Lake Manyara National Park is located between the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. Its geographical area covers 325 Sq Km (125 Sq Mi) including the lake surface of 230 Sq Km (89 Sq Mi). This protected area was first designated as a game reserve in 1957. It was uplifted to a national park status in 1974. The park is part of the much larger Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve that was established in 1981.
The park experiences 2 seasons. November to December characterized by “short rains” and March to May as the period for “long rains”. The month with the most rainfall is April (161 mm or 6.3 inches) and 19 days with the highest rainfall. July, August and September are the driest months. January, February and March are the warmest months averaging 30 °C (86 °F). June and July have the lowest temperature at 25 °C (77 °F).
The diverse ecosystem of Lake Manyara national Park is responsible for a range of habitats including acacia woodland, Soda Lake, equatorial forest and savannah grassland. The Manyara soda lake is home to lesser flamingos and pelicans. The park is famous for tree climbing lions. This makes this park very attractive to tourists since lions in Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire are not interested in climbing. Big herds of elephants, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes and different antelope species, world’s largest concentration of baboons and other monkey species, leopards and rhinos if you are lucky are resident in this park. For birders, Lake Manyara, with over 320 bird species including great numbers of migratory birds in the wet season – end of October up to December, it offers great birding experiences
The two rivers, Mto wa Mbu and Endabash traverse this park with hot springs found in the south of the park.
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
The best visiting time to Lake Manyara National Park is the dry season July to September. Good accommodations in Lake Manyara can be found including Luxurious Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge and Chem Chem Safari Lodge