Lake Manyara National Park well known for the tree climbing lions, the soda ash lake and its flamingos, we are talking about breathtaking scenery! This travel guide offers you the most updated information about the attractions, lodges, getting there and so much more. Enjoy your safari in Tanzania!

Lake Manyara has a big number of elephants, so many giraffes; zebras, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, and warthog, small known shy Kik’s dik dik as well as Klipspringer along the ramps of the escarpment. Leopards are hosted within the broken forests and escarpment, healthy lions that are widely known for their tree climbing pranks. This used to be a special character of the park which is not the case today. Regarded as Africa’s largest, huge herds of baboons are expected by most of the travelers.

Attractions in Lake Manyara National Park Located in the northern part of Tanzania, Lake Manyara National Park is 126 kilometers west of Arusha Town. The park is sized 330 square kilometers of which 220 sq kilometers.

As part of the famous northern safari circuit, Lake Manyara National park can only be visited by very few people in isolation. Majority of the safaris to this particular circuit

When to Visit Lake Manyara National Park

At the base of the River valley Escarpment is a small park, Lake Manyara National Park. Unlike the more Savanna dominated parks, its ground water forests give you superior change

Lake Manyara National Park is one of Africa’s alkaline water lakes located in the northern side of Tanzania, approximately ninety minutes drive from Arusha town on a newly tarmac-surfaced road.

Tanzania Safari Experience in Manyara

Within a short period of time, many people want to  go for Tanzania safaris  as many areas as possible and hurriedly .Therefore most of them that visit  the Manyara National Park make it as they make their way from or to the Crater usually in half a day since they do not even spend a night.

Amidst saving on money, this compromises on the time you would have spent only making it convenient to make visits to the northern quarter of the park which is usually very busy. Disappointment may sometimes come out of this because of the hurried experience during your visit to Lake Manyara.

Alternatively, while on your visit to Lake Manyara National Park; it is usually best to reside either inside the park at a permanent camp or opt for a mobile tent. It is a perfect way to adventure the park, but rather expensive. You begin your safari much earlier than all the others and even giving you an in-depth exploration into the park unlike the day visitors. You will definitely enjoy the best wildlife experience if you stay inside the park.

The other Tanzania safari option is to stay outside but near to the park gate. You can adventure the whole park by entering from here early in the morning. Along the Rift Valley escarpment you will also be able to get some affordable and low cost accommodation and offering you great views down across the park.

Birdwatching in Manyara

Birds have a varying life experience within this park. Flocks of pelicans and pink shading of distant flamingos are usually spotted in the middle of the lake. While the spoonbills, egrets, herons, stalks and other waders converge around the edges and water meadows. The captivating species will be viewed in the evergreen forests. The woodlands yield a lot. Examples here include, crowned eagles, created guinea fowl, and the noisy silvery cheeked hornbills.

Park Entrance and Access

In only 1 hour and 30 minutes you are able to reach Lake Manyara National Park by road from Arusha and in less than an hour still, if you are coming from the Ngorongoro crater. Bits of the northern part of the park get very busy more so in the afternoon. You are advised to stay within the park or just nearby it for two nights for you to enjoy viewing it to its fullest. You then enter the park for a complete day safari.

Two main gates, that is in the north and the south make up the 2 main entrances to Lake Manyara National Park. The northern gate has a number of accommodations located along it hence making it very busy as most of the visitors opt to use the northern part of the park. As you move towards the far south, the gate is rarely used as it usually has controlled access. Just a few lodges and camps are permitted to use this gate.

Behind the splendid scenery of the Great Rift Valley’s steep escarpment in the west is the narrow area that safeguards the area between the escarpment and Lake Manyara. The silvery bowls of salt deposits facilitate the ability of the alkaline Lake Manyara to expand contract with the seasons. Grassy floodplains neighbor it so closely while bands of mixed acacia woodlands in the far end. There are also patches of ever green forests next to the escarpment. These are kept going by the perennial underground waters coming from the bottom of the escarpment.

About Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park portal is a non-commercial  with all information from attractions to safari accommodation, when to go, how to get there and the travel blog.

