Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is one of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse safeguarded regions in the country and is located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, in the north of Tanzania. The size of the park is small, some 330 square kilometres; however, the park is amazingly diverse with the number of landscapes and wildlife it has concentrated within its limited area. Starting with the woody forest of groundwater and open grasslands and moving on to the hot springs and the glittering alkalinity lake itself, Lake Manyara is an ideal and close-knit safari experience that would flawlessly match a visit to other nearby attractions such as the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.

Lake Manyara National Park was named after Lake Manyara, which is a shallow soda lake that occupies almost two-thirds of the entire land area of the park. The lake is supplied by the underground springs and rainfall of the adjacent highlands, which make it the home of aquatic life and a nest of endless birds and animals. In the wet season, the lake overflows and glitters with the reflections of pink flamingos, pelicans and other water birds, whereas in the dry season, water recedes, leaving behind huge mudflats and grazing creatures.

The landscape of the park is also drastically different as one walks through it. The doorway opens onto a beautiful groundwater forest, darkened by the enormous fig and mahogany trees, in which clouds of olive baboons and blue monkeys are swinging along. The forest will be surrounded by open woodlands and plains, which are covered with acacia trees and grazing herbivores. The Rift Valley escarpment is sharp towards the west and provides breathtaking backgrounds and panoramic views over the lake.

A Wildlife Haven

Lake Manyara National Park is a very small wildlife reserve that has a great number of wildlife species. The park is also known to have tree-climbing lions, which is a rare kind of behaviour within only a few places in Africa. It is common to find these lions resting on the acacia branches in the daytime, and this is quite an attraction to both the researchers and the visitors. The cause of such unusual action is still controversial, with some scholars assuming that it prevents the lions from biting insects or cooler winds.

Huge herds of elephants that are relatively peaceful and intriguing in their social behaviour can also be found in the park. The sight of these fine giants strolling in the woods or sipping on the bank of the lake is one of the best things to see in the park. The other wildlife that is frequently observed is buffalo, zebras, giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, impalas, warthogs, and waterbucks. There are also predators like leopards, spotted hyenas and serval cats, which are less common but also seen.

The shores of the lake are covered with hippos, who feed on the water by day, and flamingos and other wading birds feed in the shallows. Thousands of animals enter the park when a dry season arrives to find water, which is a great opportunity to see the game.

Birds of Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is considered one of the best bird-watching parks in East Africa, and over 400 species of birds have been documented. The alkaline lake is the habitat of massive flocks of lesser and greater flamingo birds, particularly in the wet season, transforming the lake into a pink sea. Pelicans, storks, herons, egrets, cormorants, and African spoonbills are some of the waterbirds that are commonly found.

Visitors can also find hornbills, bee-eaters, kingfishers, turacos and colored rollers in the forests and savannahs. One can often see raptors like fish eagles, hawks, and vultures flying around. To the amateur bird enthusiast and the serious ornithologist, Lake Manyara presents an unlimited chance of studying the life of the birds in their natural habitat.

Unique Characteristics and attractions.

Among the wildlife, Lake Manyara National Park has a number of unique characteristics that distinguish it from other parks in Tanzania. The hot springs of Maji Moto can be mentioned as one such attraction site that is located in the southern part of the park. Such natural geothermal springs gush out of the ground and create warm pools amidst a large variety of greens, a testimony to the volcanic history of the park.

The other attraction is the Treetop Walkway of the park, and this is one of the longest canopy walks in Africa. It is over 370 meters long and gives the visitor an opportunity to walk among the treetops, where the bird’s-eye view of the forest and its residents can be observed. The boardwalk is exciting and informative, and it gives you an understanding of the distinct ecosystems in the park.

Another breathtaking sight in itself is the Rift Valley escarpment. It rises almost 600 meters above the lake with splendid views of the whole park and other areas. This rift geological formation of the East African Rift System contributes to the dramatic scenery of Lake Manyara, and a variety of habitats are found in a small stretch.

When to Visit

Lake Manyara National Park is accessible throughout the year; however, each season has a different feel.

Dry Season (June-October): It is the ideal game viewing season, as animals are concentrated around the lake and other water bodies. The trees are also less dense, and wildlife can easily be seen.

Wet Season (November to May): This is a time to turn the scenery into a green heaven and an ideal place to shoot or watch birds. Birds fly in during the night, and Europeans pass their flamingos to fill the lake.

The wet season is also the time of the year when a great number of animals give birth, which provides the visitor with an opportunity to observe young wild animals, as well as the interactions between predators and prey.

Accommodation and Accessibility.

Lake Manyara National Park is easily accessible and can be reached within two hours through the well-established road to Ngorongoro and Serengeti routes, and is easily reachable within a distance of 125 kilometres from Arusha. This is due to its accessibility, which makes it the perfect destination for travellers coming and leaving their northern circuit safari.

Options of accommodation include luxury lodges atop the escarpment, having panoramic views to mid-range tented camps and low-end campsites that are close to the park entrance. The lodges have various guided nature walks, night drives and cultural tours to nearby Mto wa Mbu village, where the visitors get to learn about the village, local life, food, and crafts.

Conservation

Lake Manyara is under the management of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), and it serves a key purpose of preserving the biodiversity of the Rift Valley ecosystem. The surrounding communities are also supported to encourage them by providing them with tourism-related activities and culture.

Mto WA Mbu is the nearby town that visitors find culturally inclined. It is among the most diverse communities in Tanzania, and it harbours more than 120 ethnic communities. There is an opportunity to include guided walks in villages, sipping banana beer, and visits to local markets to enjoy the activities with the tourists, which provides a significant contact with nature with people.

Conclusion

Lake Manyara National Park is one of the most magical destinations in Tanzania, though it is not as big and well-known as the Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Crater. A combination of green woodlands, expansive plains and the shimmering lake makes it an amazing mosaic of environments that are alive. The availability of the park, abundant wildlife and distinctive features such as tree-climbing lions and shores full of flamingos make it a compulsory aspect of any safari in Tanzania.