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Lake Manyara Safari

Lake Manyara Safari

Overview: Lake Manyara Safari

One of the most beautiful of Africa’s national parks, with a remarkable diversity of habitats and wildlife, Manyara is nevertheless small by African standards, covering just 330km2, of which about two thirds is lake.

Many visitors don’t spend more than a few hours in Lake Manyara National Park as the wildlife numbers aren’t as high as elsewhere, but if you have the time and the patience a safari here can turn up some wonderful and unexpected safari experiences.

You’ll enter the park through a shady forest, where giant fig and mahogany trees are sustained by perennial groundwater springs. Home to shy troops of blue monkeys and a haven to buffalo and giraffe, this forest is a unique habitat.

Emerging onto the plains around Lake Manyara and at the foot of the picturesque Rift Valley escarpment you’ll begin to see more grazers – herds of elephant, zebra and giraffe, warthog families and groups of gazelle. The shallow, alkaline lake is often tinged pink with flamingos and if you are lucky they’ll be close to the lakeshore, providing a beautiful backdrop for your photographs.

A closer look might turn up Kirk’s dik-dik, one of Africa’s smallest antelope, or an agile klipspringer on the rocks. The broken acacia forests and escarpment make it good country for leopard, and there’s a healthy population of lion. Manyara’s lion are known for climbing trees more often than their relatives in Africa’s other parks. Huge troops of baboons, often numbering in their hundreds, are comical to watch.

The diversity of habitats is home to a wide variety of colourful birds, making Lake Manyara National Park a ‘must visit’ for keen ornithologists. Pelicans, storks and cranes feed on the lakeshore; ground hornbills, secretary birds and ostriches stalk the plains; Verreaux’s eagle and augur buzzards patrol the skies; gymnogenes (African harrier-hawks) root their prey out of tree stumps; and orioles, babblers and trogons sing in the woodlands.

A full-day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park usually starts early in the morning. However, the park can also be visited for a few hours en route between Arusha or Tarangire Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Please note: Expert Africa only books excursions as a part of a full, Expert Africa itinerary.
Start location
Any of Expert Africa's camps in the vicinity of Lake Manyara National Park
End location
Back at your safari camp
Meals included
Picnic lunch & drinks
Duration
Half-day or full-day
Maximum group size
Usually six people per vehicle

Photo gallery

What to look forward to.


1 of 12
Lake Manyara is a small, but beautiful park...
2 of 12
With the lake on one side, often rimmed pink with flamingos...
3 of 12
...and the escarpment towering on the other side.
4 of 12
Game viewing won't generally compare to the Crater or Serengeti...
5 of 12
...but you can have some wonderful sightings.
6 of 12
...against beautiful backdrops.
7 of 12
...
8 of 12
You can appreciate the smaller animals too...
9 of 12
...like the tiny dik-dik...
10 of 12
You can easily spend a day exploring this small park...
11 of 12
...but staying inside the park will allow you to watch the sunset...
12 of 12
...over this small but beautiful park.

Lake Manyara is a small, but beautiful park...

With the lake on one side, often rimmed pink with flamingos...

...and the escarpment towering on the other side.

Game viewing won't generally compare to the Crater or Serengeti...

...but you can have some wonderful sightings.

...against beautiful backdrops.

...

You can appreciate the smaller animals too...

...like the tiny dik-dik...

You can easily spend a day exploring this small park...

...but staying inside the park will allow you to watch the sunset...

...over this small but beautiful park.

Lake Manyara Safari reviews

33 independent first-hand comments from our travellers.


85%
48 reviews since August 2007
Excellent
25
Good
12
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
0

Overall rating: Average

Overall rating: Poor

Overall rating: Good

Overall rating: Good

Mr&Mrs IfromSuffolk

15 Feb 2023

"Lake Manyara Safari review"

"not as much wildlife and bird life seen as we had expected …" Read Mr&Mrs I’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Good

Mr DGfromNew Hampshire

11 Dec 2022

"Lake Manyara Safari - An Interesting Small Park"

"it was more "relaxed" game viewing than I expected …" Read Mr DG’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Overall rating: Average

Mr & Mrs GfromSt. Louis

6 Oct 2022

"Lake Manyara Safari review"

"We had low expectations going in...wow, were we surprised! It was incredible. …" Read Mr & Mrs G’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Overall rating: Poor

SimonafromLondon

24 Jul 2022

"Lake Manyara Safari review"

"An elephant came pretty much next to our car, it was really exciting. …" Read Simona’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

See all Lake Manyara Safari reviews

Ideas for holidays which can include Lake Manyara Safari

Add this experience to these trip ideas or contact us to start planning your own tailor-made safari to Tanzania.


