Lake Manyara National Park
Tucked beneath the dramatic wall of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park packs an outsized variety of habitats into a compact area — groundwater forest, acacia woodland, open grassland, and a vast soda lake.
It's most famous for its tree-climbing lions, an unusual behavior seen in only a handful of places in Africa, believed to be a way of escaping biting insects and the midday heat.
Wildlife & Highlights
The lake itself, when water levels are high, attracts thousands of flamingos alongside pelicans and storks, while the surrounding forest is home to large troops of baboon and blue monkey and some of Tanzania's biggest elephant herds relative to park size.
Best Time To Visit
June–October for reliable game viewing on dry ground, and December–February when the flamingo numbers on the lake are typically at their best.
