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Lake Manyara National Park, which encompasses an
area of 330 sq.km, of which 200 sq.km is lake, was proclaimed
a game reserve in 1957 and registered three years later as a National
Park. The park is situated between the 600 m high escarpment of
the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara and is 130 km from
Arusha. click map
Thus, it can be visited on a day excursion from
this centre. At the Southern end of the park are hot Sulphur
Springs known as Majimoto. Further along the forest the area
opens up into woodlands, grassland, swamps and beyond, the soda
lake itself.
Wildlife
Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment,
the park is recognized for its incredible beauty. Wildlife at Lake
Manyara is not restricted to birdlife only. Many game animals such
as Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Impala, hippo and a great variety
of smaller animals also inhabit the park.
Lake Manyara is also renown for its tree-climbing
lions which spend most of the day spread out along the branches
of acacia trees six to seven metres above the ground. The park contains
the most pachyderms per km sq. in Tanzania. As visitors enter the
gate, they pass into the lush forest, home to troops of baboons
and blue monkeys. Buffalo and hippo lurch in the adjacent Hippo
Pool. The vegetation eventually merges into flat topped acacia woodland
where, in the heat of the day entire prides of lion can be seen
stretched on the branches of these trees - a habit prevalent to
Manyara lions.
Along with these amazing tree-climbing lions there
are the usual browsers and grazers as well as the curios-looking
banded mongoose. Two thirds of the park is dominated by the
slightly alkaline lake which is home to a huge variety of waterbirds.
Birdlife
More than 400 species of bird including flamingo,
pelican, red billed quelea, storks, sacred ibis, cormorants and
Egyptian geese can be sighted in this area. Other species of birds
include the African spoonbill, lesser flamingo, white pelican
and white faced duck.
Access
Lake Manyara National Park is 130 km west of Arusha
and the drive takes about two and half hours. The entrance to the
park is off to the left of the Great North Road at Makuyuni. From
here there is a track that goes past the lake and through the village
of Mto wa Mbu to the park entrance.
Mto wa Mbu ( meaning Mosquito Creek) is a small busy
market town selling fruit and vegetables produced by the
fruitful adjacent farms. The little settlement has become a temporary
stop over for tourists and campers.
When to visit
The dry season of July to October is the best
time to visit to spot large mammals, whilst the wet season of
November to June is the best time for birdwatching.
Lodges and hotels in or around Lake Manyara
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