A compact safari with plenty of character. Explore Lake Manyara’s groundwater forest, open floodplains and lakeshore, with chances to spot elephants, giraffes, buffalo, monkeys and an impressive variety of birdlife.
Lake Manyara may be one of Tanzania’s smaller national parks, but it packs a surprising amount into a single day. Set beneath the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park shifts from lush groundwater forest to open floodplains and the shores of its shallow alkaline lake.
Expect excellent opportunities to see elephants, giraffes, buffalo, baboons and a rich variety of birdlife, with the park’s famous tree-climbing lions always a special possibility. Its compact size and proximity to Arusha make Lake Manyara an ideal choice for a rewarding one-day safari.
After breakfast, your private guide will collect you from your hotel in Arusha for the drive to Lake Manyara National Park, set beneath the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment.
Once inside the park, spend the day exploring its remarkably varied landscapes, from lush groundwater forest and acacia woodland to open floodplains and the lakeshore. Keep watch for elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, hippos and the park’s famously large troops of baboons, while blue monkeys are often seen among the trees.
Lake Manyara is also known for its tree-climbing lions. Sightings are never guaranteed, but spotting one resting among the branches is always a special moment. The park is equally rewarding for birdlife, with hundreds of species recorded and flamingos sometimes appearing around the lake when conditions are suitable.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park before continuing your game drive through the afternoon. Later, leave Lake Manyara and return to Arusha, arriving in the early evening.
Highlights
Meals: Lunch
Included
Not Included
Watch for elephants moving through Lake Manyara’s woodland and open areas, sometimes at remarkably close range.
Keep an eye on the branches. Lake Manyara is famous for lions that are occasionally seen resting in trees.
Take in views across the shallow alkaline lake, framed by wetlands, woodland and the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment.
Discover the park’s impressive birdlife, with hundreds of species recorded and flamingos sometimes gathering along the lake depending on seasonal conditions.
Ready for Lake Manyara? Tell us your preferred date and group size, and we’ll take care of the rest.
