Your Lake Manyara National Park Day Trip

Morning: Arusha → Lake Manyara National Park

Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Arusha.

Travel through the beautiful landscapes of northern Tanzania toward the Great Rift Valley. As you approach Lake Manyara, the dramatic escarpment rises above the surrounding landscape, creating a spectacular entrance to the park.

After entering through the park gate, begin your game drive through the lush groundwater forest.

Through the Groundwater Forest

One of the first landscapes you encounter is Lake Manyara’s lush groundwater forest.

Fed by underground springs flowing from the Rift Valley escarpment, this evergreen forest provides an important habitat for blue monkeys, baboons, bushbuck and numerous bird species.

The forest creates a striking contrast with the open savannah and dry woodland found elsewhere in the park.

Wildlife & Tree-Climbing Lions

Continue your game drive toward the park’s open woodland and floodplain areas.

Lake Manyara is home to elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, hippos and several species of antelope. The park is also particularly well known for its tree-climbing lions, which may sometimes be seen resting on the branches of acacia trees.

Your experienced guide will help you search for wildlife while explaining the behavior, habitats and ecology of the animals you encounter.

Lake Manyara & Flamingos

Continue toward the shores of the alkaline lake.

Depending on the season and water conditions, the lake can attract lesser and greater flamingos, pelicans, storks, herons and many other waterbirds. More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the park, making Lake Manyara particularly rewarding for birdwatchers.

The lake also creates some of the day’s most beautiful photographic opportunities, especially with the Rift Valley escarpment rising dramatically in the background.

Hippo Pools & Wetlands

Continue along the lake and wetland areas where you may have opportunities to observe hippos and water-associated birdlife.

The wetlands are an important part of the park’s ecosystem and provide a completely different environment from the forest and open woodland encountered earlier in the day.

Picnic Lunch

Stop at a designated picnic area for lunch.

Take some time to relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery before continuing your afternoon exploration.

Afternoon: More Game Viewing & Scenic Exploration

After lunch, continue your game drive through the park.

Depending on the day’s route and your interests, you can spend more time searching for wildlife, photographing the Rift Valley landscapes, watching birds around the lake or exploring viewpoints and other scenic areas.

For travelers looking for something more active, a canopy walkway can also be incorporated where available. The elevated walkway provides a different perspective of the forest canopy and opportunities to observe birds, butterflies and monkeys.

Late Afternoon: Lake Manyara → Arusha

As your safari comes to an end, leave the park and begin the journey back to Arusha.

Arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon or early evening, concluding your Lake Manyara day safari.