LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Lake Manyara National Park is small, stretching only some 330 square km (127square miles) along the base of the escarpment with two thirds of it’s surface taken up by shallow alkaline Lake Manyara. Its range of ecosystems at different elevations makes for dramatic differences in scenery. At one moment you’re travelling through a fairytale forest of tumbling, crystal clear streams, waterfalls, rivers, and ancient trees. The next, you are on the lake shore surrounded by a myriad of bird life.
THE DEEP FOREST
In the deep forest where the old tuskers still roam, blue monkeys swing among huge fig trees, tamarind trees, giant baobabs, and mahoganies, using their long tails as an extra limb. In the evening as shafts of dusty sunlight dance in the setting sun, there is an excellent chance of spotting a troop of more than 300 olive baboons grooming each other, chatting and dozing, while dozens of naughty babies play around them and old grandfathers look on with knowing eyes.
THE WOODLAND
In the woodlands, hundreds of elephants, buffalo and antelope roam, accompanied by Masai giraffes so dark they look as if they’ve been dipped in chocolate. This is a perfect place to see hippos close by as they lie on the banks of the lake, or as they begin to forage as dusk approaches.
TREE CLIMBING LIONS
It is not known why these lions climb and roost in trees, but it has been suggested that this unusual behaviour may have started during a fly epidemic when the cats climbed high to escape the swarms of biting flies on the ground. Present behaviour is now part of their collective memory.
THE LAKE SHORE
If you are a birder then put this park on your must-visit list. Because of the great variety of habitats, there’s an even larger variety of birds – more than 400 species have been recorded here. The edges of the lake as well as it’s placid surface attract all manner of water birds, large and small. Along the reed -fringed lake shore you’ll see huge pink clouds drifting to and fro. These ”clouds” are flocks of flamingos. In the thickets at the base of the near-vertical red escarpment overlooking the lake, watch out for Nubian woodpeckers, Silver Birds, Flycatchers, Ashy and Hildebrandt’s Starlings, Yellow Wagtails, Trilling Cisticolas, Red-Cheeked Cordon-Bleus, Peter’s Twinspots, Blue Necked Mouse Birds and every Cuckoo imaginable. The Red and Yellow Barbet is known as the ”bed-and-breakfast bird” for it’s habit of living where it’s eats – inside termite mounds.
Tripadvisor Reviews
A once in a lifetime experience - Anne was the best tour organiser She was very patient and worked with me to figure out the best safari format on a very short notice.
The experience... Read more 
Sabine G
4 March 2026
You should always book where you feel in good hands. And that’s guaranteed to be the case at Long Way Expeditions as we are a fully registered company with 5-star TripAdvisor reviews from 100% of previous guests.
As a family-owned small business that prioritises slow travel and personal connections, we’re so proud to say all our guests go home satisfied.