Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National park is situated in northern Tanzania and the entrance gate is about 126 km west of Arusha, along a newly tarmac road close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto Wa Mbu.

The park covers an area of 330 sq. km of which up to 200 sq km is the lake when water level is high. This is one of the most diverse Tanzania’s national parks, a tiny combination of Rift Valley Lake, dense woodlands and steep mountainside.

Manyara is a birding paradise (more than 380 species), especially for waterfowl and migrants and the forests are one of the best places around to see leopards. Lions hunt on the grassy shores of the lake and were once known for their habit of climbing trees, although this behavior seems to have been dropped in recent years.

The park can easily be seen in a day. Lunch at Restaurant at Mto Wa Mbu area.