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Location
Lake Manyara National Park is located in the Rift Valley area of Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. It lies 78 miles south-west of Arusha, 34 miles from the Ngorongoro Crater and around 130 miles from the famous Serengeti National Park.
Size
Lake Manyara National Park covers around 125 square miles and of that, Lake Manyara itself makes up 89 square miles.
History
Formerly a sport hunting destination, visited as far back as the 1920s, the Lake Manyara Game Reserve was established around 1957 with the reserve being given national park status around 1960.
Entrance Fees & Permits
With proof of identity requested upon entry, the entrance fee into Lake Manyara National Park is USD 52 per adult and USD 17.70 per child under 12 years of age. This is for over a 24-hour period.
Hours of Operation
The entry gates of Lake Manyara are open between 6am and 6pm daily.
By Road
Visitors to Lake Manyara National Park can enter either through the southern or northern gate. The distance from Arusha is around 78 miles which is an approximate 90 minute drive on roads that have been recently tarred.
By Air
If visitors arrive in either Arusha or Kilimanjaro, most will then drive to Lake Manyara National Park, with a few opting to fly via a chartered flight to Lake Manyara Airstrip. The drive to Lake Manyara National Park is then 10 miles or an approximate 30-minute drive.
Weather & Climate
The weather is mostly mild in Lake Manyara National Park witn the dry season falling between June and early October. The low grass makes for great game viewing at this time of year. The lush conditions during the wet months of December through to May set wonderful conditions for the birdlife and flamingo sightings.
Avoiding Crowds
Consider traveling in the green season between November and January when the short rains fall and just before the long rains which fall between March and May.
Value for Money
There are a variety of accommodation options available in Lake Manyara National Park, with hotels and lodges ranging from comfortable to luxury. Guests can choose to spend just one night here as part of Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, as it is located a comfortable distance between Arusha and the Ngorongoro Crater, or more.
Popular Wildlife Sightings in the Lake Manyara National Park
Animal sightings in the Lake Manyara National Park are always exciting, from zebras and giraffes to vervet monkeys and large herds of elephants. The park is known for its tree-climbing lions and flocks of brillant flamingos that wash the lake pink. Watch hippos at play and take the opportunity to do a night drive and spot porcupines and genets.
The Terrain
Lake Manyara’s cool waters make up two-thirds of Lake Manyara National Park. The surrounding land mass is a blend of grassland and floodplains with woodlands meeting rocky mountain escarpments.
Game Drives
Game drives in Lake Manyara National Park are conducted in enclosed 4×4 vehicles with the option to enjoy a 4×4 open-vehicle when staying at certain lodges. Look out for prides of tree-climbing lions, frolicking zebras, and admire the breathtaking sight of pink flamingos resting on Lake Manyara. On a night drive, keep eyes peeled for hippos on land and cute, nocturnal animals such as civet and genet.
Guided Walking Safaris
Visitors wanting to explore Lake Manyara National Park on foot can enjoy the forest trails of the Msara Trail and Lyamba River Trail in small guided groups. Enjoy amazing views and wildlife spotting across the landscape from the 370 m treetop walkway, made up of suspension bridges winding their way through the trees of Lake Manyara National Park.
A wonderful selection of lodges and camps can be found within Lake Manyara National Park, with options ranging from the classic and larger hotel groups, to luxury and intimate camps set in secluded regions of the park.
Lake Manyara National Park Lodging – Distance from park entrance
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Mandhari Lodge | 26 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| Manyara’s Secret | 16 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| Manyara Wildlife Lodge | 10 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| Manyara Best View Lodge | 13 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| Escarpment Luxury Lodge | 3 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| Kirurumu Manyara Lodge | 7 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| Lake Manyara Serena Lodge | 4.6 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| And Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge | 26 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
| Lake Manyara Kilimanjaro Lodge | 4.6 miles from Lake Manyara National Park Northern Gate |
Maji Moto Hot Springs
Located on a thin piece of land between the Rift Valley and Lake Manyara National Park, the Maji Moto Springs are an absolute oasis for all who visit
Consider visiting Lake Manyara National Park during the dry season which falls between June and September, when the weather and visibility of wildlife is wonderful. For those looking to avoid crowds, visiting between November and March is a good idea. January and February are a great time for bird watching and to see flocks of flamingos.
Visitors to Lake Manyara National Park can look to pay anything from USD 700 to around USD 1200 per person on average for a safari package to the park. The entrance fee to the park is USD 52 for adults and USD 17.70 for children under 12yrs old.
The best way to get to Lake Manyara National Park is by road from Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport, the 78 mile journey from Arusha taking around one and a half hours
The large herds of elephants, the breathtaking sight of pink flamingos in great flocks, and the diverse terrain of the park make Lake Manyara National Park a special place to visit when on safari.
