Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is a protected area in Tanzania’s Arusha and Manyara Regions, situated between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley
Area
325sq km
Best Time To Go
December – March, June – October
Time Zone
GMT+3 Hours
Flights
Kilimanjaro (JRO); Arusha (ARK)
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.
Located on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, Lake Manyara National Park is worth a stop in its own right. Its ground water forests, bush plains, baobab strewn cliffs, and algae-streaked hot springs offer incredible ecological variety in a small area, rich in wildlife and incredible numbers of birds.
The alkaline soda of Lake Manyara is home to an incredible array of bird life that thrives on its brackish waters. Pink flamingo stoop and graze by the thousands colourful specks against the grey minerals of the lake shore. 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.
Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions are another reason to pay a visit to this park. The only kind of their species in the world, they make the ancient mahogany and elegant acacias their home during the rainy season, and are a well-known but rather rare feature of the northern park. In addition to the lions, the national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world — a fact that accounts for interesting game viewing of large families of the primates.
Stretching for 50km along the base of the rusty-gold 600-metre high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, with a setting extolled by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”.
The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience.
From the entrance gate, the road winds through an expanse of lush jungle-like groundwater forest where hundred-strong baboon troops lounge nonchalantly along the roadside; the blue monkeys scamper nimbly between the ancient mahogany trees; dainty bushbuck tread warily through the shadows, and the outsized forest hornbills honk cacophonously in the high canopy.
In contrast with the intimacy of the forest, is the grassy floodplain and its expansive views eastward, across the alkaline lake, to the jagged blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes. Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds congregate on these grassy plains, and so do the giraffes – some so dark in coloration that they appear to be black from a distance.
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, whereas 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.
Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks.
About Lake Manyara National Park
Size: 330 sq km (127 sq miles), of which up to 200 sq km (77 sq miles) is the lake when water levels are high.
Location: Northern Tanzania. The entrance gate lies 1.5 hours (126km/80 miles) west of Arusha along a newly surfaced road, close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto wa Mbu.
Climate
The Park experiences bi-modal rainfall season with short rains starting from November to December and long rains from February to May and dry season is from late June to October.
It is located at an altitude between 850 and 2000 meters with annual average rainfall ranging from 650 to 760mm.
Lake Manyara
This shallow alkaline lake is best known for the millions of flamingo that call it home. The lake and its surrounding regions also shelter hippo, baboon, impala and a variety of other bird species.
WHY VISIT TANZANIA ?
Perfect For Families, Groups & Off-Grid Adventure
Tanzania is one of the magical corners of the earth. If you have visited once the Tanzania Destinations, you will never go off your memory. Every step you keep inside the country will let you realize how blessed you are visiting nature’s true wonder that is nothing but to experience Tanzania Safari Tours.
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What Our Happy Clients Say About us
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Storyteller801932023-04-16Awesome Kili trek thanks to Sirikwa’s great service! Our group of six did a Kilimanjaro trek on the Machame route. The Sirikwa team was there for us every step of the way. Starting with airport pickups at all kinds of hours, arranging a waterfall hike the day before the trek, and making a very early morning run to the airport to retrieve a delayed bag just a couple of hours before departing for the park. The crew on the mountain is generally made up of freelancers who work for different trekking companies, but you could tell that Sirikwa’s management knew how to recruit and motivate a great group. We were well looked after on the mountain, the gear was first rate and our entire group made it to the summit. I struggled quite a bit on the descent but the guides and porters helped me through it, all with a smile. We were the first group to use Sirkwa’s new guest house in Moshi. It was a bit of a soft launch and you could see how it would shape up to be a great place for groups to stay pre/post their trek. Oinoth’s accommodating our request for pizza the night of our return was one last personal touch before we departed. I look forward to returning to Tanzania and experiencing Sirikwa’s great service on a safari.Verified
