Lake Manyara National Park Day Trip

Your adventure begins with an early morning departure from Arusha. Enjoy a scenic drive through vibrant local villages and breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley on your way to Lake Manyara National Park.

Upon arrival, enter a park brimming with ecological diversity. Begin your game drive through the dense groundwater forest where baboons, blue monkeys, and elephants roam beneath towering fig and mahogany trees. As you emerge onto the open floodplains, keep your eyes peeled for buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and the park’s iconic tree climbing lions resting in the acacia branches.

Continue toward the alkaline Lake Manyara itself, a shimmering expanse that attracts thousands of flamingos and over 400 other bird species, including pelicans, storks, and kingfishers. The lake’s shores are also a prime location for spotting hippos wallowing in the cool waters.

Midday, you’ll enjoy a packed picnic lunch at one of the park’s scenic picnic sites, surrounded by nature and serenaded by birdsong.

In the afternoon, continue your game drive through the park’s varied landscapes — from forest to marshland, hot springs, and grassy plains — before beginning your return journey to Arusha.