Situated along the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park is built around a shallow soda lake that makes up two-thirds of the park’s area. It is a favourite among birdwatchers, with over 400 species recorded. During the wet season (March–May, November), the lake hosts large flamingo flocks, though the changing lake chemistry means flamingos are less reliable in drier months.
Wildlife includes giraffes, zebras, lions, cheetahs, leopards, gazelles, hippos, elephants, impalas, baboons, and monkeys. The park offers an unusually diverse range of activities: night game drives, walking safaris, and canoe safaris are all available — as well as the unique Treetops Walkway, a 370m suspension bridge system 18m above the forest floor (additional cost: $30/adult, $15/child under 12).
There are lodges inside the park and many more just outside in beautiful settings overlooking the rift escarpment. An airstrip near the park makes it easily accessible by small plane. Lake Manyara pairs naturally with Tarangire or Ngorongoro as part of a northern circuit itinerary.