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| Flamingos on Lake Manyara |
September 2010: Time to relax
February 2013: Coming soon...
December 2015: Looking for tree-climbing lions...
Overview
Lake Manyara NP is a thin strip of wilderness between the lake and the Maasai steps next to the main Arusha – Ngorongoro crater road. The main attractions of the park are the ground water forest, tree climbing lions and the lake. The park is also home to elephants, buffalo and other plains game while the lake is home to huge flocks of flamingos.
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| Maasai steps form one border of the park |
September 2010 (TANAPA banda)
February 2013 (TANAPA banda)
Getting there
It's a 142 km 2 hour drive on the Arusha – Ngorongoro tarred road and the park is on the outskirts of the Mto wa Mbu village. The drive is easy from Arusha with one right turn at the village of Makuyuni 80 kms out of Arusha.
Roads in the park
All roads in the park are well maintained gravel roads and you don’t need a 4x4. If you want to go as far as the hot springs, there is a river crossing which will only be an issue in heavy rain (a causeway was under construction in 2010).
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| Ground water forest |
There is plenty of accommodation including camping in and around the Mto wa Mbu village while there are good quality lodges at the top of the escarpment, 30 minutes from the park gate.
The TANAPA bandas set amongst huge trees inside the park gates is our choice as it costs the same as camping and the bandas are clean and comfortable with attached toilets and hardly used by tourists. There is a functioning common kitchen.
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| TANAPA Bandas |
Two public campsites inside the park, one at the entrance set in the ground water forest under huge trees with a new (2013) running water toilet block. Look out for baboons who hang around here. The second camp site is on the Msasa River with badly placed toilet block. The camp site looked seldom used and neglected.
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| Camp site |
Plains game such as Zebra, wildebeest and giraffe are common and there are a few elephants in the park. It’s a good place to see blue monkey and the best place is the ground water forest as you enter the park. We are not sure why the park is promoted for its tree climbing lions as lions climb trees all over Tanzania and we are yet to see a lion or a sign of it in the park. There are a decent collection of birds both in the tree canopy and shore birds on the lake.
Wildness factor
The fact its next to the main road on the outskirts of the village is never going to give you the total wilderness feeing but once you get in to the park it’s amazing to see a small piece of wilderness thrive right next to the main road.
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| Hippo pool - Lake Manyara |
Costs are as follows:
Park entrance permit: $45pppn (24 hours only)
Camping/Bandas: $30 pppn
Car: $40 per car pd (for foreign registered)
Note: you can only pay with TANAPA card or Credit card (Master/VISA).
Our impression
How many times have we been? 2
While we were not too impressed with the park or the game, the ground water forest is unique and worth a look. The park itself is worth having a look at once if you have time. I would rather spend my time and money at other parks.
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| In 2010 the lake was full |
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