Lake Manyara National Park is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature: an earth’s eye to ease worries, embrace nature, and reflect on the beauty of the moon.
This experience leaves tourists enveloped in a peaceful, loving utopia, witnessing surrealism in the folding landscapes, lush vegetation that shields the park from the sun, and keeps it cool, and the variety of wildlife that calls it home.
Here, visitors observe carnivores such as tigers (powerful hunters with sharp teeth, strong jaws, and agile bodies), lions (able to see at night, spotless, and living in prides), leopards (with soft, thick belly fur and short ringed tails), and cheetahs (with flexible spines, semi-retractable claws, long legs, and tails).
Herbivores include zebras (noted for their black and white stripes and pointed ears), buffaloes (excellent swimmers with complex social structures), and elephants (with thick skin, communicating through vibrations with their trunks).
Reptiles present include snakes, turtles (noted for their slow movement), and crocodiles (adapted to life on both land and water).
Lake Manyara National Park was established in 1957 as a game reserve, though before this, it was used for sports hunting. The name “Manyara” relates to the Maasai word “emanyara,” meaning a spiky, protective enclosure around families.
Some claim that the Mbugwe people, who live near Lake Manyara, named it “Manyero,” meaning a trough.
This area was later designated a National Park covering both the Arusha and Manyara regions, lying between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley, and is protected by the Tanzania National Parks Authority.
Activities in Lake Manyara National Park
- Fishing: Many tourists enjoy fishing in Lake Manyara. Some cook their catch over campfires or fry the fish, while others are fascinated by the local fishing methods and try catching tilapia, Nile perch, silverfish, mudfish, and others.
- Lion Viewing: The National Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions. Many visitors come to witness these incredible tree climbers, especially females who often rest in the trees to avoid predators and recover from exertion. Tourists enjoy taking pictures of these unique animals. Male lions generally stay hidden in tall grass, conserving energy for night hunts. Though females play a major role in the pride, males still fight for dominance, as is natural for their role as leaders. Climbing lions can also be spotted in Uganda’s Ishasha region in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where they rest in fig trees during the wet season when vegetation is abundant. This allows tourists to see areas with a large number of prey.
- Game Drives: Game drives are available in the morning or late afternoon, accommodating both early birds and latecomers. Morning drives offer sightings of animals searching for food, while afternoon drives reveal animals, like lions, waking from rest to begin their hunt. Visitors often learn to track animals, with guides teaching them to recognize footprints, such as the large impressions of elephants or the claw marks of big cats. These safaris are both educational and interactive, with visitors often arriving informed from prior research, making the experience engaging.
- Boat Rides: Sailing on the glittering Lake Manyara is a relaxing activity that tourists enjoy, as it allows them to touch the water and sometimes fish. Life jackets are required before starting boat engines for safety.
Accommodations in Lake Manyara National Park
Accommodations at Lake Manyara range from luxury to budget-friendly options, allowing visitors to go straight to their resting places upon arrival.
Luxury Accommodations:
- Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Kirurumu Tented Lodge
- Escarpment Luxury Lodge
- Well-Worth Lake Manyara Kirimamoja Lodge
These lodges offer luxurious amenities and can be booked online for convenience, saving guests from needing to search for accommodations. Upscale bathrooms, heated floors, soaking tubs, lush linens, deluxe pillows, and comfortable mattresses ensure a restful sleep, with rooms offering scenic views of the National Park.
Mid-Range Accommodations:
- Africa Safari Glamping
- Escarpment Luxury Lodge
- Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge
- Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
These options are ideal for tourists who may not prefer luxury lodges. They provide simple but enjoyable amenities, including bars for relaxation after an adventurous day.
Budget Accommodations:
- Eco Boma Camp
- Isoitok Camp Manyara
- Haven Nature Camp and Lodge
The budget options offer single or double rooms, along with restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Swimming pools allow families to enjoy a refreshing swim, while parking spaces and laundry services are available for convenience. Visitors who enjoy the outdoors can choose to camp in the park, with both private sites (for families or groups) and public sites (open to all who wish to camp).
Entry Fees
For residents, entry fees are $25 USD during the high season and $22.50 USD in the low season for adults, with children paying $7.50 USD. Citizens pay TShs 11,800 for adults and TShs 2,360 for children.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park is from June to October, during the dry season, when animals are more visible as they roam in search of pasture and water.
However, the park remains open year-round, and the wet season provides lush, green scenery.
Visitors during the dry season often wish to see a greater number of animal species, while those visiting in the wet season enjoy the vibrant vegetation.
Rest is not idleness. Lying on the green grass under trees at Lake Manyara National Park, listening to the gentle flow of water, and watching clouds drift across the sky is a refreshing experience.
Traveling and experiencing a new environment is not a waste of time; rather, it is an enriching activity that graces life.
