Lake Manyara
Covering an area of 330 square kilometers, Lake Manyara National Park was declared a game reserve in 1957.
Later upgraded into a national park after three years. It is located between the escarpments of the Great Rift Valley and is 130 km from Arusha.
This park can be visited on day tour excursions. In addition to the Majimoto (hot Sulphur springs) at the southern end of the park, this protected area is composed of woodlands, swamps and grasslands.
Tucked at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park tempts travelers with its spectacular beauty.
The park’s lush habitats isn’t only restricted to bird life, but there are also abundant animals such as hippos, giraffes, elephants and buffaloes.
Lake Manyara is known most for the tree climbing lions that spend most their time in branches of acacia trees that are about 6-7 meters above the ground.
This protected area is occupied by lush forests that are home to blue monkeys, troops of baboons, buffaloes and more. Its flat topped acacia woodlands are roamed by prides of lions that can be seen stretched on the tree branches.
Besides the rarely seen tree climbing lions, Lake Manyara shelters the banded mongoose, grazers and browsers. Part of this area is occupied by alkaline lakes that are home to variety of water birds.
Lake Manyara is also home to over 400 species of birds. Some of these species are pelicans, red billed quelea, storks, sacred ibis, cormorants, Egyptian geese, African spoonbill, white faced duck and flamingoes.