The Tarangire National Park is located between the meadows of Masai Steppe to the south east and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to the north and west. Among the rolling area where the park lies, it occupies an area of 2,600 square kilometers. The perennial Tarangire River takes over the northern part of Tarangire. Through the cut ditches, the River flows upwards up to when it leaves the corner of the park, in the North West flowing into Lake Burungi. There are a number of wide swamps which dry into green plains during the dry season in the south.

You are recommended to stay for a few days in the south of the park that is also less crowded and gives you the opportunity to get a real feel of the back country while on your visit to the Tarangire.

The Tarangire River is a permanent feature that even shares a name with the Tarangire Park. There are a number of large swamps .These are usually dry for most of the year .The Tarangire is usually very dry ,in fact drier than the Serengeti, however its vegetation is much more green especially with lots of elephant grass, vast areas with mixed acacia woodlands and some of  the wonderful ribbons of the aquatic forest.

The wild animals in this park differ depending on the season. It is also linked to the fact that Tarangire is just a part of the bigger ecosystem. Many of the animals leave the park during the months of November to May. The zebras as well as large herds of wildebeests move into the north-western direction towards the Rift Valley floor amongst the large numbers of animals that spread across the large open areas of the Masaai Steppe. The game goes back to the Tarangire swamps during the dry season around the months of June to October most especially, the river system. This is noted as the best season hence enjoy the best of animal viewing during your Tanzania tour visit to Tarangire around this time. You will obviously see big numbers of elephants gather here as well as the wildebeests and zebras.
The impalas also exist in large numbers as well, eland, buffalo and giraffes.Bohor reedbuck, Thompson’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu and the Coke’s hartebeest. On really some rare occasions, the common usual gerenuk and fringe –eared Oryx are also seen. A few black rhinos are also thought to be still present in this park.

Among the other common animals in the Tarangire are the leopards, lions, hyenas, and cheetah that seem to be popular within the southern open areas. The wild dogs are only seen once in a while

The birds within the Tarangire are also quite many, there are over 500 species that have been identified here. The lovebirds that are yellow collared, the shy starlings are in plenty and widespread in Tanzania.

Mainly, the dry open woods like e acacia thickets, as well as many of its significant baobab trees make up the vegetation of the Tarangire. The stunning acacia tortillis trees not forgetting the occasional palm tree. There are also huge flat swamps within the woodlands in the south that get very impassable during the rains. During the rest of the year; they will also uniformly dry in green.

Overview Arusha National Park

The transition between unappealing urban chaos and pristine mountain hiking trails is rarely so abrupt as it is in Arusha National Park. One of Tanzania’s most beautiful and topographically varied protected areas, the park is dominated by Mt Meru, an almost perfect volcanic cone with a spectacular crater. It also shelters Ngurdoto Crater (often dubbed Little Ngorongoro), with its swamp-filled floor and lost-world feel.

At 552 sq km, it’s a small park and, while there is wildlife here, it’s nothing compared to that of other northern-circuit parks. But these minor details can be quickly forgotten when you’re walking amid the soul-stirring scenery and exploring the meaningful trekking possibilities.

Top attractions in Arusha National Park

Park Highlights

Arusha National Park’s highlights can be seen in a single day, and the park is the only park in Tanzania’s northern circuit in which a walking safari is possible.

Outstanding Wildlife Diversity

Due to the varied landscapes that exist within the park, there is an unusually high level of diversity when it comes to wildlife.

Not only is the park home to Africa’s largest giraffe population, but visitors can also expect to see water bucks, cape buffalo, elephants, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, turacos, trogons, and even the occasional lion or leopard in the right conditions.

The park also boasts an incredibly diverse variety of bird-life, making it a popular stop for birding enthusiasts.

Mt. Meru

Africa’s fifth highest mountain cuts a striking figure at 4,566m (14,990 feet). While Kilimanjaro is often shy and hides behind clouds, Mt. Meru is generally visible throughout the year.

