LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK INFORMATION

Tucked below the majesty of the rift valley wall, Lake Manyara National Park is a thin green band of forest, flanked on one side by the sheer 600 meter high red and brown cliffs of the escarpment and white-hot shores of an ancient soda lake. This wedge of surprisingly varied vegetation supports a wealth of wildlife, nourished by the streams flowing out of the escarpment base and waterfalls spilling over the cliffs. Acacia woodland shelters the parks famous tree-climbing lions, lying languidly among the branches in the heat of day. Feeding in the undergrowth or dozing in the dry river beds are the country’s densest populations of buffalo and elephant.
            Deep in the south of the park, hot water bubbles to the surface as hippo wallow near the lakes sedge- lined borders. The parks dazzling variety of birds include thousands of red- billed quelea flitting over the water, pelicans, cormorants and the pink streaks of thousands of flamingo. Manyara is the perfect location for an active safari- canoeing on lake or mountain biking and abseiling outside the parks borders.
            The dry season (July to October) is best for bird watching, waterfalls and canoeing.