Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a scenic gem squeezed between the sheer cliffs of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and the shimmering waters of Lake Manyara. Despite its relatively small size, the park offers an astonishing variety of habitats, starting with a lush, green groundwater forest fed by underground springs, where troops of baboons and blue monkeys play. As you move south, the forest opens into acacia woodlands—the preferred haunt of Manyara's famous tree-climbing lions. The lake itself is a shallow alkaline water body that covers two-thirds of the park, creating a feeding ground for thousands of lesser flamingos, pelicans, storks, and cormorants. Large herds of buffaloes, giraffes, and hippos congregate along the grassy floodplains, while a canopy walk lets visitors stroll among tree tops.