Lake Manaira National Park presents a landscape unlike any other. Imagine lush woodlands and sandy beaches along this rift valley lake, where giraffes, elephants, and wildebeests graze and drink from the endless water sources. Youll often spot these massive animals in the water—some sitting, some drinking, others cooling off. Thanks to its unique habitat, hundreds of bird species thrive in the forests, while the parks most iconic feature is the climbing lions. Despite its relatively small size, the park remains impressive. Most areas are covered by dense forests or thick shrubs, which can sometimes make wildlife observation challenging. While we typically recommend skipping Lake Manaira National Park for shorter trips, its strategic location between Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater makes it a popular destination. Its one of two parks that allow nighttime vehicle drives to observe wildlife within their boundaries.
Location: This 2.5-hour drive from Arusha takes you to the Ngorongoro Crater. You can choose to stay in Mtwamubu near Lake Manyara or in Karatu, which is about a 30-minute drive up the mountain from Lake Manyara.
Activities: wildlife watching by car, mountain biking, forest hiking, night wildlife watching by car, nature walking.
When: You can visit it in one day, but if you want to cycle or hike, you need to schedule another day. It may not be included in short trips.
Animals: Elephants, wildebeests, water buffalo, hippos, blackbuck, saig, water buffalo, rock antelope, zebra, giraffe, meerkat, warthog, leopard and the famous tree-climbing lion, in addition to blue monkeys, green monkeys, baboons and over 380 species of birds, including flocks of flamingos feeding on algae in the lake.
