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At the base of the Rift Valley escarpment
From a distance, Lake Manyara is merely a mirror-flat, silvery shimmer on the horizon, but draw closer and you’ll discover a wildlife-saturated haven. Candy-coloured flamingos speckle its surface, balancing on straw-like legs, while long-limbed storks soar overhead and pelicans bob atop the alkaline water. For binocular-clad birders, Lake Manyara is a treasure trove of delights, drawing over 400 species, from hornbills to herons. The lake isn’t just a sanctuary for birds either - hundreds of hippo wallow in its depths, egrets perched on their protruding backs, and a cacophony of animals, including tree climbing lions, grace its banks. It’s no wonder Ernest Hemingway dubbed Manyara the loveliest lake in Africa.
Lake Manyara covers a third of its namesake national park, which lies at the foot of the Ngorongoro highlands and is linked to Tarangire via a natural game corridor. It may be one of the country’s smallest parks but its diverse mix of 11 ecosystems, which include grassy floodplains, acacia woodland and dry savannah, make for an exciting wildlife destination. Troops of olive baboons, blue monkeys and elephants wander Manyara’s forests, where lions can sometimes be spotted lounging in the branches. Meanwhile, in the open grasslands, big cats hunt herds of herbivores, the drama set against a backdrop of hulking Rift Valley peaks.
Ready to explore Lake Manyara’s aquatic landscape? Let our Tanzania team arrange a visit to the park for bird-spotting game drives.
Lake Manyara Hotels
Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Take in the far-reaching views from this large lodge with rooms scattered throughout pretty groun...
Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge
An elegant lodge set within a beautifully scenic and wildlife-rich area of northern Tanzania
Holidays in Lake Manyara
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Experience real Tanzanian village life in Mto wa Mbu
Visit Mto wa Mbu to experience life in a thriving village which lies on an escarpment in the Great Rift Valley. This is a very successful agricultural area because of the volcanic soil and spring water that runs down from the escarpment, allowing for year-round irrigation. Mto wa Mbu also sits on the road from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, so it’s become a key trading point, home to people from over 120 different tribes. It’s a great place for you to get a taste of local culture and farming traditions.
The walking tour usually lasts two hours and can be tailored to your interests. As you explore, you’ll see farmers on motorcycles transporting bunches of bananas and women carrying huge baskets of produce on their heads, chatting with their friends. You’ll pass the school and walk around the market, which is full of stalls selling vegetables and fruit. Along the way, you’ll get to talk to the traders selling their crafts, as well as food vendors who serve meals straight from a large pot. If you’re brave enough, you can even test the fiery, locally-brewed alcohol.
Guests enjoy touring a nearby rice paddy and banana farm, where you’ll get to meet the farmers and learn how food is grown and harvested. Local people know that a fee is paid for the tour, which goes back into helping the community, so they’re very happy to have visitors.
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