwatching.

The park can be reached by both road and air.  Traveling with FlashMc Tours from Arusha to Lake Manyara takes about 2-hours to cover 114 km (70 mi) by road.  Scheduled flights depart Arusha for the park’s airstrip.

Yes, Lake Manyara National Park is a well-managed tourist attraction that is safe to visit.  However, care should be taken when interacting with the wildlife.  Practice standard travel safety precautions like securing your valuables and not venturing out alone after dark.

The park is home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, African wild dogs. elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs and numerous antelope species. The lake is a haven for birdlife and over 400 species are represented, including pelicans and flamingos.

After a long absence, African wild dogs are occasionally seen in the national park.  African elephants and Manyara monkeys are another keynote species viewed at the park.

The lake dominates the landscape.  On its shores you encounter papyrus swamps and marshes.  Moving away from the lake one encounters open grasslands, dense woodlands of which the groundwater forests are most striking against the arid plains of the Rift Valley.

Lake Manyara activities include game drives, walking safaris, with seasonal canoeing and year-round birdwatching.  Night game drives are a great way to spot rare nocturnal wildlife.  Visitors can also visit traditional Maasai villages and the Maji Moto hot springs for a restorative experience.

Yes.  The various safari operators, like FlashMc Tours, and lodges all have activities aimed at entertaining children and enhancing their conservation awareness.

Yes.  Especially for the novice, tours led by qualified guides like those employed by FlashMc Tours and the lodges we utilize, are the best way to experience all that Lake Manyara National Park has to offer.

Yes.  Bird photographers in particular will love the lake, although there is plenty of other wildlife and scenery to photograph.

Visitors can opt for full day or twice-daily game drives.  Delicious meals are served at regular intervals, allowing time for other activities such as canoeing or visiting a traditional Maasai community.  Dinner can be followed by an exciting night drive to spot predators on the move.

In and around Lake Manyara National Park there are a variety of accommodation options ranging from campsites to tented camps, eco-lodges and all-inclusive luxury lodges.  One can choose from this selection according to your budget and preference.

The park has numerous viewpoints, picnic sites and visitor centers.  Lodges and camps generally have a restaurant, comfortable public areas, a swimming pool and gift shop.  High-end lodges may offer fitness centers and wellness spas.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving the environmental integrity of the fragile lake ecosystem, with a parallel emphasis on elephant conservation.  Through law enforcement, habitat preservation, species monitoring and habitat restoration, the Lake Manyara National Park also aims to serve the needs of the adjacent communities and safeguard the park for future generations.

Supporting the park through sustainable tourism is one of the most effective ways of contributing to conservation at the park.  Choose eco-friendly safari operators, support local community and conservation efforts and make donations for causes close to your heart.  Enhance this by obeying park rules, minimizing waste and being mindful of your environmental footprint.

Yes, aside from managing the park to the benefit of local communities, the Lake Manyara National Park practices sustainability through job creation, water and soil preservation projects and community upliftment.

Yes.  Near the entrance to the park, tourists can visit Mto wa mbu town; a traditional Maasai village where guests learn about the local people and their cultural history. The nearby Maji Moto hot springs are of historical and cultural importance.

Inhabited for centuries, the land around the lake is integral to local Maasai culture.  The national park is a major employer in the area along with other tourism and agriculture ventures.

Yes.  There is a traditional Maasai village and cultural center near the park entrance, known as Mto-wa-mbu.

With varying temperatures expected, plan to layer your outfit to adjust to temperature changes.  Clothing should be neutral colored, breathable, and light.  Wear a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.  Bug spray, good walking shoes, a camera, binoculars, and a water bottle are all useful.  Bring your personal medication and a small first-aid kit.

Yes, however these are included in the package price when you book your holiday with FlashMc Tours.

Visitors to Lake Manyara National Park are required to follow rules and regulations in place for their safety and to protect the wildlife.  Game drive vehicles may not venture offroad, disturbing or feeding wildlife is prohibited, as is littering and excessive noise.  Kindly show respect for the local people and their customs.

Lake Manyara National Park covers approximately 127 square miles (330 square kilometers), with much of the area taken up by the lake itself.

The drive from Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park typically takes 4 to 6 hours, depending on road conditions and the route taken.

Most travelers spend 1 day or 1 night, often as part of a longer northern Tanzania itinerary.