Lake Manyara National Park

Arusha Region, Tanzania

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Lake Manyara National Park is located in Tanzania’s Arusha and Manyara regions, lying on the floor of the Great Rift Valley near Lake Manyara.

The park features a unique landscape marked by the rift valley’s steep escarpment and diverse habitats, including a shallow alkaline soda lake that can cover up to two-thirds of the park during wet seasons. The lake attracts thousands of flamingos and over 400 bird species, making it a birdwatcher's paradise.

The park is especially famous for its rare tree-climbing lions and large herds of elephants. Other wildlife includes buffalo, giraffes, hippos, leopards, and various antelope species thriving in its groundwater forest, acacia woodlands, floodplains, and wetlands.

The park also has geothermal hot springs and rich biodiversity, including primates like olive baboons and Sykes monkeys. Its geological formation is tied to tectonic movements of the Rift Valley that created a varied and vibrant ecosystem within a relatively compact area, making it an ecological and scenic gem of northern Tanzania.