DestinationsSafari destination · Northern Circuit
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is the overture of the Tanzanian safari, and like all great overtures it contains every theme that follows.
- Drive from Arusha
- 2 Hours
- Recommended nights
- 1 night
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar +7
- Airstrip
- Fly-in possible
About
About Lake Manyara National Park.
Lake Manyara National Park is the overture of the Tanzanian safari, and like all great overtures it contains every theme that follows. The park begins in a groundwater forest so lush it feels borrowed from another continent, where blue monkeys move through the canopy and ancient mahogany trees rise from streams fed by the Rift Valley escarpment towering overhead. Within minutes the forest opens onto floodplains, then acacia woodland, then the shimmering alkaline lake itself, often rimmed pink with thousands of flamingos. Few parks anywhere offer this much ecological variety in a single game drive.
Manyara's most famous residents are its tree climbing lions, one of only a handful of populations in Africa known for draping themselves along the high branches of acacia and mahogany trees through the heat of the day. Sightings are never guaranteed, which makes finding them feel like a genuine discovery rather than a scheduled stop. Elephants are abundant and famously relaxed here, baboon troops number in the hundreds, and with over four hundred recorded species this is one of the finest birdwatching destinations in northern Tanzania.
Most itineraries treat Manyara as a brief stop on the road to Ngorongoro. Travelers who give it a full day find a different park entirely: a canopy walkway threading through the treetops, hippo pools busy in the morning light, and the strange beauty of the lakeshore where pelicans, storks and flamingos gather against the backdrop of the escarpment wall. Small, intimate and endlessly varied, Lake Manyara rewards the traveler who slows down on day one, before the great plains pull them onward.
When to go
Best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park.
- January: best
- February: best
- March: best
- April: not a best month
- May: not a best month
- June: best
- July: best
- August: best
- September: best
- October: best
- November: best
- December: best
Lake Manyara works well year round and is usually visited as a half or full day on the way between Arusha, Tarangire and the Ngorongoro highlands. The dry season from June to October gives the easiest game viewing and the best chance of the park's famous tree climbing lions.
The green season from November to May is the finest time for birds, when large numbers of flamingos and other waterbirds gather on the soda lake and the groundwater forest is lush. Because it is compact, Manyara rewards even a short stop in any season.
Gallery
A closer look.
On the map
Lake Manyara National Park and its neighbours.
3.550° S, 35.830° E
Government fees
Fees at Lake Manyara National Park.
Pass-through to the Tanzanian government, paid directly to the authority on top of accommodation. We always itemise every line on our quotes. TDL applies on top at 1% of net room rate.
| Fee | Amount | Peak | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Concession Fee | $47.20 | No peak rate | Per person / night |
| Adult Entry Fee | $53.10 | $59.00 | Per person / day |
| Child Concession Fee | $11.80 | No peak rate | Per person / night |
| Child Entry Fee | $17.70 | No peak rate | Per person / day |
| TDL (Tanzania Development Levy) | 1% of room | No peak rate | Per room / night |
| Vehicle Fee | $16.16 | No peak rate | Per vehicle / day (24-hour permit) |
Getting there
Drive times to other destinations.
Approximate dry-season drive times in a private 4×4. Legs marked as productive game viewing are themselves part of the safari experience. Long legs that need an overnight midway, or transfers we always fly, are flagged in the note column.
| Destination | Drive time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Karatu | 1 hr | Transit drive |
| Tarangire National Park | 1 hr 30 min | Transit drive |
| Arusha City | 2 hrs | Transit drive |
| Ngorongoro Crater | 2 hrs | Transit drive |
| Ndutu Plains | 4 hr 30 min | Game-viewing drive |
| Seronera Central Serengeti | 6 hrs | Game-viewing drive |
| Grumeti Western Serengeti | 9 hrs | Game-viewing drive |
| Kogatende Northern Serengeti (Mara River) | 10 hr 30 min | Two-day drive (overnight in Seronera) or fly |
| Lamai Northern Serengeti | 11 hrs | Two-day drive (overnight in Seronera) or fly |
What to do here
Experiences in Lake Manyara National Park.
The journeys we plan around this destination. Each one covers the best months, what it costs, and how to build it into a trip.
Big Five Safari
Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino across Ngorongoro, the Serengeti and Tarangire, with honest odds for each.
Explore : Big Five SafariFamily Adventure
A safari paced for children: shorter drives, family tents, guides who love questions, and a Zanzibar beach to finish.
Explore : Family AdventurePhotography Safari
A safari built around light and position: private vehicles, unhurried time, and seasons chosen for the pictures you want.
Explore : Photography Safari
Common questions
Questions, answered.
How much are Lake Manyara park fees?
Adult entry is currently 53.10 US dollars per person per day, rising to 59 in the peak season, plus 17.70 US dollars per vehicle per day, before VAT. Children pay less. The full breakdown is above and itemised on your quote.
Is Lake Manyara worth visiting?
Yes, especially as part of a Northern Circuit itinerary. It packs groundwater forest, the soda lake with its flamingos and open plains into a compact park, and it is one of the few places to look for tree climbing lions.
How long do you need at Lake Manyara?
Half a day to a full day is usually enough given its compact size. Many guests visit en route between Tarangire and Ngorongoro rather than staying overnight inside the park.
When is the best time to visit Lake Manyara?
The dry season, June to October, for general game and tree climbing lions; the green season, November to May, for exceptional birding and flamingos on the lake.
Make it part of your trip
Plan a safari that includes Lake Manyara National Park.
Tell us how long you have and what you most want to see. We'll build a custom itinerary around Lake Manyara National Park with transparent pricing throughout.
Build & price your trip