DAY TRIP LAKE MANYARA

Lake Manyara National Park lies 1.5 hours (126 kilometers/80 miles) west of Arusha, Tanzania along a newly surfaced road, close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto wa Mbu. Lake Manyara safari provides excellent opportunities for buffalo, wildebeest, bird viewing & you might find tree climbing lions.

Lake Manyara National Park Day Tour – Daily departures at 07:30 hours (Duration: Full Day)

At 07:30AM, we depart Arusha after breakfast and drive 126 kilometers to Lake Manyara National Park, picking up our lunch boxes at Jambo Lodge in Mto Wa Mbu during our refreshment break.

Lake Manyara is a beautiful Park which contains a diverse range of habitats and topographical features ranging from the Rift Wall, ground water forest, acacia woodlands and open grasslands to the shores of Lake Manyara and the lake it-self. Picnic Lunch is served at Msasa Picnic site which affords fabulous views of the lake.

Following lunch we’ll have afternoon game viewing in the park searching for the diverse flora and fauna of the park. There are some 350 different bird species in the park. Lake Manyara provides sanctuary to a variety of animals such as the gazelle, impala, buffalo, wildebeest, hyena, baboon, giraffe, hippo and the famous tree-climbing lions that are unique to the lake.

Late in the afternoon drive back to Arusha and drop off at your Hotel.

Lake Manyara National Park is relatively small and the park can be traversed within a short period of time while viewing a considerable number of wildlife and bird life. The park is famous for Acacia Tortilis tree-climbing lions. Other animals frequently seen are leopards (also in trees), zebras, impalas, baboons, monkeys, wildebeests, giraffes, buffalos and elephants. Hippos can be seen either basking or submerged in the hippo pools near the forest.

The word Manyara comes from the Maa (language of the Masai) word referring to the Euphorbia Tirucalli tree plant used to creates hedges for the Masai cattle. The Tirucalli is preferred over tree branches by the Masai because of its resilience and long lasting characteristics.

The total size of Lake Manyara is 330 square kilometers out of which 230 square kilometers includes Lake Arena where water levels are constantly fluctuating. Lake Manyara’s relatively small size is home to a favorable ecosystem, which includes varied bird, wildlife and vegetation species.

Lake Manyara gets supplied with water systems that gush out from the base of the Great Rift Valley. Karanga Adventure Tours and Safari guests should note that unlike many of its sister lakes found in the Kenya’s Rift Valley, an eastern wall does not cushion Lake Manyara; the land in this part of the Great Rift Valley is a soft depression.