When is the best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park?
When is the best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park? Lake Manyara National Park is the smallest national park, providing excellent wildlife observation throughout the year. The national park is situated at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment along the route to Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania. Lake Manyara National Park encompasses an area of 330 square kilometers, featuring stunning attractions such as Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline lake that occupies two-thirds of the park’s surface area and draws significant wildlife populations. The park includes savannah grasslands, acacia woodlands, and groundwater forests, home to large herds of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, waterbucks, leopards, hyenas, hippos, and various bird species, including flamingos. Lake Manyara National Park is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, which can be observed resting in the branches of acacia trees. It is believed that they ascend the trees to evade biting insects on the ground.
The best time to visit lake Manyara National Park
Arid season (June to October)
When is the best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park, The dry season, often referred to as the peak season, is characterized by abundant sunshine and reduced rainfall, resulting in sparse vegetation in the park, hence providing clear vistas of wildlife. In the dry season, afternoon temperatures in the park reach approximately 26 degrees Celsius, while evening temperatures decrease to around 14 degrees Celsius, resulting in a chill. Consequently, visitors are advised to bring warm clothing to maintain comfort during the morning and evening hours. The dry season is optimal for wildlife observation in Lake Manyara National Park, as various animals congregate around water sources to hydrate, facilitating wildlife viewing. Additionally, walking trails will be dry and accessible for visitors wishing to explore the park on foot during guided nature walks.
Rainy season (November to May)
The wet season is characterized by lush vegetation resulting from prolonged rains occurring from March to May and brief showers from October to November, rendering most roads entering the park muddy and hazardous. The rainy season, referred to as the low season, experiences reduced tourists in the park, allowing for exclusive animal viewing without disturbances, and offers lower pricing compared to the dry season. During the wet season, afternoon temperatures reach roughly 29 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures decrease to 17 degrees Celsius. The rainy season is the optimal period for birdwatching, since it allows for the observation of migratory bird species from Europe and North Africa. In the rainy season
Lake Manyara National Park is accessible year-round, as all park activities can be conducted in any season. Remarkable activities are available for participation during your safari in the park encompass. Game drives will allow you to traverse the park in a 4WD pop-up safari vehicle accompanied by a professional driver-guide. The game drive is optimally conducted in the morning, allowing for the observation of animals during their peak activity. This includes sightings of elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, warthogs, and waterbucks grazing in expansive savannah grasslands, as well as tree-climbing lions resting in acacia branches, leopards and hyenas hunting, and various bird species.
Night game Drive in Manyara National park
The night game drive at Lake Manyara National Park is one of the rare opportunities in Tanzania to embark on a safari after dark, utilizing spotlight torches to observe nocturnal wildlife clearly. You will consequently be able to observe wildlife such as leopards, spotted hyenas, genets, civet cats, porcupines, and hippos, among others.
Canoeing in Manyara National park
Canoeing is a remarkable activity conducted on Lake Manyara, an alkaline salt lake, where participants paddle along the shores, enjoying breathtaking views of hippos in the water, elephants, giraffes, warthogs along the banks, and various water birds including flamingos, kingfishers, cormorants, pelicans, and herons.
Bird Watching in Lake Manya National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is home to about 400 bird species, including aquatic, migratory, endemic, and near-endemic birds, establishing it as a birdwatcher’s paradise in Tanzania. Avian enthusiasts will thus be able to identify species such as the silvery-cheeked hornbill, sacred ibis, small stint, grey-crowned eagle, yellow-billed stork, pink-backed pelican, and emerald cuckoo, among others.
Nature walks around lake Manyara National Park
Nature walks provide tourists with the opportunity to traverse the park on foot, accompanied by an expert guide and an armed ranger for protection against hazardous wildlife. On the guided nature walk around, participants will observe wildlife such as elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and warthogs up close, listen to birdsong in the treetops, admire vibrant butterflies, explore various plant and tree species, and enjoy the refreshing wind.
Lake Manyara National Park is accessible year-round; for further information or safari reservations, please contact All tanzania safaris mail us at info@alltanzaniasafaris.com