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Go off the beaten path at Lake Manyara, Tanzania.

Experience nature like nowhere else: the park’s diverse vegetation is said to support up to 11 ecosystems at once, making it unsurprising that a Lake Manyara safari lures in a large number of visitors year after year. However, despite its relatively small size, navigating through the national park can be a daunting task.So plan ahead! Find specific activities to partake in while visiting Lake Manyara, so you can make the most out of your Tanzania tour. Here are some of the top things to do in Lake Manyara National Park.

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1. Top of the World on the Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway

Treetop Walkway
Treetop walkway

Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway allows you to have a thrilling sky-high adventure straight through the forest. This 370 m airwalk, lets you to walk right among the treetops, giving you a bird's eye view of the forest. The treetop walkway starts right from the short board-walk and eventually rises in altitude leading to a series of suspension bridges with secure netting on either side. 

Get a sweeping view of the world from above.

These bridges rise to a total altitude of 18 m off the ground, and allow you to enjoy the fauna and flora of the forest facilitated by tour guides who can point out each of the varying species, and give you interesting tidbits about each kind.

2. Become a Bird Lover

Flamingos at Lake Manyara National Park
Flamingos at Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park may be one of the best parks in Tanzania to engage in birding: with close to 400 bird species including migrating birds from Eurasian locations, and 3 species that are unique and endangered to Tanzania. 

A place where the most uninterested people turn into avid bird watchers.

A majority of the birds that can be seen often migrate from Lake Natron where they breed, to Lake Manyara which acts as their feeding ground. This means that the floodplains of Lake Manyara are populated with spectacular species such as the Grey crowned crane, Fischer’s sparrow lark, pink lesser flamingos and the Crowned Plover.

3. Enjoy Day AND Night Game drives

Leopard sightings in a Lake Manyara Safari
Leopard sightings at night

Sure, every park has day game drives, but what about a nocturnal experience? A Lake Manyara safari shows its diverse ecosystems at its shining best through night game drives which make you feel like you’ve entered a whole new world! 

One of the few national parks with night game drives

Lake Manyara is also known for its population of big cats, with lions being seen both during the day as they sleep, and at night when they are on the prowl.

4. A Whiff of Adventure

Canoeing
Canoeing

Lake Manyara National Park also has the distinction of being one of the few national parks in Tanzania that allows canoeing! By canoeing at Lake Manyara, you will be able to get up close and personal with dozens of aquatic species and species of birds such as the pink flamingoes that gather near the water to relax and relieve their thirst. 

Calling all adventure lovers!

Lake Manyara is also home to a number of giraffes and elephants all of which can be seen with a closer look as you canoe past them into the serene waters.

5. Visit Maasai Bombas

Maasai bombas
Maasai bombas

Surrounding Lake Manyara Tanzania are villages of the Maasai people who live in their quaint circular huts made of mud and straw which they refer to as Bombas. The Maasai are very friendly and often break into song and dance as they welcome you to their village.

Get a taste of the Maasai culture

If you are looking for a taste of the indigenous cultural heritage you must visit some of the neighboring villages where you can also taste the local cuisine and mingle with the locals, to understand the rich culture of Tanzania better.

Published by Rasmus Juul Olsen, updated on August 2, 2023

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