Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara National Park is one of the smallest parks in Tanzania which covers an area of about 335 km2 with about 230 km2 lake surface and the remaining area of dry land of about 105 km2 . It is known as the home of tree climbing lions as well as the birds’ paradise. Here there is a huge variety of birds including thousands of flamingos that feed along the edge of the lake in the wet season. Great white pelicans, yellow-billed storks along with smaller numbers of Marabou storks, grey herons, palm-nut vultures, hawks and many more. A huge number of animals can also be spotted inside Lake Manyara like the elephants, wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle and Grant's gazelles etc. Predators of Lake Manyara National Park include lions, hyena, black-backed jackal etc. The park has a variety of diverse habitats like the rivers flowing and evergreen groundwater forests. Trees are densest in gorges, along the edge of streams and in areas where springs emerge.Growing at the edge of the groundwater forest are dense stands of yellow fever trees. The flora of Lake Manyara National Park is diverse, with over 670 flowering plant and ferns. Activities that can be done at Lake Manyara National Park include canoeing, tree top walkway, walking safaris and night game drives.