Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is located in a dramatic spot along the steep western wall of the Rift Valley. Covering 325 square kilometers, it features five different habitats all in one place.

One area has jungle-like ground-water forests, fed by springs from the Rift Valley wall, contrasting with the dry acacia woodlands and the large, shallow alkaline lake on the valley floor. The park also includes a boulder-strewn escarpment and hot water springs in the south, reflecting the active tectonics of the Rift Valley. There’s a walkway along the lake edge offering great views and a chance to see buffaloes wallowing in mud and flocks of flamingos.

The park is home to giant Baobab trees, one of which inspired Disney Imagineers in 1994 for their Animal Kingdom theme park. Lake Manyara is open year-round, with peak visiting times during the dry seasons of June–October and January–February.

You can see a variety of East African animals here, including elephants, buffaloes, hippos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, and many plains game. The park is known for its large baboon troops and tree-climbing lions. It’s also a birdwatcher’s paradise with pelicans and millions of flamingos at times.

Activities include game driving on park roads, guided walking safaris, and night game drives. There’s also a canopy tree walk and hiking in the Marangi forest via the Iyambi River.