Lake Manyara National Park Day Safari from Arusha

Lake Manyara National Park is a narrow strip of park pressed between the Rift Valley escarpment and a shallow soda lake, and that squeeze is exactly what makes it worth a day. In about two hours of driving you pass through four completely different habitats: a groundwater forest fed by springs at the base of the cliff, open acacia woodland, floodplain grass, and the lake shore itself.

Who this day suits. Anyone with a single free day in Arusha who wants a real national park rather than a taste of one. It is the shortest drive of any of the northern parks, about two hours each way, so you spend more of the day in the park and less of it on the road than you would on the Ngorongoro Crater day safari. Birdwatchers get the most out of it: the species list runs past four hundred.

What you actually see. Elephant among the fig and mahogany in the forest section, often at very close range. Large baboon troops, the biggest most visitors will ever see. Blue monkey and vervet. Buffalo, giraffe, impala, zebra and warthog on the open ground. Hippo in the pools near the lake. Manyara is known for lions that rest in trees, though we will not promise you one: they are here, they are not on a timetable, and any operator who guarantees a sighting is selling you something they cannot deliver.

When to come. The park is open all year. From November to May the grass is high, the migrant birds are in and the lake often holds flamingo in numbers. From June to October the ground is dry and the animals concentrate near water, which makes them easier to find. Neither season is wrong.

If you have more than one day, Manyara pairs naturally with Tarangire National Park or the crater. See the rest of our day trips, browse the multi-day Tanzania safaris, or tell us your dates and we will put the days together for you.

We collect you from your hotel, guesthouse or Airbnb anywhere in Arusha town, and from Usa River, Tengeru and the Kilimanjaro Airport road on request. Give us the property name when you book and we confirm the pickup time the evening before. Drop-off is at the same address unless you tell us otherwise.

Binoculars if you have them: the forest birding is the best part of the park and you will want them. A camera with a zoom. A hat and sunscreen. A light layer for the early start. Long sleeves and trousers help in the forest section where the tsetse are. Cash in small notes if you want to buy anything at Mto wa Mbu on the way through.

Inside the park you stay in the vehicle except at the marked picnic sites and toilets. That is a park rule and it is also the reason the animals ignore a vehicle completely. Your guide will tell you when it is safe to stand up through the roof hatch. Do not feed or approach any animal, baboons included, and keep food out of sight at the picnic site. You travel in a maintained 4x4 with a licensed Tanzanian driver-guide. Seat belts are fitted in every seat. We carry a first aid kit and drinking water, and the guide stays contactable through the day. Travel insurance is not included and we recommend you arrange it before you come.