Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is a shallow, alkaline lake in northern Tanzania surrounded by a national park that includes gallery forest, floodplain and Rift escarpment habitats. The lake and its reedbeds attract large numbers of waterbirds when conditions are suitable and are an important seasonal resource for wildlife.

Visitors typically experience a compact circuit of habitats from the lakeshore to groundwater forest and open woodland; the area is noted for sightings of tree-climbing lions, baboons and flocks of birdlife. The park provides short drives and walks that concentrate on the lake edge and forest fringes for wildlife viewing.

The lake lies at the foot of the eastern Rift Valley escarpment in the Manyara Region, close to the towns that serve the northern safari circuit. Its setting is a narrow band of wetland between alluvial plains and steep high ground.

• Birdwatching note: Known for flamingos and a diversity of waterbirds, the lake's appearance and bird populations change with seasonal rains and water levels.
• Notable wildlife: Tree-climbing lions have been recorded in the area, and sightings of both primates and elephants are common around the park margins.

What to See #

• The lake and shore habitats: The lake itself is a shallow, alkaline body of water fringed by reedbeds and seasonally inundated flats, important for waterbirds and flamingos when conditions permit.
• Groundwater forest and escarpment woodlands: A strip of groundwater forest and acacia woodlands at the base of the Rift escarpment supports baboons, monkeys and other wildlife that visitors commonly see on drives.