Lake Manyara National Park

Tucked beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania’s most diverse and scenic gems. Despite its compact size, the park packs an extraordinary variety of ecosystems — from dense groundwater forest draped in vines and epiphytes to open grasslands, acacia woodland, and the shimmering alkaline lake that gives the park its name.

The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, a rare phenomenon that draws visitors from around the world. These magnificent cats can often be spotted lounging on the branches of ancient mahogany and fig trees during the heat of the day. The lake itself hosts vast flocks of flamingos whose pink reflections create one of Africa’s most iconic natural spectacles.

Beyond the headline species, Manyara is a birder’s paradise with over 400 recorded species, from fish eagles to pelicans to the endemic Manyara palm swift. The park’s hot springs at the southern end offer a unique geological attraction, and the groundwater forest is home to troops of baboons and blue monkeys that are remarkably habituated to vehicles.

For many visitors, Lake Manyara serves as the perfect introduction to the Northern Tanzania safari circuit — a taste of the extraordinary that lies ahead on the journey to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.