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The name “Manyara” derives from the plant
Euphobiatirucalli from which the Maasai build a hedge to protect
their livestock from predators and poachers. In the Maasai
language Maa, “emanyara” means a kraal. Covering 330 sq. kms, the park lies between the 600m escarpment
of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara thus noted for its
incredible beauty. It is famous for tree climbing lions and
natural hot Sulphur springs called "Maji Moto" (Hot Water).
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 Located
beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the
Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park offers varied
ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views. The
alkaline soda of Lake Manyara is home to an incredible array of
bird life that thrives on its brackish waters. Pink flamingo
stoop and graze by the thousands, colourful specks against the
grey minerals of the lake shore. Yellow-billed storks swoop and
corkscrew on thermal winds rising up from the escarpment, and
herons flap their wings against the sun-drenched sky. Even
reluctant bird-watchers will find something to watch and marvel
at within the national park. Located on the way to Ngorongoro
Crater and the Serengeti, Lake Manyara National Park is well
worth a stop in its own right. Its ground water forests, bush
plains, baobab strewn cliffs, and algae-streaked hot springs
offer incredible ecological variety in a small area, rich in
wildlife and incredible numbers of birds. The extraordinary
birdlife has made this place world-renowned among
ornithologists, who come to observe the masses of pink flamingos
and birds of prey.
Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions are another reason to
pay this park a visit. The only kind of their species in the
world, they make the ancient mahogany and elegant acacias their
home during the rainy season, and are a well-known but rather
rare feature of the northern park. In addition to the lions, the
national park is also home to the largest concentration of
baboons anywhere in the world, a fact that makes for interesting
game viewing of large families of the primates. The park is also
home to hippos, baboons, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, and is
particularly good for bird watching, with over 380 species
having been recorded.
Best time to visit: Throughout the year |
