Tourist attractions in Lake Manyara national park
Tourist attractions in Lake Manyara national park : Lake Manyara national park is a signature Tanzania safari destination located in the Manyara region and Arusha of Tanzania and situated between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. Lake Manyara national park is one of the best Tanzania wildlife safari destinations you should visit while on your safari in Tanzania, Lake Manyara national park comprises of may tourist attractions which will make you are to encounter during your Tanzania wildlife tour in the lake and these include
Wildlife
Lake Manyara national park is a habitat to a diversity of animals species living in the 330 square kilometers of the park dominated by woodlands, acacia woodlands, underground water forests and along the shores of lake Manyara. Lake Manyara national park is a great destination of Tanzania wildlife safaris, species found in Lake Manyara national park include wildebeests, zebras, cape buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, troops of baboons, Thomson’s gazelles, grant’s gazelles, warthogs, African wild cat, spotted hyenas, black backed jackals, bat-eared foxes, serval honey badgers, cheetahs, African golden cats, several species of mongooses among others.
Animals in Lake Manyara national park are best seen during Tanzania game viewing experience.
Birdlife
Lake Manyara national park is among the top ranked bird destinations in Tanzania perfect for birders on a Tanzania birding safari, Lake Manyara national park a habitat to over 400 bird species and because of the huge concentration of birds inhabiting in the park make the destination one of the best destination for Tanzania birding destination. Birds in the park inhabit in the various sites in the park such as the groundwater forest, floodplains of Lake Manyara, acacia woodland and the savannah plains.
Some of the birds inhabiting in Lake Manyara national park include pink flamingoes, cormorants, pelicans, African hawk eagle, African jacana, African spoonbill, Baglafecht weaver, Comb duck, Crowned eagle, Great white pelican, Greater flamingo, Grey crowned crane, Hamerkop, Hottentot teal, Lesser flamingo, Little stint, Pied avocet, Pied kingfisher, black-faced sandgrouse, stalks, slivery cheeked hornbills, emerald cuckoo among others.
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is the most iconic feature in Lake Manyara national park for Tanzania bird watching safaris in the park, the lake is covers a surface area of 470 square kilometers covering 2/3 of the park and the 7th largest lake in the whole of Tanzania. Lake Manyara national park is a shallow alkaline lake formed as a result of the Great Rift Valley is situated at the altitude of 960 meters above the sea level with a depth of 10 ft.
Lake Manyara is named after a Maasai word “Manyara” meaning spiky and protective enclosure around a family homestead locally known as Boma, the lake is a very beautiful sight to visit for sightings of various species of birds and animals. The most iconic bird species to watch on the shores of the lake are the high concentration of flamingoes of pink shade, other birds to lookout for include great white pelicans, pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed storks, grey herons among others.
A number of animals are seen crowding the lake’s shores to drink water and bath in the lake’s waters such as hippos, elephants among others.
Flood plains
Lake Manyara national park’s flood plains are a unique wildlife habitat and a best site for viewing animals while on a Tanzania wildlife safari, the flood plains are dominated by grassy shoreline that emerges during the dry season when water decreases thus exposing vast stretches of land alongside Lake Manyara.
In Dry season, saline-tolerant grasses spring up and the area becomes a habitat for grazing herbivores temporary, because of the fresh nature-rich grasses many animals are attracted to the area such as numerous wildebeests and zebras. In return predators are also attracted to the area to hunt.
Flood plains in Lake Manyara national park became a very spectacular ground for wildlife viewing and some the animals to look out for during your Tanzania safari include buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos and many more. In the night, hippos are seen leaving the waters and rest on the grassy flood plains on the lake’s shoreline.
Ground water forest
Ground water forest in Lake Manyara national park is another best site to visit in the park while on your Tanzania tour, the ground water forest resemble a jungle and it is a unique habitat for unique wildlife species such as the largest troops of baboons on the African continent. This ground water forest is also a habitat to other primates such as blue monkeys and vervet monkeys.
Ground water forest is an impressive site to visit for nature and scenic experience in Lake Manyara national park, the forest is densely dominated by evergreen forest of Mahogany trees and wild date palms which are supported by a permanent supply of ground water.
The branches of Mahogany trees are covered by Gnarled Vines and mossy giving the ground water forest a mystifying allure, the floor of the forest is covered by a verdant carpet of wild hibiscus, ginger and other leaf plants blossoming in the moisture and shadows
Acacia woodlands
Acacia woodlands in Lake Manyara national park are one of the best spots in the park for viewing various species of animals inhabiting in the park most especially the legendary tree climbing lions large concentration of elephants, leopards, giraffes and many more.
The acacia woodlands dominate the area between the lake shore and the wall of the Great Rift Valley, the acacia trees have flat topped or umbrella like tops with an extension of leafy shade over the star grass on the ground. The acacia trees are majestic tamarind and sausage trees rising up with impressive presence, these trees habit various species of animals looking for shade such as giraffes, tree climbing animals among others.
Marang Forest Reserve
The Marang Forest reserve in Lake Manyara national park is a 250 square kilometers reserve of highland forest situated on the southwestern boundary of the park, this forest lies in the Rift Valley escarpment protecting an uncontaminated and unexplored environment rich with various spacious of plants and wildlife.
Marang Forest reserve is one of the ancient migratory corridors of elephants ad because of this it is an area of importance, this Forest reserve is a home to many bird species such as Pied avocet, Pied kingfisher, Pink-backed pelican, Sacred ibis, Saddle-billed stork, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Southern ground hornbill, Spur-winged goose among others.
Marang Forest reserve is also a home to numerous troops of baboons and various species of monkeys such as blue monkeys and herbivores such as the bush bucks among others.
Maji Moto Springs
Maji Moto Springs in Lake Manyara national park are natural springs and a magnificent attraction in the park, Maji Moto Springs translated as “hot water” from Kiswahili is an isolated paradise of crystal clear waters surrounded by palm and fig tree with unmatched beauty. While on a Tanzania safari in Lake Manyara national park you can visit this hot springs for a swim in its waters which are not too hot and for a picnic lunch. The waters of Maji Moto springs are about 60°C.
