Tanzania : Lake Manyara NP

Lake Manyara National Park is a beautiful compact wilderness area comprising of a great variety of flora and fauna. It is one of my favourite areas in Tanzania and is often passed through too quickly. Take time to stay at one water source for a while, just relax and watch what passes through. A huge number of species are supported due to the diversity in habitat, within 330 square kilometres (the majority of this is the lake) you will find: the rift wall, the ground water forest, acacia woodland, areas of open grassland, the lake shore, swamp and the lake itself.

The park supports many buffalo, dik dik, giraffe, impala, zebra, kilpspringer, hippo, many primates and a fantastic array of birds and of course the tree-climbing lion, for which it is famous. There is a huge colony of yellow billed storks which have taken up residence in thick tree canopy to the east of the lake. Lake Manyara National Park is only 130 kilometres from Arusha and situated between the 600 metre escarpment and Lake Manyara itself.

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birds	elephant	klipspringer

Quick links:
Kirurumu Tented Lodge	Tree Lodge

Kirurumu Tented Lodge
Kirurumu Tented Lodge is set on the edge on the Great Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking views over Lake Manyara and the National Park. The lodge is perfectly positioned for travellers en route to and from the Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai and the Serengeti, which lie to the west. There are 20 en-suite double-tented rooms on raised platforms with private verandas affording panoramic views over the Rift Valley. The Lodge can offer day and half-day excursions to Lake Manyara National Park, , Ethno-botanical walks with a local Maasai guide, and visits to homes and bomas of the local Iraqw and Mbulu tribes. For a small extra cost you can enjoy mountain biking on the testing terrain or abseiling the escarpment wall. If you like walking then a walk through the Selela forest and up the side of the escarpment is a lovely day out with the chance of seeing elephant and smaller forest dwelling animals. You can make this into a 2 day excursion by camping over night at the top of the escarpment then either walk ,mountain bike or be driven back to Kirurumu.

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gorge view	Kirurumu	Selela forest

tent	view	walking safari

Tree Lodge
Set in the heart of a mahogany forest, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is located near the remote south-western shores of Lake Manyara. It is the only lodge actually in Lake Manyara National Park. There are only 10 rooms which are luxury stilted tree houses built of timber and thatch, each nestling in the boughs of mahogany trees The guest areas are cosy and comfortable, and overlook a forest boma. Wholesome food is prepared in wood-fired ovens in the interactive kitchen. Activities include morning and afternoon game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles with experienced guides, and birding walks in the forest, where there are 400+ recorded species. Though there is no walking usually allowed in National Parks, the Tree Lodge has permission for guided nature walks from the lodge along a perennial river down to the lakeshore guided by a local Masai guide.

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bedroom

bathroom

Tree Lodge