The elephant herds and pink flamingos almost covering the waters of Lake Manyara are a highlight when visiting Lake Manyara National Park. Along with the chance to see tree-climbing lions during your stay makes a wonderful bonus. Hippos, plains game,such as zebras and bushbuck roam the park and nocturnal favorites such as porcupine, genets and bushbabies could make an appearance during a night game drive.
The park gates are open between 6am and 6pm daily.
Pre-booking packages to Lake Manyara National Park is important as it is a popular destination, so availability could be a concern if booked too late. If passing through the park en route to Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha, a day visit is possible.
Doing an enclosed 4×4 or open game drive is the best way to experience Lake Manyara National Park with the option to do nature walks and hikes with a qualified guide.
The well-positioned Lake Manyara Serena Lodge is perfect for families and groups looking for that classic safari-style accommodation while guests who are looking for luxury can choose between Escarpment Lodge and the outstanding opportunity to experience sleeping in the trees at andBeyond Treetop Lodge.
There are no stand alone restaurants at Lake Manyara National Park with guests dining at restaurants present at their chosen lodge or camp.
Maji Moto Hot Springs
Visitors to Lake Manyara National Park can enjoy the tranquil waters of the Maji Moto Hot Springs located a short distance from the park.
Tanzania is alive with colorful wildlife herding in dense and unusual parks – we’ll explore two of these dynamic areas on this spirited Tanzania Safari. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is unique in the world of safaris – it’s the largest intact volcanic crater on Earth. We’ll travel down into this dense, self-contained world of active wildlife in our 4 x 4 Jeep.
The Serengeti. Ngorongoro Crater. Oldupai Gorge. The names are exotic, the locations even more so. This Tanzania Safari will bring you into the heart of the country – to immense savannahs heaving with wildebeests and big cats, and an ancient crater filled with Zebras, gazelles, cheetahs, and flamingoes.
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We’ll touch the origins of mankind at Oldupai Gorge, a millions-year-old record of humankind’s earliest inhabitants. And then, when you’ve explored the best of Tanzania from the ground, our safari will take you to the air with a flight over these same magnificent landscapes and a return to Arusha.
These are Tanzania’s finest parks and we give you a choice to begin this Africa safari adventure at either Lake Manyara or Tarangire National Parks. Manyara is a colorful jewel, filled with thousands of pink flamingoes settled on the shores of a cobalt blue lake. Tarangire is known for its elephants, lots of migrating wildlife, and few tourists. Take your pick of the parks.
Serengeti National Park is perhaps the most famous wildlife reserve in the world, with its horizons filled with wildebeests and zebras. The lion population here is the largest of any park in the region, if not all of Africa. But for sheer density of big cats, nothing beats the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact volcanic caldera on the planet.
We’ll visit these wild, colorful and memorable parks and all the wildlife that live upon these vital lands on this five-day Natural World Kenya Safaris exploration.
5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS: NGORONGORO CRATER – NDUTU AREA -LAKE MANYARA PARK
We created this safari to bring you up close to the wonders of Tanzania… wonders like the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, and a wildlife universe unto itself, cut off from the rest of Africa.
The Ndutu Area is the engine of the Great Wildebeest Migration – it’s where the millions of wildebeests and other grazers settle for the calving season, from December through March, giving birth to up to half a million newborns every winter.
From Ngorongoro Crater to Enchanting Lake Manyara
Tour includes:5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS: NDUTU AREA – NGORONGORO CRATER
This is where you’ll find astonishing and active wildlife – the Ndutu Area is one of the best spots to witness the drama of the Great Migration and Ngorongoro is unmatched for its density of animal life.
dutu pulsates with limitless numbers of wildebeests and zebras as these are the calving fields that ultimately populate the migration. From December through April, the fresh grasses of Ndutu attract millions of herding grazers to give birth to their young, as many as 8,000 a day!
Here the newborns take their first steps, issue their first cries and quickly learn and grow to keep up with the vast herds of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles. Then, come spring, they move north toward still more fresh grasses in the unending cycles of the Great Migration.
Witness The Great Migration, Plus Incredible Ngorongoro
Tour includes:We designed this Total Tanzania Safari to show you the best of our beautiful country – its overflowing wildlife on boundless plains, across sterling lakes, and even down into lush, teeming crater floors. Serengeti National Park is home to more lions than any other spot in Africa – an astonishing range of animals populate its sweeping tracts stretching out to the horizon.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a world unto itself – over 25,000 animals dwell across this isolated volcano floor – lions, leopards, rhinos, baboons, even pink flamingoes thrive in these nether reaches. You’ll discover elephants, buffalo, lion, and leopard on our sojourn to Tarangire National Park, and small but exquisite Lake Manyara National Park always delights with its thousands of bright pink flamingoes filling its sparkling shores.
