Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is a compact, lush and scenic park on Tanzania's northern circuit, squeezed between the dramatic wall of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and the shallow, alkaline Lake Manyara. Remarkably varied for its size, it ranges from dense groundwater forest to open grassland and the soda lake, and is famous for its unusual tree-climbing lions, its large elephant herds, hippos, and the flocks of flamingos and pelicans that gather on the lake.

What you actually see

• The tree-climbing lions - the park's famous lions that lounge in trees.
• The flamingos - the flocks on the soda lake, when present.
• The groundwater forest - the lush forest and its elephants and baboons.
• The Rift escarpment - the dramatic backdrop of the Rift Valley wall.

When to go

The dry seasons, June to October and January to February, are best for wildlife; the wet season is lush and best for birds and the flamingos, whose numbers on the lake vary with water levels. It is often a short visit on the way to or from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

Honest expectations

The famous tree-climbing lions are not guaranteed and are seen only occasionally, so do not count on them. The flamingos, as at other soda lakes, come and go with the water. It is small and often visited as a half-day stop rather than a destination. Its variety and scenery in a compact area, though, make it a rewarding one.

Nearby

Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are on the northern circuit.