2-Day Tarangire & Lake Manyara
Two privately guided days: first to the elephants of Tarangire, then into the groundwater forest at Lake Manyara, with one overnight stay, from Arusha City.
2 daysCalculate the price
Lake Manyara National Park
Below the roughly 400-metre-high escarpment of the Rift Valley lies Lake Manyara, around two hours' drive west of Arusha.
Highlights
- Tree-climbing lions: one of the park's trademarks
- Flamingos on the soda lake, in large numbers depending on the water level
- Many elephants in the groundwater forest near the entrance
- Treetop Walkway: suspension bridges through the canopy
- The Rift Valley escarpment, around 400 metres high
- Hot springs on the lakeshore
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Lake Manyara National Park at a glance
Below the roughly 400-metre-high escarpment of the Rift Valley lies Lake Manyara, around two hours' drive west of Arusha. A shallow soda lake takes up most of the park, while along its shores groundwater forest, acacias and grassland alternate. One day is enough for the whole park, and it will not be a dull one.
The park is known for three things: lions dozing in trees, flamingos on the lake and the groundwater forest just beyond the entrance, home to a surprising number of elephants and baboons.
Impressions
Tree-climbing lions and elephants
Lions do not normally climb. The ones at Lake Manyara do anyway: they lie up in acacias and mahogany trees, probably for the view, the cool breeze and the respite from the tsetse flies on the ground. There is no guarantee of a sighting, but your guide knows their favourite trees.
Just beyond the entrance gate begins the groundwater forest, which is fed by springs and stays green even in the dry season. Many elephants and large troops of baboons live here, and only a little further on lies the Hippo Pool with its hippos.
The lake and its birdlife
Lake Manyara is a soda lake: shallow, alkaline and full of micro-organisms on which flamingos feed. Depending on the water level, thousands of the pink birds stand in the shallows, along with pelicans, storks and cormorants; more than 400 bird species are on the park's list.
The water level fluctuates sharply. In the rainy season the lake bursts its banks; in the dry season it retreats a long way and exposes stretches of shore. The area has been listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1981.
Activities beyond the game drive
Hardly any park in the north packs so much into so little space. On the Treetop Walkway you cross suspension bridges through the canopy of the groundwater forest; when the water is high, boat trips on the lake are possible; and after dark there are night game drives in search of porcupines and genets. All three are options and cost extra; whatever appeals to you, we include in your quote.
Right at the park entrance lies Mto wa Mbu, a village where people from many regions of Tanzania live together. A walking tour with lunch combines well with your park visit before you move on: Tarangire and the crater rim are each around an hour away.
Best time to travel
For the larger animals, July to October are the strongest months, when everything crowds around the remaining waterholes. Bird lovers prefer to travel between November and June, when the migratory birds are here and the flamingo flocks can be at their largest. Boat trips depend on the water level and run mainly during and shortly after the rainy season. One day in the park is quite enough, by the way; more on that in the questions below.
Getting there
- From Arusha by road
- around 120 kilometres, about two hours and 15 minutes
- To Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater
- around an hour's drive each
- To the central Serengeti
- around four and a half hours via the crater rim
The entrance gate lies right at the edge of Mto wa Mbu.
Fees
Day entry is 59 USD for international adults, 17.70 USD for children aged 5 to 15 and free for children under 5; payment is cashless, at the gate or in advance. The Treetop Walkway, night game drives, boat trips and camping cost extra (as of 2025; the park authority adjusts its rates). Our quotes include the park fees; any extras you book are listed separately.
Matching tours
2 days · 1 tour
3 days · 2 tours
3-Day Arusha National Park, Tarangire & Lake Manyara
Three days through Arusha National Park, Tarangire and Lake Manyara: three landscapes in three days, with two nights on the road, from Arusha City.
3 daysCalculate the price
3-Day Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater
Three days on the northern route from Arusha City: Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, with two overnight stays and a Big Five finale.
3 daysCalculate the price
4 days · 1 tour
4-Day Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater
Four days, four parks: from Arusha National Park via Tarangire and Lake Manyara down into the Ngorongoro Crater, with three nights from Arusha City.
4 daysCalculate the price
5 days · 1 tour
5-Day Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
The great northern circuit in five days: from Tarangire via Lake Manyara into the Serengeti and finally down into the crater. Four nights, privately guided.
5 daysCalculate the price
6 days · 1 tour
6-Day Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
Six days right across the north, from the Momella Lakes to the crater floor, with two full days in the Serengeti and five nights.
6 daysCalculate the price
7 days · 2 tours
7-Day Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti (3 days) & Ngorongoro Crater
Seven days, the whole of the north: first Arusha National Park, Tarangire and Manyara, then three Serengeti days, and finally the crater.
7 daysCalculate the price
7-Day Fly-in Serengeti (3 days), Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire & Arusha National Park
Seven days, Serengeti first: fly in, stay three days, then back via the crater, Manyara and Tarangire all the way to Arusha National Park.
7 daysCalculate the price
Frequently asked questions
How likely am I to see tree-climbing lions?
To be honest: it remains a matter of luck, because the lions climb when it suits them. Your guide knows the trees they like to lie in and checks them specifically; that improves the chances considerably. And if it does not work out, the park has consolation enough in its elephants, flamingos and the Hippo Pool.
Are boat trips on Lake Manyara possible all year round?
No. The lake is shallow and its level fluctuates sharply, so boat trips run mainly during and shortly after the rainy season, when there is enough water. You then see hippos and waterbirds from the water. Whether a trip is possible on your dates is something we check for your quote.
How much does entry to Lake Manyara National Park cost?
International adults pay 59 USD per day, children aged 5 to 15 pay 17.70 USD, and younger children are free (as of 2025). Extras such as the Treetop Walkway, a boat trip or a night game drive come on top. The entry fees are already included in our quote; any extras you want are listed separately.
How long should you allow for Lake Manyara?
One day covers the park well, and that is exactly how we plan it: as a stopover on the way from Tarangire to the crater, or as the last stop. If you want to add the Treetop Walkway or a night game drive, stay a night nearby; we are happy to build that in for you.
Is Lake Manyara suitable for families with children?
Yes, particularly well. The park is compact, the distances between animals are short, and the Hippo Pool is just beyond the entrance, so there are hardly any long dry spells for children. The Treetop Walkway is popular with children; we check whether a minimum age applies before you book.
Send us a message
We put your route together — free of obligation and in person. We reply the same day, usually faster on WhatsApp.
Prefer to talk? Dominic Dreiner is happy to help.
Alle Preise sind unverbindliche Richtpreise pro Person bei zwei gemeinsam reisenden Personen, einschließlich der in der Leistungsübersicht genannten Leistungen und ohne Flüge nach Tansania. Bei größeren Gruppen sinkt der Preis pro Person. Der endgültige Preis richtet sich nach Reisezeitraum, Gruppengröße, gewählten Unterkünften und Verfügbarkeit; er wird Ihnen im individuellen Angebot verbindlich genannt. Angebote sind bis zur abschließenden Verfügbarkeitsprüfung freibleibend. Es gelten unsere AGB.