Usha G2023-04-12Best Kilimanjaro and Safari Experience Thanks to Sirikwa I had a best ever experience with Sirikwa Tours on my Tanzania travel. Every question and email was answered quickly before and during the travel. Ole went above and beyond to help me in every step. Asante Kaka During the trip The team made me feel that they were there to help at any time. Care & attention to every single bit, from the porters to the cook and huge backbone the guide on my trek. The entire Tours team was perfect from day one. Trek : The food was good sleeping tents were perfect ; hot water, drinking water, physical and mental support all to the mark, perfectly orchestrated. The summit day was a challenge; very thankful to my crew for an experience of a lifetime! wholeheartedly recommend Sirikwa Tours to anyone seeking to trek up Mt Kilimanjaro. Safari : The safari part of my trip was amazing, often dazzling. Benny was my driver. He endeavoured to provide me with the best safari experience possible, One of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. a little bit of luck resulted in some experiences I will never forget (I got some amazing photos). Night stay at the cottages was also wonderful experience. Sirikwa deserves all the stars. I will definitely recommend team to anyone looking for the best experience in Tanzania.Verified
Grant V2023-04-01Mount Kilimanjaro Such an incredible journey! The whole experience was perfect. Leone and Jonathon guided us safely, Abbas and Pray kept us fed, Mr. Machame carried the heaviest loads, Joshua and Ramadan and the rest of the group made sure we were comfortable. Thank you for the trip of a lifetime. We hope to see the entire crew again soon.Verified
Armen Hammer2023-04-01Truly Spectacular Kilimanjaro climb and Safari experience! Sirikwa Travel Rocks! Because of a friend's recommendation, I booked our 12-day Tanzania trip through Sirikwa. We spent 7 days climbing Kilimanjaro and 4 days on a Safari. Our booking with Sirikwa included everything, food, lodging, transportation, and full support with guides, porters, chefs, etc from the moment we landed at Kilimanjaro airport until 12 days later when we were dropped off at the airport. Our Kilimanjaro climb is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that was perfectly organized by Sirikwa. Our group consisted of myself, my son, and a good friend of mine. For the Kilimanjaro climb Sirikwa provided 2 stellar guides (Jonathan and Leone), a chef, and 9 porters who were absolutely amazing. They were friendly, knew what they were doing, and worked their butts off to get us up and down the mountain. I can't say enough positive things about how great our support crew was. If you are thinking of doing the Kilimanjaro climb I would not look anywhere else. Their prices were about half what American tour companies quoted us and their service was truly spectacular. The same thing goes for our Safari. Our guide (Benny) was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient, could see animals and birds in the bushes or trees a mile away. We traveled through Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Tarangire national parks. Again, if you are going to spend time in Tanzania and you need any type of tour booked....don't even bother looking elsewhere...book with Sirikwa, because you will get an amazing experience at a very reasonable price.Verified
765britav2023-03-28Perfect Tanzanian Safari + Beach Holiday with Sirikwa Travel Sirikwa Travel arranged the most perfect nine-day Tanzanian safari plus four-day Zanzibar beach holiday for my best friend and me. Ole Sirikwa was instrumental during the planning phase of our trip, recommending the top national parks and other sights based upon the number of days we had available and prioritizing the things we wanted to see. Upon landing at Kilimanjaro, literally everything from that point forward was taken care of for us - transportation, tours, hotels and meals. Just a few of the places Sirkiwa took us in Tanzania were Mkomazi National Park, Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, the Serval Wildlife Rescue and the Osiligilai Masai Lodge. I saw the most beautiful landscapes and SO MUCH WILDLIFE. I am still overwhelmed by the sheer volume of animals we saw, including the Big 5. In Zanizibar we saw Stone Town, Jambo Spice Farms and we spent a few days at Amaan Bungalows, right on the sea where I have never seen such clear water. We had a private boat for a snorkeling tour and the team prepared a fresh seafood lunch for us to eat right on the ship. To cover all of the ground we did, we stayed in a number of different hotels along the way and they were all of a high standard and felt safe and secure. We even stayed at the Tukaone Camp right within the Serengeti which was incredible - we had a tent with a shower, a four poster bed all while being able to hear the distant roars of lions in the night. I also want to mention the meals arranged for us as well. My friend and I are both vegetarian and not once did we arrive somewhere where this wasn't already taken care of. While on safari we often were provided a prepared lunch that our guide picked up for us in the morning and the food was always plentiful and delicious. The guides used by the Sirikwa team are of the highest caliber. Every guide we interacted with was professional, courteous, knowledgeable and really awesome people to spend time with - which was good because you spend a LOT of time with your guides! In particular, Ben was our guide for several of the days we spent in the