Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake along the Rift Valley of Eastern Africa. During the wet season, roughly 2 million flamingoes call Lake Manyara home as they feed along its edges. The park itself is relatively small at 125 sq miles including the 89 sq mile lake. The 36 sq miles of land are mostly made up of woodland and populated with a large number of elephants. Another claim to fame is the presence of "tree climbing lions", though they are not commonly seen.
Lake Manyara National Park is very different visually than the other parks of Tanzania and a nice change of pace for those who have spent most of their safari exploring Ngorongoro, Serengeti, or Tarangire. It is also possible to participate is several activities that are not typically permitted elsewhere such as night game drives, canoeing, and a treetop walkway.
This guide seeks to give a quick breakdown of need-to-know information about Lake Manyara National Park.
Lake Manyara is located on the way from Arusha towards Serengeti National Park and very close to Ngorongoro Crater. Its northern shores are only around 30 minutes from the tourism hub town of Karatu and an hour from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The northern tip of Tarangire National Park is also only around 20 minutes from Lake Manyara's Southeast edge.
Tanzanian park entry fees vary by age, season, and whether or not you are a citizen of East Africa. Fees also are often charged both per person as well as per group. If you sleep in the park, you will also be assessed a concession fee. All park fees are INCLUDED in every Tohe Wildlife Safari itinerary.
The below fees are for NON-East African Adults over 16 years of age. To see the detailed tariff list, click here.
Concession (entry) Fees:
Camp Site Fees (Only assessed if using public Camp sites):
Hotel Concession Fees (Assessed if you stay at a lodge within the park boundaries):
Vehicle Entry Fees:
Lake Manyara is a birdwathers paradise. Over 400 species have been found here includeing Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Crowned Eagle, and of course millions of Flamingo. Hippo also find comfort in the shallow waters of the lake and surrounding swampland. The woodlands are a favorite hangout of the several monkey species that live in the park as well as the large number of elephants. Several big cat species live here including Leopard, African Wild Cat, and the aforementioned tree-climbing Lions.
A small amount of lodging is available within the park boundaries but because of its small size, we recommend visitors opt for one of the many options in nearby Karatu.
See some of the Karatu lodging available within your chosen budget class below:
See here for mid-range options
If you're located in Karatu, then yes Lake Manyara is a perfect option for a day trip. Most of the park can be explored in less than a day and its scenery is vastly different than the other parks of Tanzania. If coming from Arusha, we would recommend Arusha National Park or possibly Tarangire National Park.
Bordering the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara is mostly wooded with a splendid view of the rising ridge. The lake itself is shallow, calm, and covers more than 2/3 of area the park.
What constitutes the best time to visit is always subjective depending on what you prioritize. In general, the things to consider with seasonality are:
Since bird watching is a major draw here, visitors will "flock" to Lake Manyara in the wet season and dry season alike. Regardless of the time of year, the park is usually empty in the mornings with more visitors opting to come in the afternoon.
During dry season (June - October) typical temperatures during the day are in the mid-70s and the high 50's in the early mornings and evenings. Rain is extremely rare. All areas of the park will be accessible.
During wet season temperatures are generally slightly hotter than dry season (high of low-mid 80s). Regarding precipitation, the wet season is further split in two sub-seasons known as the "long rains" and "short rains."
In general, wildlife is always more difficult to find during the wet season for two reasons. First, wet season produces more vegetation. The greenery, while beautiful, gives the animals many more places to hide. Second, the animals have more access to water sources so they do not need to concentrate around fewer areas as they do during dry season.
The above factors are in play for Manyara's mammal population, but it is the opposite for bird watchers. The rains of the wet season bring migratory birds to the lake by the hundreds of thousands.
If you are coming with hopes of spotting the tree climbing lions, you should visit in the dry season. If birdwatching is your primary reason for visiting, wet season is the season to visit.
Because Lake Manyara National Park is already quite inexpensive, the cost savings for going during wet season are not significant. Cost savings will vary by accommodation choice.
