Often overlooked because of the other two big, famous parks, the small-in-size, yet-large-in-wildlife 325km² Lake Manyara offers a really unusual Africa overland tour. It lies about 130km from Arusha near the small town of Mto Wa Mbu.

Two thirds of the park is covered by the alkaline Lake Manyara, while the remaining third is a slice of marshes, grassland and acacia woodland tucked between the Rift Valley escarpment and lake itself. The views from here are to die for.

Along with buffalo, hyena, storks, pods of hippo, wildebeest, pelicans, geese, herons and cormorants, you’ll come across migrant flamingos. These pink creatures turn the crystalline edges of the soda lake a vibrant pink. Another special resident of Manyara is the renowned tree-climbing lion. Because of the park’s many trees and plants, it’s home to Tanzania’s highest population of elephant per square km.
Tree-climbing lions

Activities:

* Day and night safaris

* Canoeing

* Mountain bike tours

* Abseiling

* Strolling through the forest or along the escarpment

* Panoramic view of Lake Manyara with prolific pink flamingos feeding

* Acacia woodland

* Tree-climbing lions

Articles

Fauna and Flora in Lake Manyara – Tanzania

Tree Climbing Lions of Lake Manyara