national parks. You could just tell how well he knew the parks and was eager to ensure we saw absolutely every animal we could. Ben was also so accommodating, stopping for us to catch a better look at a bird or animal more times than I can count. Alfred was another amazing guide that we had the pleasure of spending time with, as he took us to both the Maturuni Falls one day and the Chemka Hot Springs another day. Alfred was kind, funny and even made sure I was able to get the proper football jerseys for my nephews. Ole was incredible as well, literally checking in with us on a daily basis to ensure we were happy and well taken care of. I have never utilized a guide service prior to this trip and I am not sure I want to travel any other way again! The costs were clearly outlined at the time of booking and, compared to what I have seen from other similar tours, were incredibly reasonable given the private tours, quality of accommodations and meals included. There were no surprises (other than positive ones!) along the way. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime and I give all the credit to Ole and the Sirikwa Team. I can't recommend Ole Sirikwa and the team more highly.Verified
Judith J2023-03-249 Day Safari + 4 Days in Zanzibar I highly, highly recommend Sirikwa Travel. My best friend and I did a nine day safari in Tanzania's northern circuit of national parks and then four days in Zanzibar. It was an absolutely amazing trip of a lifetime! Sirikwa Travel handled absolutely everything and exceeded our expectations in every way possible. Ole Sirikwa, the owner/operator of Sirikwa Travel, was very responsive during the planning stages of our trip and extremely accommodating of our requests to give us our dream trip. Even before stepping off the plane, I felt like we were in good hands. From the moment we landed in Tanzania, everything was handled professionally and courteously. We had very nice accommodations and excellent food. The drivers and guides were very friendly, knowledgeable and just wonderful people. Our guide Ben, who spent four straight days with us, was the best guide one could hope for. His experience was obvious as was his vast knowledge of the parks and wildlife. I am an avid birder and he was excellent at spotting birds and knew many calls. The other guides told us he was a legend and we definitely saw why. During our nine days in Tanzania and four days in Zanzibar, we saw 30 mammal species (including lions, black rhinos, leopards and a cheetah) in the wild, 136 species of birds and 6 species of reptiles. In Tanzania, we visited Mkomazi National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Tarangire NP, Arusha NP, Serval Wildlife Rescue, Osiligilai Masai Lodge and Chemka Hot Spring. In Zanzibar, we stayed at the fabulous Freddy Mercury house at Tembo House Hotel (the most Wes Andersonian place I've ever seen). We toured Stone Town, snorkeled and had an amazing seafood lunch by Kwale Island, toured Jambo Spice Farm and spent a couple of days at the beautiful beach resort, Amaan Bungalows. Ole checked in with us daily and there was literally never a moment of the trip that all of my needs weren't taken care of. Guides went above and beyond every day. For example, I kept misplacing my pencil to record all of the birds species I was seeing, so our guide Alfred stopped at a store and bought me a pack of pencils!! From reservations, arrangements, transportation to meals and accommodations, I can't think of one single thing that wasn't just perfect. The trip cost exactly what was quoted with no hidden fees. We felt it was an exceptional value.Verified
SF2023-03-22As Advertised Sirikwa handled everything. Very responsive and respectful, didn't need to worry about local or hidden fees. Exactly as advertised. The trek was great!Verified
Raghuraj2022-12-31An Amazing Climb to Uhuru Peak We had the perfect climb to Kilimanjaro with Leone & Jonathan. It was an amazing experience, and the support team of guides, chef & porter made sure that we were very comfortable along the way. Will highly recommend Sirikwa Travels for all & any adventure exploits! Can’t wait to go back again :).Verified
Haik M2022-10-06Lemosho Route - Kilimanjaro top life-changing experience! Had my best experience in life climbing Kilimanjaro with Sirikwa Travel team. Exceptional team from back office to front line kili warriors. Everything was taken care in details. Cant thank enough the excellent support, help and organization!Verified
camillegalin2022-07-21MEILLEURE EXPÉRIENCE J’ai réservé l’ascension du Kilimanjaro par la voie Machame en 7j avec Sirikwa. Les demandes de renseignements sont claires, la documentation est complète. Les échanges sont faciles et rapide avec le directeur de l’agence ! Malgré mes péripéties et le retard de mes bagages par la compagnie aérienne (fréquent sur le continent quand on discute avec d’autres voyageurs, prévoir quelques jours de battement ça évitera beaucoup de stress) l’agence s’est occupé du problème, à su me proposer des alternatives et finalement trouver une solution. J’ai réalisé l’ascension avec une équipe fabuleuse : Jonathan, Abass, Janja, Nngabo, Omari et . Je recommende x1000 pour leur gentillesse, professionnalisme et encouragements permanent ! Si c’était à refaire je referai exactement la même chose. Si j’ai pu y arriver c’est grâce à une équipe en or. Je n’oublierai jamais cette aventure !