An active volcano, Mt. Meru is also a popular climbing destination for visitors to Tanzania and a good introductory mountain for those wishing to climb Kilimanjaro. Not only does the climb offer a spectacular view of Kilimanjaro from the summit, but the hike itself is also an incredibly rewarding walking safari that takes you through multiple habitats where you can encounter giraffes, elephants, antelopes, and more

For those interested in climbing Mt. Meru, Shadows of Africa can arrange climbing permits, armed ranger escorts, all camping equipment, and even stays at the Miriakamba or Saddle Huts if necessary.

Canoeing the Momella Lakes

The Momella Lakes within Arusha National Park are a series of seven shallow lakes: Big Momella, Small Momella, Kusare, Lekandiro, Tulusia, Rishateni, and El Kekhotoito. Alkaline lakes with considerable algae growth, each of these  lakes is a different shade of green or blue.

While the water is not suitable for drinking, it is possible to see a variety of birds (including flamingoes) and animals such as water bucks, giraffes, zebras, and dik-diks in the surrounding area.

It is on Small Momella Lake that canoeing safaris are possible.

Ngurdoto Crater

This swampy crater is inhabited by a large variety of animals and is a popular stop for game drives. Visitors can expect to see the Cape Buffalo, elephants, monkeys, baboons, warthogs, and a number of different antelope species here.

The crater is surrounded by the Ngurdoto Forest, a shady expanse that is home to playful black and white colobus monkeys.

Nearby is Serengeti Ndogu (Little Serengeti), an expansive grassland where herds of zebras can be seen throughout the year.

Ngurdoto Museum

Overlooking the Ngurdoto Forest with its population of black and white colobus monkeys, the Ngurdoto Museum houses an impressive collection of examples of the various animals, birds, and insects that can be found within the park.

Lake Longil

The only freshwater lake in Arusha National Park, Lake Longil is a popular watering hole for buffaloes and water bucks.

Tululusia Hill

A former lookout point during tribal wars from Tanzania’s post, Tululusia Hill is today a popular hiking and camping area that affords visitors an excellent view of the lower reaches of the Arusha National Park as well as Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.

This heavily forested region of the park is home to elephants, buffalo, colobus monkeys, the red duiker, suni, leopards, and even tree-dwelling pythons.

Fig Tree Arch

A distinctive natural arch formed by a fig tree, this intriguing feature of the landscape has grown into an arch large enough for a car or an elephant to pass under.

About Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park (Serengeti) is located in Tanzania, best known for its abundance of animals and the great wildebeest migration.

The Serengeti stretches 14,763 (5,700 sq miles) stretching North to Kenya and bordering Lake Victoria to the West.

Serengeti has the highest concentration of large mammals on this planet and its famous known for its 2,500 Lions the largest concentration found anywhere. The park also has over 518 identified bird species where some of them are Eurasian migrants who are present in the European winter months from October to April.

Accommodation: There is a wide range of places to stay in the Serengeti Ecosystem. There is also a very good Serengeti Map if you would like to know more about the general size and area.

Distance

With the Serengeti only 335 km (208 miles) from Arusha it is still a very long drive due to the roads. If you are driving to the Serengeti National Park it is recommended to stop off on the way. We would like to point out that if you are interested in visiting the Ngorongoro Crater on the way, it is best to get to the rim the afternoon before and then spend the whole next day in the Crater.

Best time to visit

Following the Wildebeest migration from Serengeti National Park to Maasai Mara National Reserve, the best time is December to July and to see the predators the best time is June to October.

Recommended number of days

Due to the amount to be seen in the reserve it’s recommendable to have three or four day’s safari. If you are interested in photography, the longer you stay the better chances you have to get the ultimate photos.

Garamba is one of Africa’s oldest national parks, designated in 1938, and was declared a World Heritage site in 1980. Spanning 5,133 km2 and adjacent to the domaines de chasse which cover 9,663 km2, the park is both vast and an intact wild landscape. But this critically important landscape has had a tragic past. Once home to 22,000 elephants as recently as the 1970’s, as well as to the Northern white rhino, militarised poachers reduced the elephant population to fewer than 1,300 individuals, and the last white rhino was seen in the park in the early 2000’s.