Itinerary image

Fringe-eared Oryx Fly-in Safari

7 days • 3 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Stay in three superbly positioned camps during this exploration of Tanzania’s famous northern circuit. Excellent views over the surrounding areas, relatively remote locations and game-rich habitat make for an exciting and varied safari experience.

US$7,300 - US$14,860 per person

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Avocet Fly-in Safari

7 days • 3 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

This luxurious safari explores three iconic African reserves from exclusive lodges in unbeatable locations. A very high standard of food, care and guiding ensure that you can focus on this amazing experience.

US$9,280 - US$15,860 per person

Itinerary image

Tinkerbird Fly-in Safari

8 days • 4 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Explore Tanzania’s famous northern circuit in Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park. Four smart sister camps offer a high level of care, first-class guiding and a wide range of activities.

US$9,100 - US$14,140 per person

Itinerary image

Lovebird Fly-in Safari

5 days • 2 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Visit two consistently impressive wildlife destinations during this excellent-value safari in northern Tanzania. Enjoy a range of walks and cultural visits from sister camps at the Ngorongoro Crater and in the heart of the Serengeti.

US$3,350 - US$4,900 per person

Itinerary image

Hadeda Ibis Guided Safari

7 days • 3 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

This great-value safari, in a private 4WD with your own driver-guide, journeys through the stunning landscapes of northern Tanzania’s Great Rift Valley, focusing on its three top national parks.

US$4,810 - US$6,070 per person

Itinerary image

Firefinch Drive-Fly Safari

9 days • 3 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Enjoy a combination of privately guided and shared game drives during this good-value exploration of northern Tanzania. Explore game-dense regions from three comfortable bases which offer a variety of activities.

US$8,190 - US$10,760 per person

Itinerary image

Flufftail Guided Safari

10 days • 3 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Stay in three unique camps as you safari across the Ngorongoro Crater and the iconic Serengeti Plains with your private guide and 4WD vehicle: a trip of comfort and autonomy, with excellent wildlife.

US$12,970 - US$18,460 per person

Itinerary image

Gorillas and Serengeti Safari

11 days • 4 locations
KIGALI AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Combine three iconic experiences – mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and the Serengeti plains and awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

US$12,620 - US$15,540 per person

Itinerary image

Secretary Bird Fly-in Safari

8 days • 4 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Chosen for comfort and relaxation as much as for its range of activities, this safari makes for a leisurely trip featuring stunning accommodation and swift access to many of northern Tanzania’s best wildlife regions.

US$12,110 - US$18,080 per person

Itinerary image

Marabou Stork Fly-in Safari

13 days • 5 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT

Four luxurious camps enable exploration of Tanzania’s north and southern regions. With a range of land- and water-based activities available throughout, decidedly comfortable accommodation and applicable long-stay discounts, this adventurous safari is excellent value.

US$17,280 - US$25,560 per person

Itinerary image

Regal Sunbird Fly-in Safari

12 days • 5 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT

Experience the highlights of Tanzania with a safari in the country’s famous northern parks followed by historic Stone Town and the palm-fringed beaches of Zanzibar, staying in high-quality accommodation throughout.

US$9,320 - US$16,370 per person

Itinerary image

Dik Dik Safari

12 days • 4 locations
KILIMANJARO AIRPORT TO DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT

Combine safari with peace and relaxation on Zanzibar’s white-sand shores during this exploration of Tanzania. Stay in three high-quality sister camps within Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park before concluding with a stay on Michamvi Peninsula.

US$8,750 - US$15,130 per person

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Tanzania fact file

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