A compact park between the Rift Valley wall and a soda lake, with groundwater forest, baboons and tree-climbing lions
Lake Manyara packs a great deal into a small space. The western boundary is the sheer wall of the Rift Valley escarpment, and the road from the gate leads first through a tall groundwater forest of fig and mahogany trees, fed by springs at the foot of the cliff, where olive baboons and blue monkeys move through the canopy. Beyond the forest come open grassland, acacia woodland, hot springs and the shores of the shallow soda lake, which fills much of the park when water levels are high.
The lake attracts flamingos, pelicans, storks and many other waterbirds, and more than 390 bird species have been recorded in the park. Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos and impala are commonly seen, and the park's lions are known for sometimes lounging in the branches of acacia trees. Its compact size and closeness to Arusha make it an easy addition to a Ngorongoro and Serengeti safari.
According to TANAPA, the park's name comes from the Maasai word emanyara, the name for the Euphorbia tirucalli plant that grows in the area. The area was used for sport hunting from the 1920s, became a game reserve in 1957 and was declared a national park in 1960; a further strip of land was added to the south in 1974. In 1981 UNESCO designated the Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve, of which the park forms the core.
Studies in the 1980s found some of the highest wildlife biomass recorded in Africa here, but the park also suffered: elephant numbers dropped sharply in the late 1980s because of poaching before recovering in the 1990s, and black rhinos have disappeared. Today TANAPA promotes the park for its scenery, birdlife and treetop walkway as much as for big game.
The busy town of Mto wa Mbu, whose name means mosquito river in Swahili, sits just outside the park gate and draws people from many parts of Tanzania. Its banana plantations, rice fields, craft stalls and market make it a lively place to stop, and community-run walking and cycling tours introduce visitors to farming, local cooking and crafts. Buying fruit or crafts here supports households who live alongside the park.
Most visits are day game drives that follow the road south from the gate through the forest and woodland to the hippo pools, lakeshore and hot springs, returning the same way. TANAPA highlights a canopy walkway through the forest, among the longest in Africa, with viewing decks among the treetops that are good for birds, butterflies and monkeys. Lodges and camps inside the park are limited, so many people stay in nearby Mto wa Mbu or Karatu.
The views are as memorable as the wildlife: from the lodges and viewpoints along the escarpment rim above, the park appears as a green band of forest and woodland edging a pale lake that stretches south into the haze. Dusk near the lake can be busy with insects, so carry repellent.
The dry season from June to October is the most comfortable time for game drives, and the park is also good in January and February. The rains, especially from March to May, turn the park very green and are excellent for birds, although some routes may close temporarily, as TANAPA warns. Flamingo numbers on the lake vary from year to year with water levels.
Checked against the sources on 28 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Mto wa Mbu, with its market, craft stalls and guesthouses, sits right outside the gate, and the road then climbs the escarpment to Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tarangire National Park is about an hour's drive to the south-east, and a rough road heads north from Mto wa Mbu across the Rift Valley floor to Engaruka and Lake Natron.
Tanzania · 10 nights5★ LodgeTanzania · 8 nights5★ LodgeTanzania · 5 nights5★ LodgeThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 28 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
