Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a scenic and biodiverse park nestled between the Great Rift Valley escarpment and the shallow alkaline waters of Lake Manyara. Though small in size, the park is rich in variety — from lush groundwater forests and open grasslands to the lake’s shoreline dotted with flamingos. It’s especially famous for its rare tree-climbing lions and large troops of baboons. Manyara is an ideal introduction to wildlife in northern Tanzania and is often visited en route to Serengeti or Ngorongoro. Its compact size makes it perfect for a rewarding half- or full-day safari.

• Known for tree-climbing lions — a rare behavior in Africa
• Home to one of the largest baboon troops ever recorded
• Lake Manyara expands and shrinks with the seasons
• Ernest Hemingway once called it “the loveliest lake in Africa”
• Offers diverse scenery in just a few hours of game drive

• Game drives to spot elephants, lions, and giraffes
• Bird watching with over 400 species, especially flamingos
• Canoeing (seasonal, when water levels allow)
• Visit hippo pools and forest boardwalks
• Cultural visits to Mto wa Mbu village nearby

• Location: Northern Tanzania, between Arusha and Ngorongoro
• Travel: ~2 hours by road from Arusha
• Nearest town: Mto wa Mbu

• Tree-climbing lions and large baboon troops
• Elephants, zebras, giraffes, and buffaloes
• Hippos in pools and marshes
• Flamingos, pelicans, and raptors
• Blue monkeys and bushbucks in the forest