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.

Lake Manyara Deep Forest Blue Monkey

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.

Lake Manyara Giraffe

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

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.

Lake Manyara flamingoes

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

  • star rating  The entire experience was great! Within our budget, well-planned, and most importantly, really fun and interesting. Ann and Abu were both very kind and helpful. We saw many animals of... Read more

    Martín d
    18 Apr 2023
  • star rating  This is my 2nd individually tailored trip with Long way expeditions. I cannot praise enough the professionalism and care that Ann takes in planing safaris according to ones wishes... Read more

    mariacamilo43
    6 Mar 2023
  • star rating  Brilliant, safari experience - What an amazing adventure, superb safari, exceeded all our expectations, Ann is very attentive, patient, and accommodating, Frank our guide was brilliant, nothing was too difficult, he’s extremely knowledgeable, very... Read more

    sharonlM3080RD
    11 Oct 2022
  • star rating  Couldn't Be Happier With Our Choice! - We found Long Way Expeditions via Responsible Travel. From the moment we approached them for our Safari trip, communications with Ann were always extremely prompt and detailed. We had many... Read more

    7Gab2021
    27 Sep 2022
  • star rating  A memorable Tanzania, were one becomes in awe of Humans and Wildlife - Myself and my son+partner wanted to experience the Big 5 in Tanzania , if at all around (and they complied!!). I was lucky to receive Ann´s contact, the knowledgeable pragmatic... Read more

    mariacamilo43
    13 Sep 2022
  • star rating  Experienced, skilled an adventure with heart - The team is a friendly and family community collective that went over and above to create a personal experience which offers all the elements of a dream trip and more... Read more

    4evayogi
    25 Aug 2022
  • star rating  Wow! What a great adventure! - Longway expeditions did a great job to make our honeymoon a memorable experience! With humor and compassion Abu showed us a lot of the beautiful things Tanzania has to offer.... Read more

    Alma2204
    16 Jun 2022
  • star rating  Abu is a great driver, guide and person. He shows you Tanzania in an incredible wat. Always friendly, helpfull, a lot of knowledge about the wildlife. But also a very... Read more

    koens568
    12 Jun 2022