Lake Manyara National Park offers a remarkably diverse safari experience packed into a compact area, where visitors can witness everything from vibrant flocks of flamingos to elusive, tree-climbing lions.

Named after the seasonal alkaline lake at its center, the park is ideal for canoeing during the rainy season and offers rewarding game drives all year round. Celebrated by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I have seen in Africa,” Lake Manyara is a perfect starting or ending point for a northern Tanzania safari adventure.

One of the park’s most iconic attractions is its population of tree-climbing lions—rare and remarkable predators found nowhere else in Tanzania. These agile cats can often be seen draped over the limbs of acacia trees, resting in the shade or scanning the landscape below.

Beyond its lions and flamingos, Lake Manyara is also home to a wide array of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and Cape buffalo. For those seeking less familiar species, keep an eye out for the nimble Kirk’s dik-dik and the sure-footed klipspringer navigating the rocky outcrops.