6 Day Tanzania safari visiting Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro.
Safari proceeds to Lake Manyara, the expansive Serengeti Reserve and the amazing Ngorongoro Crater.
The safari is starts and ends in Arusha visiting the best of Tanzania national parks.
Safari proceeds to Lake Manyara, the expansive Serengeti Reserve and the amazing Ngorongoro Crater.
7 DAYS, 6 NIGHTS: TARANGIRE PARK – NDUTU AREA – SERENGETI PARK – NGORONGORO CRATER
This specially designed tour will give you opportunities to see the birthing fields when up to 500,000 wildebeest newborns are dropped onto the vast fields of the Ndutu Area of the Serengeti.
On this tour we will explore Tarangire National Park, Ndutu Area, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater.
Witness the Awesome Cycles of The Great Migration
Tour includes:This is a combination of Wildlife and Cultural safari in Tanzania.
The 10 day tour visits the first class national parks in Tanzania, Arusha Naitional Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manayara, the world famous Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.
An amazing 9 day (8 nights) safari exploring Kenya and Tanzania. 5 parks visited. Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Lake Victoria, Maasai Mara and Nairobi.
See 5 famous Parks & Reserves
An amazing two full week adventure – experience Kenya’s finest parks alongside Tanzania’s Serengeti. Tour includes Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Lake Victoria, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Amboseli,
Two full weeks East Africa safari adventure
Twiga Lodge & Campsite is located at Mto wa Mbu -one and a half hour drive from Arusha town. Its extensive facilities and beautiful setting has made Twiga a very popular stopover along the route to many Northern Circuit Tourist attractions.
Nsya Lodge has all that you could wish for during your visit to Tanzania’s spectacular Great Rift Valley. The lodge has beautiful spacious gardens and is set amongst an Acacia Forest.
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge is set high on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, enjoying a marvellous, uplifting and panoramic view eastward over Lake Manyara, the Rift floor and Mt. Losimingori
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge welcomes you with a peaceful location amidst the rich wildlife and unsurpassed tranquility of Lake Manyara National Park.
Nestled on the rim of the Great African Rift Valley with stunning views over Lake Manyara, Mount Meru and on a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Perched high on the rim of the Great Rift Valley, Escarpment Luxury Lodge is a serene haven overlooking the wonder of Lake Manyara below.
Twiga Lodge & Campsite is located at Mto wa Mbu -one and a half hour drive from Arusha town. Its extensive facilities and beautiful setting has made Twiga a very popular stopover along the route to many Northern Circuit Tourist attractions.
Nsya Lodge has all that you could wish for during your visit to Tanzania’s spectacular Great Rift Valley. The lodge has beautiful spacious gardens and is set amongst an Acacia Forest.
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge is set high on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, enjoying a marvellous, uplifting and panoramic view eastward over Lake Manyara, the Rift floor and Mt. Losimingori
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge welcomes you with a peaceful location amidst the rich wildlife and unsurpassed tranquility of Lake Manyara National Park.
Nestled on the rim of the Great African Rift Valley with stunning views over Lake Manyara, Mount Meru and on a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Perched high on the rim of the Great Rift Valley, Escarpment Luxury Lodge is a serene haven overlooking the wonder of Lake Manyara below.
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry season (December– February and June - August) when conditions are especially good for trekking to view mountain gorillas. Game drives in the national parks are also fruitful during this time.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Uganda safari. Dress in layers and bring a warm sweater for morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sunhat and gardening gloves are also a good idea; the jungle is dense and thick.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda with basic accommodations starting at $96 per person, per day, plus the Uganda gorilla trekking permit which costs $700 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips range from $10 to $20 per person per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
If you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek in Uganda, your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas or in regions close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Uganda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Uganda live at between 4,900 to 7,500 feet. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the country’s mountain gorillas, has a high point of 8,550ft.
The best time to go on a gorilla trek in Rwanda is during the dry season (June - September) when conditions are best for trekking to view the country’s highlight: the fascinating mountain gorillas.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Rwanda gorilla trek. Dress in layers and don’t forget a sweater for chilly morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, broken-in hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sun visor and protective gloves – such as gardening gloves - are also useful.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda with basic accommodations starting at $720 per person, per day, plus the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit which costs $1,500 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips for your guide are $25 per person, per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
Rwanda is one of the safest countries in Africa, particularly if you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek. Your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas. Cross-border travel into the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Burundi is not safe, however, so steer clear of this.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Rwanda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Rwanda live at between 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Volcanoes National Park has a high point of 15,000ft.
Contact us for more information
For more information about our safari excursions, or to book your dream safari trip with Natural World Kenya Safaris, simply get in touch with our friendly travel advisors. Give us a call on +254 704 001 122 or leave your details on our contact us page, and we'll reply as quickly as possible.
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