Groundwater forest
Fig and mahogany just inside the gate, with baboon troops, blue monkeys and elephant.
Northern Tanzania · Rift escarpment
Lake Manyara
Groundwater forest, an alkaline lake and the wall of the Rift Valley within a compact, easily added park.
- Best time
- Jun–Oct
- Getting there
- 1 hr 45 drive from Arusha
- We suggest
- A full day
- Known for
- Forest, birdlife, baboons
The landscape
Forest at the foot of the Rift
Lake Manyara lies at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, which rises hundreds of metres straight up from the park. Springs seep out of the rock and feed a groundwater forest of mahogany and fig — green, even in the driest months.
Beyond the trees, a shallow alkaline lake covers much of the park. Its shores draw flamingo, pelican and hundreds of other bird species, and the forest is home to large troops of olive baboon.
What you may see in Lake Manyara
Wild animals keep their own schedule — these are the species our guides know best here.
When to go
Lake Manyara through the year
What happens
Easiest game viewing
Birdlife at its best
Lush green forest
Where to go
Inside the park
Hippo pool
A permanent pool on the lake shore with hippo, pelican and waders.
Treetop walkway
A suspended walkway through the forest canopy.
Maji Moto
Hot springs in the quieter south of the park.
Good to know
Before you go to Lake Manyara
- How long
- A full day is enough for most guests; we usually visit from a Tarangire or Karatu base.
- Pairs well with
- Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater — all three are within a short drive.
Safaris
Journeys that include Lake Manyara
10 days · 9 nights Classic
The Northern Circuit
The full arc of northern Tanzania, with elephant herds and baobabs before the plains open up.
4 days · 3 nights Classic
Three Parks, One Base
A short safari with no packing in between: one highland lodge, three parks within reach.
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Destinations
Explore more of Tanzania
Serengeti
Plains & kopjesEndless short-grass plains broken by granite kopjes — the stage for big cats, and for the migration as it moves through.
Ngorongoro Crater
Caldera floorA collapsed volcano holding 260 square kilometres of grassland, soda lake and forest, with resident wildlife year round.
Tarangire
Baobabs & elephantGreat elephant herds along a single dry-season river, under some of the oldest baobabs in East Africa.
Ruaha
Southern wildernessTanzania's largest park: baobab hills, sand rivers and exceptional numbers of lion and wild dog, with very few vehicles.
Nyerere / Selous
Rivers & boatingThe Rufiji river system opens up safari by boat and on foot, alongside classic game drives.
Mahale / Katavi
Remote & wildChimpanzee tracking in forested mountains above Lake Tanganyika, paired with the floodplains of Katavi.
Kilimanjaro
Roof of AfricaAfrica's highest peak, climbed over six to nine days on the Lemosho, Machame or Rongai routes.
Zanzibar
Indian OceanReef, dhows and Stone Town — the natural pause at the end of a safari.
Arusha & Lake Eyasi
Culture & arrivalWhere journeys begin, and where time with Hadzabe and Datoga communities adds a cultural layer.
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Plan with us
Plan your time in Lake Manyara
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel. We will reply with a route and honest pricing within 24 hours.