Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park
Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park : Lake Manyara national park hosts a number of fascinating tourist attractions that are explore while on a Tanzania safari in this amazing Africa safari destination. Lake Manyara national park is located in the Manyara region, 126 kilometers west of Arusha Town and nearest to Tarangire National park. The park is connected to Tarangire through the Kwakuchinja corridor that are used by animals, it can also easily be accessed from Serengeti national park.
Lake Manyara covers an area of 330 square kilometers including 220 square kilometers covered by Lake Manyara when the water levels are high in the rainy season.
Things to see in Lake Manyara national park (The Park’s top attractions) are highlighted below
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is one of the major attractions in Lake Manyara national park, Lake Manyara is a shallow – alkaline lake and also a seasonal lake that swells up and reduces in size basing on the season as it is found within a long silvery bowl of salt deposits.
Lake Manyara covers an area of 220 square kilometers which is two thirds of the park’s total surface area, the lake hosts a large number of pink flamingoes and wildlife such as hippos living in the shallow part of the lake.
Wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National park is a wildlife capital hosting a number of wildlife species which make it a great Tanzania wildlife destination, the park is famous for hosting large number of zebras, impalas, warthogs and waterbucks. Other game found in the park include elephants, wildebeests, giraffes, cape buffaloes among others. On the slopes of the escarpment there live the tinny and renowned shy kirk’s dik dik and the klipspringer.
The route/road circuit for game drives in Lake Manyara national park is limited and can be covered in about 3 to 4 hours that is possible to see the animals that are always on the move.
Focus East Africa Tours we offer wildlife safari to Lake Manyara national park organizing morning, afternoon and full day safari.
Note: morning game drives are far much better as there are fewer vehicles yet the wildlife are more.
Tree Climbing Lions in Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara national park is one of the few places in the world where you can see the unique tree climbing lions, there are two populations of tree climbing lions and the second one is found in the Ishasha Area in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. Every year, Lake Manyara national park receives a very large number of tourists and photographers visiting the park to see the exceptional animals calling the park home.
The large numbers of elephants
Lake Manyara national park is a home to a very large numbers of elephants that are easy to see within the evergreen forests as well as the acacia woodlands. In the area is feed by a high amount of ground water and has verdant vegetation providing adequate group to feed the large herds of forest giants
Birds in Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara national park is one of the Important Birding Areas in Tanzania, large number of birds in the park are found in different habitats, around Lake Manyara you will be able to see huge flocks of pelicans and pink flamingoes, close to the borders of the park and the food plains you will spot egrets, stilts, herons, spoonbills, stalks and other waders.
The woodlands are also very rewarding thanks to the much water around and in the evergreen forests there are several bird species such as crowned eagles, crested guinea fowl and the silvery cheeked hornbills.
The Vegetation in Lake Manyara national park
Lake Manyara national park is set under the magnificent Great Rift Valley’s steep western escarpment which is a long narrow park conserving the area between the escarpment and Lake Manyara. In the vicinity of Lake Manyara, there are wide grassy flood plains and bands of mixed acacia woodlands. There are also patches of captivating evergreen forests that are kept going by perennial ground water springs from the base of the escarpment.
The Tree-top Canopy Walk
In addition to game drives which is the traditional way to view wildlife in Lake Manyara national park, the park has a tree – top canopy where nature walks (Tree – top canopy walk) are offered . This activity offers visitors an opportunity to see wildlife in the park in a unique way, you will be able to see some primates and various species of birds inhabiting in the forest.
Lake Manyara national park is found in the heart of the Masaai County, in this are you can visit the local community where you will experience the unforgettable culture and traditions of the Maasai people in the popular Bomas,
Outside Lake Manyara national park, you can do mountain biking, forest walks in the escarpments and canoe safaris on Lake Manyara when the water levels are suitable.
