Activities to do at Lake Manyara National Park : Lake Manyara National Park is located 125 kilometres from Arusha town. Lake Manyara National Park is protected area in Manyara region and Arusha Tanzania. The park can be accessed by both road and by air .The park covers 325 Km² ,with Lake Manyara covering the surface area of 230 km² , which means the lake covers more than ⅔ of the total surface area of the park. It is governed by Tanzania National Parks Authority. It is found in the Arusha region and Manyara region of Tanzania, which near the city of Arusha. The park was first established in 1957 as a Game reserve before being given the National park status in 1974. The lake can also be reached from Babati the capital of Manyara region. Marang Forest Reserve which is 35,399 ha is located in the south and kwa Kuchinja wildlife migration is located in the East. The corridor allows the animals to migrate between Tarangire National Park to the Southeast , Lake Manyara to the west ,and Engaruka basin to the North.
Game viewing
Lake Manyara National Park is one of the breath-taking wildlife-rich parks in Tanzania. It is known to host the largest herds of elephants the biggest land animal in the world. It is also famous for its tree climbing lions which are very unique from the Lions found in other parks in Tanzania like the Serengeti National park or the lions found in Tarangire National parks. This behaviour of the lions is unexplainable scientifically, but there is nothing more rewarding on a safari tour than spotting the tree climbing lions.
The other animals that can be viewed in the park include the famous Big five animals ( Lions, leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes and Rhinos both the black and the white rhinos are available in the park . Other animal species are; wildebeest, zebras, Giraffes, Hyena, Hippopotamus, impala, Bushbuck, Blue and vervet monkeys, Baboons, cheetahs, blue and vervet monkeys among other animals.
Night game drives
The night game drives provides for an opportunity to see other animals which are rarely seen during the day time. The nocturnal animals such as porcupine, Genet, Civet cats are frequent visitors to the forest. Hippo which are seen inside the lake at the hippo pool during the day are active and can be spotted grazing at night.
The other animals that can be spotted are majority of the cats family .which have good night views ,and spend their nights hunting for food. They spend the day resting or hiding from the hot sun.
Most of the game drives start at around 1945hrs and it takes two hours .
Bird watching
The different scenery of the park provide habitats for variety species of birds, the most common are the pink lesser flamingos which are found on the shores of the lake in their hundreds of thousands feeding on the dead algae. It is one of the important bird area with over 400 recorded species of birds making the park a birding destination. On a typical birding safari one is likely to see the following birds; Squacco Heron, Crested Heron, silver cheecked Hornbill, purple swamphen, African jacana, Rufous Bellied Heron, knob billed duck, Giant kingfisher, African fish eagle, African grey Hornbill, Abdim’s storks, comb duck, crowned eagle, Greater flamingos, Hermerkops, little stint, southern ground Hornbill, Spur-winged goose, pied Avocet, Hottentot teal, Von der deckens Hornbill among others.
Biking
This is activity is also refreshing and enjoyable especially for those on a group safari tour or just simply a normal family safari tour. One can carry along his own bicycles but there are also available bicycle for hire in case you don’t have one. The biking starts The biking starts and passes through mto wa mbu village. One is able to cycle through local farms, schools ,church, local bar and have a chance to experience the vibrant local village life.
From the village, you cycle into the National park to the shores of the Lake Manyara. It is at the shores of the lake that one is likely to see several wildlife such as Zebras, Giraffes , wildebeest, Gazelles, Elephants and Hippos . The duration of the bicycle ride in the park usually takes an average of 3 hours ,with the age limit of rider being at least 8 years old and above
Lake Manyara treetop walking
Lake Manyara National Park has a treetop walking path which is 18m high from the ground, is a suspended bridge that offer the birds eye view of the park vibrant wildlife. The treetop walking safari has one of the best views of the lake from the forested area where it gradually rises from the ground ,one has the opportunity to view different birds from the forest, types of trees in the forest, the parks sceneries and landscapes.
This is one of the memorable activities you do in the park, watching vervet monkeys jumping from one tree branch to the other to other wildlife bellow your feet ,just close by to the far horizon. The walking path is suspended in the air with thick netting on the sides. Each of the bridges end with a game viewing deck, which is situated around the tree trunks,Activities to do at Lake Manyara National Park.
Canoeing
Canoe safari is one of the activity that can be done in Lake Manyara National Park. This activity is usually done while accompanied by a guide ,who is knowledgeable about the park for a memorable safari experience. The canoes is the perfect means yo explore lake Manyara, the sizeable flamingos in their numbers to the Hippo point which is found in the Southern part of the lake, Activities to do at Lake Manyara National Park.
The lake water is alkaline and salty ,which provides a good habitat for the growth of algae. The algae provide the food to the thousands of the pink birds. The hippo point is the major tourist attractions during canoeing and they are seen mostly enjoying their viewing and taking photographs.
Canoeing takes approximately two and half hours ,with its departure time being scheduled at 10:00 hrs to 12:30hrs.
A visit to the Maasai village
The local village which is very close to the entrance of the park is the mto wa mbu village. Mto wa mbu is a swahili word which means “river of mosquitos.” Majority of the people who live in the village are the Maasai people. They are found in Tanzania and also in the neighbouring country of Kenya.
The Maasai are known for their unique culture, the Maasai moran jump dance which is used to entertain the quests by singing and jumping straight in the air. They are also easily identified with their “shukas” the peace of sheet worn in which they wrap it around their bodies. The Shukas are of different colours, Red, blue and black . They live in homes called manyattas made from sticks, mud and cow dung constructed by their women. The community depend on cattle and everything they do circulate around this assets
