Mto wa Mbu WMA · Safari Lodge
Manyara's Secret
Sixteen villas with private plunge pools strung along the escarpment above Lake Manyara, each looking west over the water.
About
Manyara's Secret sits high on the sunny western escarpment above Lake Manyara, on community managed land just outside the national park near Mto wa Mbu. Sixteen villas step along the ridge, each turned toward the water so the lake and the far wall of the Rift Valley fill the view. The setting is quiet and private, a world away from the busier lodges down on the main road.
Game viewing is a short drive away in Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree climbing lions, big elephant herds, hippo pools and clouds of flamingos and waterbirds along the shore. Tarangire and the Ngorongoro highlands are both about fifty minutes off, which makes the lodge a natural base for a northern circuit. The lodge is open all year, with the dry months from June to October the easiest for game drives.
Every villa has its own private plunge pool, an outdoor shower and an ensuite bathroom. They run from intimate two person villas to four, six and eight person villas for families and groups, plus a honeymoon villa with a second terrace for private dining under a baobab tree. At the heart of the lodge is a sixteen metre infinity pool, a restaurant with a terrace, and a lounge that all look out over the lake.
Manyara's Secret reads especially well for honeymooners and for families travelling together across generations, who can take a whole multi room villa. The atmosphere is calm and unhurried, and the lodge wears its community and conservation work lightly: solar power, locally built, water shared with the neighbouring Maasai villages, and a supported village school.
The lodge is about two and a half hours by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport, or a twenty minute flight to Lake Manyara Airport followed by a thirty minute drive up to the escarpment. Park fees and the Wildlife Management Area fee are paid separately and shown as itemised lines on every Savannah and Sands quote.
Signature experiences
Villa with a private plunge pool
Every villa has its own plunge pool and outdoor shower, turned toward the lake. A private base between game drives.
Lake Manyara game drives
Tree climbing lions, big elephant herds and flamingos along the shore, a short drive down from the escarpment.
Meet the community
Visits with the neighbouring Maasai families and the village of Mto wa Mbu, arranged on request.
Honeymoon villa under the baobab
A villa for two with private dining and a romantic second terrace set beneath a baobab tree.
Amenities
- Infinity Swimming Pool
- Private Plunge Pool In Every Villa
- Restaurant With Terrace
- Lounge
- Tea And Coffee Corner
- Free WiFi In Every Villa
- Massage On Request
- Bathrobes
- Safety Locker
- Secure Parking
- Solar Powered
- Accessible Villas
Best for
- Honeymoon
- Families
- Multigenerational
- Quiet Escape
- First-Time Safari
Wildlife you might see
- Tree Climbing Lions In Lake Manyara
- Large Elephant Herds
- Flamingos And Waterbirds Along The Lake
- Hippo Pools
- Blue Monkeys And Baboons In The Groundwater Forest
Best time to visit
June, July, August, September, October
Location & access
Mto wa Mbu WMA
Fly-in: A 20 minute light aircraft flight from Arusha to Lake Manyara Airport, then about a 30 minute drive up to the escarpment. A road transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha connects to the flight.
Drive: About 2.5 hours by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The road runs west through Arusha and on toward Mto wa Mbu, then climbs the escarpment to the lodge.
Room types
2 Pax Villa
A standalone villa for two with a private plunge pool, outdoor shower and lake view.
2 Pax Villa Semidetached
A two person villa forming one half of a four person villa, with a private plunge pool and lake view.
4 Pax Villa
A two bedroom villa with an interconnecting door, private plunge pool and ensuite bathrooms.
6 Pax Villa
A three bedroom villa with a living room and private swimming pool, for a family or group.
8 Pax Villa
A four bedroom villa with a living room and private swimming pool, for larger groups.
Honeymoon Villa
A villa for two with private dining and a romantic second terrace under a baobab tree.
What's included
Included
- Full Board (three Meals Daily, Set Menu)
- Bottled Drinking Water
- Wake Up Tea Or Coffee
- Free WiFi In Every Villa
- Private Plunge Pool In Every Villa
- Infinity Swimming Pool
Not included
- One Percent Bednight Levy
- Wildlife Management Area Fee
- Park Fees For Nearby National Parks
- Drinks
- Activities And Massages
- Lunchbox On The Day Of Departure
- Transfers
- Gratuities
Frequently asked
Where is Manyara's Secret?
On the sunny western escarpment above Lake Manyara, on community managed land just outside the national park near Mto wa Mbu. It is about 20 minutes from the Lake Manyara gate.
How many villas does it have?
Sixteen villas in total, from two person villas to four, six and eight person villas, plus a honeymoon villa. Every villa has its own private plunge pool.
How do guests get there?
About 2.5 hours by road from Kilimanjaro International Airport, or a 20 minute flight to Lake Manyara Airport followed by a 30 minute drive.
Is it good for families?
Yes. The four, six and eight person villas are built for families and multigenerational groups, and one extra bed per villa is free for a child up to five years old.
What is included in the rate?
Full board on a set menu, bottled water, wake up tea or coffee, WiFi, and use of the plunge pools and infinity pool. Park fees, the Wildlife Management Area fee and drinks are charged separately and shown as itemised lines on every quote.
When is the best time to visit?
The lodge is open all year. The dry months from June to October are easiest for game drives in Lake Manyara and Tarangire, while the green season brings lush scenery and birdlife.
What's nearby
- Lake Manyara National ParkAbout 20 minutes to the main gate. Tree climbing lions, elephants, hippos and flamingos along the lake shore.
- Tarangire National ParkAbout 50 minutes away. Big elephant country and ancient baobabs, strongest in the dry season.
- Ngorongoro CraterAbout 50 minutes to the conservation area. A natural amphitheatre with year round big game.
- Mto wa MbuA short drive down the escarpment. A lively market village known for its mix of Tanzanian cultures.
Keep reading
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Common questions
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