The compact game viewing route through Manyara offers a diverse safari experience.
From the entrance gate, the road winds through an expanse of lush jungle like groundwater forests where hundreds of baboon troops lie around nonchalantly along the roadside, blue monkeys march around the ancient mahogany trees and bushbucks pace cautiously through the shadows. Contrasting with the intimacy of the forest is the grassy floodplain and its expansive views eastward, across the alkaline lake, to the rough blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes. Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds gather together on these grassy plains, as do giraffes.
Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favorite hunting place of Manyara’s legendary tree climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants. Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large waterbirds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks.
Getting there
By road, charter or scheduled flight from Arusha, en route to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.What to do
Game drives, night game drives, canoeing when the water levels is sufficiently high.Cultural tours, picnicking, bush lunch/dinner, mountain bike tours, abseiling and forest walks on the escarpment outside the park.
When to go
Dry season (July-October) for large mammals;Wet season (November-June) for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing.
Accommodation
One luxury treehouse-style camp, public bandas and campsites inside the park.One luxury tented camp and three lodges perched on the Rift Wall outside the park overlooking the lake.
Several guesthouses and campsites in nearby Mto wa Mbu.