Top Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park : Lake Manyara national park is one of the best safari destination in Tanzania with the plenty of unique tourist sites to discover. This National Park, which is situated in northern Tanzania, is 126 kilometers west of the town of Arusha. The park is 330 square kilometers in size, of which 220 square kilometers are form the lake during the rainy season when the water levels are high. Through the Kwakuchinja wildlife corridor, the parks alternately share animals with Tarangire National Park, which is the closest park. It is located plainly close to the roads leading to the famous Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti National Parks.
What is special about Lake Manyara national park? The lake Manyara national park is mainly famous for its tree-climbing lions and numerous other wild animals and bird species, especially flamingos that can be seen in the lake of Manyara national park. Other attractions found in Lake Manyara National Park include
Lake Manyara
A long, silvery bowl of salt deposits contains Manyara, an alkaline lake in the park that changes size according to the seasons. Two thirds of the park’s total surface area, or 220 sq. km, is taken up by it. It is one of the attractions in this park and most animal viewing is best done here since it is where wild animals from the park go for drinking water, so sighting them here is simple and guaranteed, especially during dry season.
Along with other animals like hippos, who live in the shallow part of the river, the lake is home to several pink flamingos.
Wildlife
Elephants, wildebeests, giraffes, and buffaloes are all prevalent in Lake Manyara’s game. The park is also well known for having a large population of zebras, impalas, warthogs, and waterbucks. You would have to look a little harder to find the small and famed Shy Kirk’s dik dik and klipspringer on the escarpment’s slopes.
In order to witness the animals that are constantly moving, game drives only have a small road circuit that may be completed in 3 to 4 hours. If you travel by road, a safari in Tanzania typically costs around $200 per day. The majority of safari firms plan their trips for the afternoon, but going in the morning is considerably better because there are fewer other vehicles and greater Tanzania wildlife Safari activity.
Tree Climbing Lions
Tree climbing lions are the main attraction of the Lake Manyara national park. We all know that lions can’t climb trees like leopards, but lions of Lake Manyara national park are adapted to climb trees and they can be seen up there in the branches of trees, though not frequently seen. Tree climbing lions in Africa can be found only in two populations worldwide, apart from Lake Manyara National Park, the other being in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha Area.
Birds
Lake Manyara national park is one of the birding paradises and bird watching here is fantastic compared to other famous Tanzania birding destinations such as Tarangire and Serengeti national parks. The numerous bird species found in the Lake Manyara National Park vary depending on the area. Large flocks of pelicans and pink flamingos can frequently be seen on the lake, while egrets, stilt herons, spoonbills, stalks, and other waders can frequently be seen close to the park’s borders and in the floodplains. The more intriguing species, such as crowned eagles, crested guinea fowl, and silvery-cheeked hornbills, can only be seen in evergreen forests.
The breathtaking Vegetation
A long, narrow park that keeps the area between the escarpment and Lake Manyara secure is situated beneath the majestic, steep western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Wide, grassy floodplains surround the lake, and as you travel away, patches of mixed acacia forests appear. Leaving that aside, the escarpment is bordered by enchanting evergreen forests that are sustained by permanent groundwater springs that emerge from the base of the cliff, Top Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park .
The abundance of elephants.
Apart from Tarangire national park in Tanzania and Amboseli national park in Kenya, Lake Manyara national park is another African park with high populations of elephants. Elephants in Lake Manyara national park can be observed frequently in the acacia woodlands and evergreen forests of this national park, where they live in great numbers. These forest giants have enough ground to eat because of the abundant groundwater and lush vegetation.
The Walk through the Treetops
The tree-top canopy walk gives you the chance to see various wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park in addition to the common ways of doing so. If you walk at treetop level, you can spot some primates and different birds in the forest.
Maji Moto Springs.
Maji Moto Springs, which means “hot water”, are natural springs in the Lake Manyara National Park. Maji Moto Springs is a secluded sanctuary with crystal-clear waters surrounded by palm and fig trees and is of unrivaled beauty. You can stop by this hot spring for a picnic lunch and a swim in its temperate waters while on a Tanzanian safari in Lake Manyara National Park. The Maji Moto springs’ water is about 60°C.
Underground forest.
While on your Tanzania vacation, the groundwater forest in Lake Manyara national park is another excellent location to see. It provides a special environment for special Tanzania wildlife species, including the largest baboon population on the African continent. Other primates, like blue monkeys and vervet monkeys, also call this ground-water forest home.
In Lake Manyara National Park, the groundwater forest is a striking location to explore for nature and beautiful experiences. The forest is densely populated with mahogany trees, which are evergreen, and wild date palms, which are nourished by a steady supply of ground water. The floor of the forest is covered by a verdant carpet of wild hibiscus, ginger, and other leaf plants blooming in the moisture and shadows, giving the groundwater forest a mystifying charm. The limbs of mahogany trees are wrapped in gnarled vines and moss.
Conclusion, Manyara National Park is located in the Masaai country’s center. You can go here to see the enduringly alluring red-robbed pastoralists who live in bomas. Mountain bike trips and escarpment forest treks can be done outside of the park. When the water level is high enough, canoe safaris are also available.
