Lake Manyara National Park

Tanzania

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Getty Images

Why visit Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania’s smaller and most underrated parks. While it may lack the size and variety of other northern-circuit destinations (there's pretty much one main north–south route through the park), its vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to marsh to evergreen forest (11 ecosystems in all) and it supports one of the highest biomass densities of large mammals in the world. The chance to see elephant families moving through the forest or Lake Manyara's famous population of tree-climbing lions (although sighting them is becoming increasingly rare) are alone reason enough to come.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of Lake Manyara National Park? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your Tanzania trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

Safari Saga: Tanzania's Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti in 9 Days

highlights

1 Learning how to throw spears — a traditional lion-killing technique — from Maasai warriors
2 Following local Maasai leaders through wild landscapes on an exhilarating bush safari
3 Entering heaven's orbit at the wildlife wonderland of Ngorongoro Crater