lake manyara national park
Lake Manyara National Park Overview
Located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views.
Large herds of buffalo, cheetah, Masai giraffe and impala roam the lake shores and the forested valley slopes. Yellow-billed storks swoop and corkscrew on thermal winds rising up from the escarpment, and herons flap their wings against the sun-drenched sky. Even reluctant bird-watchers will find something to watch and marvel at within the national park. The park covers an area of around 330 square kilometres, much of which is the lake itself. It’s often visited as a day trip, en route to other destinations. Bird lovers are sure to be astounded by the vast array of birds, with over 400 species of migratory bird being found here. The saline waters of Lake Manyara are often dotted with bright-pink flamingos and stodgy pelicans. In addition to the large number of birds found at Lake Manyara, it is also possible to see several types of animals here, including the elusive tree-climbing lion. Despite its relatively modest size, though, Lake Manyara has a wide diversity of habitats, mammals and birdlife, which can make a longer visit very worthwhile. Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favoured haunt of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants. Squadrons of banded mongoose dart between the acacias, while the diminutive Kirk’s dik-dik forages in their shade. Pairs of klipspringer are often seen silhouetted on the rocks above a field of searing hot springs that steams and bubbles adjacent to the lakeshore in the far south of the park. “This is Loveliest lake than you could ever see anywhere Africa” atleast Ernest Hemmingway acknowledged that! And he might have been right. Laying at the Rift Valley escarpment with shorelines coloured pink by thousands of flamingos indeed it a true African germ you should not miss. When it comes to wildlife the Park will not disappoint you, apart from famous tree climbing lion, spotting herds of elephants, zebras, caracals, leopards, serval cats , cheetah, buffalos, wildebeest, warthog, baboons, many kinds of antelopes and maasai giraffe whose males happen to be interesting with their darker skins compared to giraffe from other park will simply wow you.