Flamingos in Tanzania : There is nothing that can be compared to a breathtaking sight of thousands sometimes in millions of pink-feathered birds standing on the lakeshore in their numbers. Flamingos are a great spectacle for anyone who enjoy birdwatching while in safaris in Tanzania. It is important to note that there are large flocks of pink flamingos which are found in several parts of Africa, particularly in East and Southern Africa. These beautiful migratory birds have excellent habitats in many lakes found in Tanzania especially in crater lakes and in nearly all soda lakes in the Rift Valley. The greatest locations to see flamingos are in the lakes in Northern Tanzania such as Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Lake Magadi in the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Ndutu, and Momela Lakes in found in Arusha National Park.
In Africa there are just two types of flamingos out of the six species found in the world—the Greater and Lesser flamingos. While on your Tanzania safari you have a chance to see both of them in large numbers. Flamingoes are found in their hundreds to thousands, they travel and reside together.
The Greater Flamingo
Of all the flamingo species in the world, the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the tallest. An adult Greater flamingo has a height of between one and 1.5 metres with a weight of 1.8–4 kg. The greater flamingo has 1.4–1.8 metres of wings.
Lesser flamingo
Lesser flamingos also known as Phoeniconaias minor are smaller than Greater flamingos. They are also considerably shorter. Lesser flamingo has a height of between 95 and 110 cm, with a weight range of between 1.1–2. 6 kg. While in safari in Tanzania ,you will find the Lesser flamingos in their numbers and they are found in most alkaline of Africa. Flamingos are believed to get their stunning pink hue from the spirulina or blue-green algae they eat. They become less pink the less they eat these algae!
The best time to see flamingos
Flamingos can be observed all year round in most soda lakes in Tanzania, no matter when you travel. On the other hand, Tanzania’s best time to see flamingos is between the month of November to May. Flamingos are few and less common and usually move to the middle of the lake during off-peak times. Flamingos are migratory birds and because of that they travel to and from Tanzania’s numerous soda lakes.
Factors that determine where and when to See Flamingos in Tanzania
Flamingos enjoy and they thrive in salty environments. The quantity, location, and time of flamingo sightings at a given site are determined by three main criteria. These are the following:
Nesting season
Flamingos fly to their nesting sites during the breeding season. Lake Natron is where flamingos in Tanzania move to nest and hatch, Before moving on to other salty lakes in East Africa, such as Lake Manyara in Tanzania and Lake Bogoria in Kenya, they will remain here for three to four months.
The water level and the
The long-term effects of algae is impacted by changes in water levels, which determine the salinity of lake waters. The salt content of the lake decreases as water levels increase, and the lake turns acidic as water levels drop. Shrimps and algae die as a result of this imbalance. Flamingos disappear when there is a decrease of algae.
Availability of Food
Flamingos feed mostly on algae and brine shrimp in the wild, which are plentiful in the mineral-rich waters of alkaline lakes. Once the lake’s salinity is altered due to climatic shifts, the environment is no longer conducive to the growth of algae. Flamingos flee in search of pastures to other salty lakes as a result.
Places to visit to see Flamingos in Tanzania
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is renowned birding safari destination in northern Tanzania with a lot of bird species. The park’s name, Lake Manyara, comes from this salinity lake. It’s also among the top safari places in the nation to watch flamingos. The most notable feature of the park is Lake Manyara, which is situated inside the 330 km². The lake hosts hundreds to thousands of flamingos from the month of May to July. Lake Manyara is a shallow salty water lake with an area of 230 km² and a maximum depth of 3.6 metres. Along with the nearby park, the lake has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve. It is a very important source of water for both wild plants and animals. Lake Manyara is 40 kilometres long and 16 kilometres wide.
Lake Natron
One of the best places to see lots of flamingos is in Lake Natron. This is one of the largest Lesser flamingo breeding site in Africa. It is at lake Natron where close to a million flamingos gather from September through December. These are best months to see flamingos at Lake Natron. Flamingos build their nests and laying eggs in September. Flamingos hatch during the months of November to December. Because so many chicks have already hatched, December is generally the best time. Lake Natron is located in northern Tanzania and is recognised as a significant Global Ramsar Site.
Lake Magadi
There are also large numbers of flamingos in Tanzania’s Lake Magadi, which the locals refer to as Lake Makat. In Swahili, “magadi” means soda ash, and this caldera lake is actually rather salty. At Lake Magadi, the seasons change. Pink-hued flamingos have a great place to call home at Lake Magadi, which is 610 metres deep. The Ngorongoro Crater’s greatest time of year to see flamingos is November through May. Tanzania’s summer, or wet season, is well underway, and a significant amount of blue-green algae may be found in the crater. Numerous marshes, drinking holes, and springs can be found around the caldera’s floor, and these areas are home to vast populations of flamingos.
Momella lakes
The collection of tiny, saline lakes scattered around Tanzania’s Arusha National Park is known as Momella Lakes. The lakes’ nickname was inspired by the nearby Momella Village. Kusare, Lekandiro, Tulusia, Big Momella, Small Momella, El Kekhotoito, and Rishateni are the seven shallow alkaline lakes. Momella Lakes vary in size and depth. With a maximum depth of thirty metres, Big Momella Lake is the deepest, while Small Momella Lake is the shallowest, with a maximum depth of only ten metres. During the rainy season, thousands of Lesser and Greater flamingos gather on the beaches of these saltwater lakes. Of course, the greatest number of flamingos can be found along Small Momella Lake’s shallower shores.
Empakaai Crater
Empakaai is one of the crater lakes in Tanzania where flamingos are seen in abundance. Nestled 300 metres below the rim of the Empakaai Crater, flamingos thrive along the soda ash-crusted shores of Empakaai Lake. Usually, flamingos head to the banks of Empakaai Lake in search of algae when Lake Makat or Magadi starts to dry up. Lake Empakaai is eighty-five metres deep.
Lake Eyasi
Despite being near the well-known Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Eyasi is one of Tanzania’s least visited lakes. Perhaps this is because it is a seasonal lake that is dry for most of the year. Lake Eyasi is a hidden gem that spans 1,020 km2, with a depth of one metre at its deepest point. The Hadzabe Bushmen Tribe, an indigenous hunters and gatherers tribe, is the main attraction for visitors, but when the weather permits, it’s a great place to see flamingos.
Lake Ndutu
While many are aware of the Great Wildebeest Migration that occurs in Serengeti National Park, few are aware of the breathtaking flamingo migration that also occurs in Serengeti National Park . The best area to see pink flamingos is along the beaches of Lake Ndutu in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, which is located on the eastern side of the park. June through November is the greatest time to see large group of flamingo in the Serengeti National Park.
