The stunning Lake Manyara National Park is a protected area in Tanzania’s Arusha and Manyara regions. The closest city is Arusha, Babati, and the park spans the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara, covering an area of 325 square kilometres, of which 230 square kilometres are Lake Manyara. The larger Lake Manyara National Park was established in 1981 by UNESCO as part of its man and the Biosphere Programme. Lake Manyara National Park is located in northern Tanzania along the route leading to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Euphorbia tirucalli plant, also called Emanyara locally and known as Manyara in history, was planted in the region by the Maasai people to protect their livestock from robbers and wild predators like lions and leopards. Lake Manyara National Park was established as a park in 1957, while it had previously served as a Maasai settlement and a venue for athletic competition.
Climate in Lake Manyara national park.
The two rain seasons and one dry season, Lake Manyara National Park experiences short and long rainfall. The months of November through December are characterized by short rains, whereas the months of March through May are characterized by long rains. The highest amounts of rainfall in Lake Manyara National Park occurs in April with 161 mm. The months of July, August, and September are considered to be the dry season; September is the driest month and has the lowest annual rainfall average.
In terms of temperature, January, February, and March in Lake Manyara National Park reach temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, while June and July have the lowest average high temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius.
Tourist attractions in Lake Manyara national park.Â
Lake Manyara.
With a surface area of 230 square kilometres and a depth of 3.7 metres, Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake that occupies a sizable portion of Lake Manyara National Park. At a surface elevation of 1,045 metres above sea level, Lake Manyara is the seventh-largest lake in Tanzania. The lake is a wonderful birding location and is a home to thousands of flamingos, which gives the lake’s shoreline a pink hue. A canoe safari and bird watching are both excellent safari activities in Lake Manyara.
Wildlife.Â
The marshes, acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands, and among others are in Lake Manyara National Park are homes to a variety of wildlife species. The park is also renowned for its tree climbing lions, large population of elephants, and large troop of baboons with over 100 members, which is thought to be the largest in Africa. Hippos, antelopes, zebras, Thomson gazelles, Grant’s gazelles, wildebeests, waterbucks, impalas, warthogs, giraffes, Cape buffalo, and many other animals are also found in Lake Manyara National Park. Many predators, including lions, leopards, African wild cats, spotted hyenas, bat-eared foxes, genets, honey badgers, servals, cheetahs, and African golden cats, can be found in Lake Manyara National Park.
Birdlife.                                                                                       Â
Exceptional bird species can be found in Lake Manyara National Park, where most of the park’s bird species can be found on or around the lake and in the surrounding savannah forests. More than 400 bird species may be seen in Lake Manyara National Park, including raptors, Abdim’s stork, Sacred ibis, Southern ground hornbill, Pied kingfisher, Little stint, Hamerkop, Spur-winged goose, African grey hornbill, African jacana, Baglafecht weaver, crowned eagle, Greater flamingo, Comb duck, Rufous-tailed weaver, Ashy starlings, and black-collared lovebirds, spoonbills, egrets, pink shaded flamingoes. More so, as well as migratory species from Eurasian areas.
Maji Moto springs.
Maji Moto Springs, a stunning safari attraction in park’s southern section, get their name from Swahili word for hot water. Maji Moto Springs is a little oasis in the middle of the park, surrounded by palm and fig trees. The springs heat to around 60 degrees Celsius, and the water forms a pool where park visitors can go swimming.
Tourist activities to do in Lake Manyara national park.Â
Game viewing.
Lake Manyara National Park is a wonderful location for an exhilarating game viewing safari experience. As part of this safari, you will go on a game drive through the park and explore it with a safari guide. On this safari experience you will visit the magnificent lake Manyara where you will spot thousands of animals as they drink water and various bird species, then drive through marshlands, woodlands and acacia dominated terrain spotting animals like tree climbing lions, elephants, hippos, antelopes, zebras, Thomson gazelle and Grant’s gazelle, wildebeests, waterbuck, impalas, warthogs, giraffes cape buffalo and many more .
Both daytime and nighttime game viewing safari are available in Lake Manyara National Park. Â Night game drive provides a very thrilling safari experience and unique perspectives in the area. With the use of a spotlight, you will have the chance to see nocturnal species and predators that live in the Lake Manyara National Park, including lions that are more active at night, leopards, African wild cats, spotted hyenas, bat-eared foxes, genets, honey badgers, servals, and occasionally cheetahs.
Bird watching.
One of Tanzania’s best protected locations for birding is Lake Manyara National Park, which is home to over 400 different bird species that live around the lake, savannah grasslands, and scattered woodlands. The Abdim’s stork, rare pangani long claw, African fish eagle,  crowned eagles, African jacana, silvery-checked hornbills, Comb duck, Crowned eagle, stilts, herons, Great white pelican, stalks, Grey crowned crane, Narina trogon, Sacred ibis, Pied avocet, Hamerkop, Hottentot teal, Little stint and among many others.
The best place to go for a bird watching safari in Lake Manyara national park is Lake Manyara, which is constantly teeming with pelicans and pink flamingos. The abundance of birds in the park makes it to be a birder’s heaven.
Canoeing.
One of the few protected sites in Tanzania that offers a canoeing safari experience is Lake Manyara National Park, which allows paddling as a means of exploring the stunning Lake Manyara. Thousands of flamingos, pelicans, and other wildlife that visit the lake for water can be seen up close by tourists who go on a canoe safari of Lake Manyara.Â
Maasai community visit.
 A cultural and traditional tour to Maasai community is available while visiting Lake Manyara National Park. The Maasai local community is located on the park’s borders. Historically, the Maasai people were the park’s first residents. In Maasai village, you can see circular huts/bomas built of mud and straw, enjoy traditional dances and music, dress in bare-chested shukas, eat locally cooked food, and learn about many other aspects of the indigenous cultural heritage.
Accommodation in Lake Manyara national park.
 Accommodations in Lake Manyara national park are grouped into lodges and camps that are open to visitors all year a long during their visit in the park. Including Lake Manyara hotel, lake Manyara bush camp, beyond lake manyara tree lodge, Africa safari glamping, lake manyara kilimamoja lodge, lake manyara wildlife lodge, Migunga tented camp, lake manyara serene safari lodge, lake manyara tortilis camp, and many more.
How to get to Lake Manyara national park.Â
Most tourists start their journeys to Lake Manyara National Park in Arusha, which is about 126 kilometres to the southwest of the park. From Arusha, the park is reachable by both road and air transport. A drive of one to two hours can be made to the park on well-maintained roads. Domestic flights are also available from the airport in Arusha to the airstrips at Lake Manyara, which serves the Manyara district and Lake Manyara national park.