Garamba is situated in one of the most hostile parts of Africa as it shares 261 km of its border with war-torn South Sudan. Militant ivory and bushmeat poachers, including the Lord’s Resistance Army, have systematically targeted the parks’ natural resources over the last few decades to fund their campaigns of terror and instability.

l park In order to prevent Garamba’s complete destruction, African Parks assumed management in 2005 in partnership with the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). The park represents one of African Parks’ greatest challenges, but through the complete overhaul of our law enforcement strategy in 2016 with critical support from the EU, the Wildcat Foundation, the World Bank and USAID, and with improved ranger training and the integration of new technology, we are finally gaining ground. For the first time in years, elephant poaching decreased by 50% in 2017; surveys are showing a significant reduction of illegal activity in the park and key wildlife populations including giraffe and hartebeest have either stabilized or are increasing.

In a region with little economic opportunity, Garamba employs almost 500 full-time local staff with 2,000 more on short-term contracts. Our growing ranger force provides security not only to wildlife but also to tens of thousands of people living around the park, slowly returning peace to this corner of the world again.

Spread over 6000 square kilometers, Kahuzi Biega national park is situated in Bukavu town near the western bank of Lake Kivu in the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park generates its name from the two volcanoes of Kahuzi and Biega, which are covered by the forest. It is a land area that makes it one of the biggest national parks in Congo and the whole of Africa sheltering a variety of wildlife life and birds. In 1980 Kahuzi Biega national park was included in the list of the world heritage site by the united nation has an educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO) due to its rich diversity. Regarding vegetation, kahuzi Biega national park comprises of marshes, forests, swamps, riparian forests, and bogs, which serve as food and shelter for wild animals. In the west of the national park is the dense guineo-congolian wet equatorial rain forest while the mountainous regions are covered by forest vegetation. The summit of the two volcanoes (Kahuzi & Biega) is covered by endemic plants, subalpine heather, grasslands, and dry savannah grasslands among others. Just like the sister Virunga national park, Kahuzi Biega national park is managed by the Institute Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) which in charge of conservation and tourism.

Wildlife in the park
Kahuzi Biega national park is a home top over 125 eastern lowland gorillas,

which are scientifically called Grauer’s gorilla, and is the largest gorilla species compared to mountain gorillas, western lowland gorillas, and the cross-river gorillas. Besides gorillas, the national park is a home to other primates such as the eastern chimpanzees (pan troglodytes scheinfurthii) and owl-faced monkeys (Cercopithecus Hamlyn) and several other mammals such as bush elephant (Loxodonta Africana), bush buffalo, eastern needle-clawed Galago, Maclaud’s horseshoe bat, alexander’s bush squirrel and the mount kahuzi climbing mouse. Also, the national park is home to over 350 bird species some of which are endemic to the Albertine region.

Activities in the park
If you are planning a safari to Congo, kahuzi Biega national park offers all you need on a safari. Being home to the eastern lowland gorillas, gorilla trekking is the key activity done in the national park. An encounter with eastern lowland gorillas is an exceptional wildlife experience you should not miss out on your safari to Africa. The large size of these gorilla species makes photography clear which provides travelers with memorable experiences. The trekking rules and regulations are similar to those of mountain gorillas and travelers must endeavor to follow the trekking of these guidelines. To ease the trekking experience, two families’ of eastern lowland gorillas have been habituated for trekking. Other activities that can be done include volcano climbing, forest walks, and cultural tours. In addition, take part in bird watching expecting to spot a variety of different bird species, which include Congo peas fowl, Yellow-crested helmet-shrike, Rockefellers, hornbills’ species, Ruwenzori Turacos, sunbirds and trogons among others.

Peace and security
Despite the past civil wars that hot the whole of Democratic Republic of Congo with Kahuzi Biega and Virunga national parks serving as hideouts for the rebels, the country has stabilized and peace has been restored hence tourism done peacefully. Travelers are assured of their safety and that of their property especially the cameras. Also, tourism security has been introduced to patrol all the national parks to detect any insecurity in the area.