Things to do at Lake Manyara National Park

Things to do at Lake Manyara National Park : The distance between Arusha Town and Lake Manyara National Park is 125 kilometres. Tanzania’s Arusha and the Manyara region are home to Lake Manyara National Park, a protected area. The park is accessible by air as well as by road. The lake, Lake Manyara, has a surface area of 230 km², or more than ⅔ of the park’s total surface area, which is 325 km². The Tanzania National Parks Authority is in charge of it. It is located in Tanzania’s Manyara and Arusha regions, which are close to the city of Arusha. Before this area was designated to be a national park in 1974, the area was first made as a game reserve in 1957. The capital of the Manyara area, Babati, is also a viable route to the lake.

The 35,399-ha Marang Forest Reserve is situated in the south, and the Kwa Kuchinja wildlife migration is situated in the east. The animals can travel along the corridor between Lake Manyara in the west, the Engaruka valley in the north, and Tarangire National Park in the southeast.

Game viewing

One of Tanzania’s most breathtaking parks with an abundance of animals is Lake Manyara National Park. The world’s largest land mammal, elephants, are known to live there in vast herds. It is particularly well-known for its tree-climbing lions, which are quite different from lions seen in other Tanzanian parks like Tarangire National Park and the Serengeti National Park. There’s no scientific explanation for this activity, but seeing the lions that climb trees is the highlight of any safari trip. The renowned Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos—both black and white rhinos are present in the park) are among the numerous animals that may be seen there.

Wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, impala, bushbuck, blue and vervet monkeys, baboons, cheetahs, and other animals are some of the animals found in lake Manyara National Park.

Birdwatching

There are diverse bird species within the park due to its diverse landscape. The most common species is the pink lesser flamingo, which may be spotted in large numbers along the lake’s edge, where they graze on dead algae. With more than 400 species of birds identified, the park is a major birdwatching destination. Squacco heron, Crested heron, silver-cheecked Hornbill, purple swamphen, African jacana, Rufous Bellied Heron, knob-billed duck, giant kingfisher, African fish eagle, African grey Hornbill, Abdim’s storks, comb duck, crowned eagle, Greater flamingos, Hermerkops, little stint, southern ground Hornbill, spur-winged goose, pied Avocet, Hottentot teal, Von der deckens Hornbill, and other birds are likely to be spotted on a typical birding safari.

Bicycle riding safaris

This is a fun and relaxing exercise, especially for families on a typical safari vacation or those traveling in a group. While it is possible to bring your own bicycle, you can also rent one if you don’t have one. The riding begins. The village of Mto Wa Mbu is traversed throughout the riding ride. It is possible to pedal past neighborhood farms, schools, churches, and bars and get a sense of the lively village life. You may ride a bike from the settlement to the Lake Manyara shoreline in the national park. Numerous animals, including zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, gazelles, elephants, and hippos, can be seen along the lake’s borders. Riding a bicycle in the park typically takes three hours on average, and riders must be at least eight years old.

Night game drives

There is a chance to view species on night game drives that are not often visible during the day. The porcupine, genet, and civet cats are among the nocturnal creatures that frequently visit the woodland. Hippos that are visible in the lake during the day at the hippos pool are active and can be seen grazing at night. The bulk of the cat family, which enjoys beautiful night views and spends their nights foraging for food, is among the other creatures that may be seen. They either sleep or hide from the sweltering sun during the day. The majority of game drives begin at approximately 1945 hours and last for two hours.

Canoeing

One of the activities available in Lake Manyara National Park is a canoe safari. Typically, a guide who is well-versed in the park goes with you on this excursion to ensure you have an unforgettable safari experiences. The best way to explore Lake Manyara is by canoe, from the large flamingo population to the Hippo Point, which is located in the southern portion of the lake. Algae thrive well in the alkaline, salty lake water because of these conditions. The thousands of pink birds get their nourishment from the algae. The main tourist destination for canoeists is the hippo point, where most people are seen taking pictures and enjoying the scenery. The two and a half hours that canoeing takes are estimated, and it leaves between 10:00 and 12:30.

Maasai village visit

The neighbouring community are the Maasai who live in the nearby village known as Mto Wa Mbu Village which translates in Swahili to “river of mosquitos”. There are a majority of Maasai people living in the village. They can be found in Kenya, Tanzania’s neighbour, as well as Tanzania itself. Maasai Moran jump dance, which involves singing and leaping high up into the air, is one of the Maasai people’s distinctive cultural practices. Additionally, their “shukas,” a piece of cloth that they wrap around their bodies, serve as a distinguishing feature. Red, blue, and black are the three hues of the Shukas. Their women build the manyattas, or dwellings, where they reside, out of sticks, mud, and cow dung. The cattle are the lifeblood of the village, and everything they do revolves around these resources.

Treetop walking trail

There is a suspended bridge and treetop walking trail at Lake Manyara National Park, both of which are 18 meters above the ground and provide a bird’s-eye perspective of the park’s diverse species. One of the best views of the lake is from the forested area where it climbs gradually from the ground, and from the treetop walking safari, one can see various forest birds, different kinds of trees, and park scenes and landscapes. Observing vervet monkeys leaping from one tree branch to another and other species around, all the way to the distant horizon, is one of the park’s most unforgettable experiences. Thick netting surrounds the walking route, which is hanging in mid-air. A platform for viewing games is located around the tree trunks at the end of each bridge.